The List of Metallica Albums in Order of Release
Having sold over 125 million albums worldwide, Metallica ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, released 10 studio albums, 8 live albums, 3 extended plays, 43 singles, 10 video albums, 42 music videos, one soundtrack album, one collaboration album and 3 box sets. It’s fast tempos, instrumentals and aggressive musicianship made them one of the founding “big four” bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer.
Metallica is an American heavy metal band, formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, after several bassist and lead guitarist changes (including Dave Mustaine), the band settled on Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett, respectively. Metallica’s current lineup comprises founding members and primary songwriters Hetfield and Ulrich, longtime lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo.
Started playing locally, releasing their first widely circulated demo, No Life ’til Leather, in 1982, Metallica released their debut album “Kill ‘Em All” in 1983, and the following year they released Ride the Lightning . Its third studio album, Master of Puppets, which was Metallica’s first album to be certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and cited as one of the heaviest metal albums and the band’s best work. The band’s next album, …And Justice for All (1988), gave Metallica its first Grammy Award nomination, for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance, but controversially lost to Jethro Tull’s Crest of a Knave. Its fifth, self-titled album, often called The Black Album, was released in 1991 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, making it Metallica’s first album to top the album charts. It was the band’s first not to root predominantly in thrash metal. It appealed to a more mainstream audience, achieving substantial commercial success and selling over 16 million copies in the United States to date; making it the best-selling album of the SoundScan era. After experimenting with different genres and directions in subsequent releases, Metallica returned to its thrash metal roots with the release of its ninth album, Death Magnetic (2008), which drew similar praise to that of the band’s earlier albums. The band’s most recent album is Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016). So, if you are a die heart fan of Metallica then check out here we have gathered all Metallica albums in order of release so far.
Metallica Albums Available on: Apple Music
How many albums does Metallica have?
The discography of American heavy metal band Metallica includes 11 studio albums, eight live albums, three extended plays, 44 singles, 10 video albums, 43 music videos, one soundtrack album, one collaboration album and three box sets.
All Metallica Albums in Order: Check Out The List of Metallica Albums in Order Here!
- Kill ‘Em All — July 25, 1983
- Ride the Lightning — July 27, 1984
- Master of Puppets — March 3, 1986
- …And Justice for All — September 7, 1988
- Metallica — August 12, 1991
- Load — June 4, 1996
- Reload — November 18, 1997
- St. Anger — June 5, 2003
- Death Magnetic — September 12, 2008
- Hardwired… to Self-Destruct — November 18, 2016
- 72 Seasons — April 14, 2023
All Metallica Albums List in Order
1. Kill ‘Em All (1983)
Tracks
- Hit the Lights
- The Four Horsemen
- Motorbreath
- Jump in the Fire
- (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth
- Whiplash
- Phantom Lord
- No Remorse
- Seek & Destroy
- Metal Militia
Metallica’s debut studio album, “Kill ‘Em All,” released in 1983, remains a cornerstone of thrash metal. It unleashed a relentless onslaught of aggressive and fast-paced tracks that solidified the band’s reputation as pioneers of the genre. Songs like “Hit the Lights,” “Seek & Destroy,” and “Whiplash” showcased their raw energy, intricate guitar work, and lightning-fast drumming. With its rebellious attitude and unapologetic sound, “Kill ‘Em All” laid the foundation for Metallica’s subsequent success and cemented their status as one of the most influential metal bands of all time.
2. Ride the Lightning (1984)
Tracks
- Fight Fire with Fire
- Ride the Lightning
- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- Fade to Black
- Trapped Under Ice
- Escape
- Creeping Death
- The Call of Ktulu
Metallica’s second studio album, “Ride the Lightning,” released in 1984, is an iconic thrash metal masterpiece. The album showcased the band’s musical evolution and established their signature aggressive sound. Tracks like “Fade to Black,” “Creeping Death,” and the title track, “Ride the Lightning,” demonstrated their technical prowess, blending intense guitar riffs, thunderous drums, and intense lyrical themes. The album’s dark and introspective lyrics explored topics like death, war, and societal issues. With its powerful songwriting and groundbreaking sound, “Ride the Lightning” solidified Metallica’s place in the annals of heavy metal history.
3. Master of Puppets (1986)
Tracks
- Battery
- Master of Puppets
- The Thing That Should Not Be
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
- Disposable Heroes
- Leper Messiah
- Orion
- Damage, Inc.
Metallica’s “Master of Puppets,” released in 1986, is a monumental album that solidified the band’s place in heavy metal history. With its intricate song structures, lightning-fast guitar riffs, and thought-provoking lyrics, the album showcased the band’s musical prowess and pushed the boundaries of the genre. Tracks like the title track, “Battery,” and “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” became instant classics, delivering a blend of aggression and melody that captivated fans worldwide. “Master of Puppets” remains a timeless masterpiece, often hailed as one of the greatest metal albums of all time, showcasing Metallica’s ability to create intense, intricate, and emotionally charged music.
4. …And Justice for All (1988)
Tracks
- Blackened
- …And Justice for All
- Eye of the Beholder
- One
- The Shortest Straw
- Harvester of Sorrow
- The Frayed Ends of Sanity
- To Live Is to Die
- Dyers Eve
Metallica’s fourth studio album, “…And Justice for All,” released in 1988, is a seminal masterpiece of thrash metal. The album showcased the band’s musical virtuosity and complex songwriting. With its heavy guitar riffs, intricate solos, and socially charged lyrics, Metallica delved into themes of injustice, corruption, and the erosion of personal freedoms. The record’s production, characterized by its intentionally bass-light sound, has been a subject of debate among fans and critics. Nonetheless, “…And Justice for All” remains a landmark release, solidifying Metallica’s status as one of the most influential metal bands in history.
5. Metallica (1991)
Tracks
- Enter Sandman
- Sad but True
- Holier than Thou
- The Unforgiven
- Wherever I May Roam
- Don’t Tread on Me
- Through the Never
- Nothing Else Matters
- Of Wolf and Man
- The God That Failed
- My Friend of Misery
- The Struggle Within
Metallica’s self-titled album, commonly referred to as the “Black Album,” was released in 1991. It marked a significant turning point in the band’s career, showcasing a shift towards a more mainstream sound while still retaining their heavy metal roots. The album featured iconic tracks such as “Enter Sandman,” “Sad But True,” and “Nothing Else Matters,” which became instant classics. With its powerful riffs, memorable hooks, and introspective lyrics, Metallica’s self-titled album remains one of the band’s most successful and influential releases, solidifying their status as one of the greatest metal bands of all time.
6. Load (1996)
Tracks
- Ain’t My Bitch
- 2 X 4
- The House Jack Built
- Until It Sleeps
- King Nothing
- Hero of the Day
- Bleeding Me
- Cure
- Poor Twisted Me
- Wasting My Hate
- Mama Said
- Thorn Within
- Ronnie
- The Outlaw Torn
Metallica’s sixth studio album, “Load,” was released in 1996 and marked a significant departure from their previous thrash metal sound. The album showcased a more alternative rock and heavy blues influence, with a focus on melody and introspective lyrics. Tracks like “Until It Sleeps” and “Hero of the Day” displayed a more mature and introspective side of the band. “Load” received mixed reactions from fans and critics, with some appreciating the band’s experimentation while others missed their earlier aggressive sound. Nonetheless, it remains an important milestone in Metallica’s discography, representing their willingness to explore different musical territories.
7. Reload (1997)
Tracks
- Fuel
- The Memory Remains
- Devil’s Dance
- The Unforgiven II
- Better than You
- Slither
- Carpe Diem Baby
- Bad Seed
- Where the Wild Things Are
- Prince Charming
- Low Man’s Lyric
- Attitude
- Fixxxer
Metallica’s album “Reload,” released in 1997, marked a notable departure from their earlier thrash metal sound. It showcased a more alternative metal and hard rock direction, featuring a balance of heavy riffs and melodic elements. The album spawned popular tracks such as “Fuel,” “The Memory Remains,” and “The Unforgiven II.” While it received mixed reviews from critics, “Reload” still managed to achieve commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It remains a significant part of Metallica’s discography, representing their evolution and willingness to explore new musical territories.
8. St. Anger (2003)
Tracks
- Frantic
- St. Anger
- Some Kind of Monster
- Dirty Window
- Invisible Kid
- My World
- Shoot Me Again
- Sweet Amber
- The Unnamed Feeling
- Purify
- All Within My Hands
Metallica’s St. Anger, released in 2003, is an album that divided fans and critics alike. It marked a departure from the band’s traditional sound, featuring a raw and aggressive approach with stripped-down production. The album is known for its heavy guitar riffs, pounding drums, and introspective lyrics that touch on themes of anger, frustration, and personal struggles. St. Anger showcased Metallica experimenting with a more modern and alternative metal sound, incorporating elements like downtuned guitars and a lack of guitar solos. Despite its polarizing reception, the album remains a significant chapter in Metallica’s discography, reflecting a turbulent period in the band’s history.
9. Death Magnetic (2008)
Tracks
- That Was Just Your Life
- The End of the Line
- Broken, Beat & Scarred
- The Day That Never Comes
- All Nightmare Long
- Cyanide
- The Unforgiven III
- The Judas Kiss
- Suicide & Redemption
- My Apocalypse
Metallica’s Death Magnetic album, released in 2008, marked a significant return to their thrash metal roots. It served as a powerful comeback for the band, following a period of criticism for their previous albums. Death Magnetic showcased a heavier and more aggressive sound, with intricate guitar work, intense drumming, and raw, impassioned vocals from James Hetfield. The album received positive reviews, praised for its songwriting, energy, and renewed vitality. It featured memorable tracks like “The Day That Never Comes” and “All Nightmare Long,” solidifying Metallica’s enduring presence in the metal genre.
10. Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016)
Tracks
- Hardwired
- Atlas, Rise!
- Now That We’re Dead
- Moth into Flame
- Dream No More
- Halo on Fire
- Confusion
- ManUNkind
- Here Comes Revenge
- Am I Savage?
- Murder One
- Spit Out the Bone
Metallica’s “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct” is a studio album released in 2016, marking their first album in eight years since “Death Magnetic.” The album showcases the band’s signature heavy metal sound, combining aggressive guitar riffs, thunderous drumming, and powerful vocals. It consists of 12 tracks, including the popular singles “Hardwired,” “Moth into Flame,” and “Atlas, Rise!” “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct” received positive reviews from critics and achieved commercial success, reaching the top of the charts in several countries. The album reaffirms Metallica’s status as one of the most influential and enduring bands in the history of heavy metal.
11. 72 Seasons (2023)
Tracks
- 72 Seasons
- Shadows Follow
- Screaming Suicide
- Sleepwalk My Life Away
- You Must Burn!
- Lux Æterna
- Crown of Barbed Wire
- Chasing Light
- If Darkness Had a Son
- Too Far Gone?
- Room of Mirrors
- Inamorata
Metallica’s 72 Seasons album follows Hardwired…to Self-Destruct by seven years. The band was definitely thinking about life cycles, given the title and premise of 72 Seasons—the thought is that all we become as adults is shaped by our first 18 years, or 72 seasons. The title track (and fourth single) of the album begins with a Motörhead-esque groove before diving headfirst into the rip-roaring thrash that Metallica developed back in the ’80s. “Shadows Follow” and “Too Far Gone?” are both vintage thrash songs, the latter with a Thin Lizzy twist thanks to fantastic guitar harmonies. Meanwhile, “Screaming Suicide” is a suicide song sung from the perspective of suicide (“Keep me inside, my name is suicide”), while “You Must Burn!” sounds like it could’ve been on the Black Album back in 1991. Aside from the obvious references, there are other instances on 72 Seasons that make it appear as if Hetfield was going down memory lane when creating these songs.
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