Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1981.[1] The band released its debut album Kill 'Em All in 1983, which credited songwriting between frontman James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist Dave Mustaine, who had left before the album was recorded (bassist Cliff Burton was credited for the bass solo "(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth").[2] On the 1984 follow-up Ride the Lightning, Burton received more songwriting credits and Mustaine's replacement Kirk Hammett was also co-credited on four songs.[3] Master of Puppets, released in 1986,[4] was the last album to feature Burton, who died in a bus accident later that year.[1]
After bringing in Jason Newsted to replace Burton,[1] Metallica released the extended play (EP) The $5.98 E.P. - Garage Days Re-Revisited in 1987, which featured cover versions of songs by Diamond Head, Holocaust, Killing Joke, Budgie and Misfits.[5] The band's first studio album with Newsted, ...And Justice for All, was released the following year; the bassist was credited on one song only, opener "Blackened".[6] In 1991 the self-titled Metallica was released, which is considered to be the band's mainstream breakthrough album.[7] Load and Reload followed in 1996 and 1997, respectively.[8] [9] The year after Reload, Metallica released Garage Inc., a double album of cover versions.[10]
After Newsted left in 2001,[1] the bass on 2003's St. Anger was performed by producer Bob Rock, who was also credited with co-writing all of the songs.[11] Robert Trujillo replaced Newsted later that year.[1] Death Magnetic was released in 2008, which was the first to feature Trujillo on bass; all songs were credited as being written by all four band members.[12] Unused recordings from the album's sessions were later released in the form of the EP Beyond Magnetic.[13] In 2011, Metallica released the album Lulu in collaboration with Lou Reed.[14] The band's tenth studio album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, was released in November 2016; it was written almost entirely by Hetfield and Ulrich, with Trujillo being co-credited on one song ("ManUNkind") and Hammett receiving no writing credits.[15] The band's eleventh album, 72 Seasons, was released in April 2023.
| Indicates song released as a single | |||
| < | -- Do not remove the dagger; this is a requirement per Wikipedia's guidelines on colour. --> | Indicates song written by the whole band |
|---|
| Writer(s) | Original artist | Release | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "2 X 4" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "53rd & 3rd" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | [16] | ||
| "72 Seasons" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Ain't My Bitch" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "All Nightmare Long" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "All Within My Hands" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Am I Evil?" | Sean Harris Brian Tatler | Diamond Head | 1984 | [17] | ||
| "Am I Savage?" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [18] | ||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "" | Cliff Burton | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Astronomy" | Joe Bouchard Albert Bouchard Sandy Pearlman | Blue Öyster Cult | 1998 | |||
| "Atlas, Rise!" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [19] | ||
| "Attitude" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Bad Seed" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Battery" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "Better Than You" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Blackened" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Jason Newsted | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Bleeding Me" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Blitzkrieg" | Ian Jones Jim Sirotto Brian Ross | Blitzkrieg | 1984 | |||
| "Brandenburg Gate" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Breadfan" | Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Ray Phillips | Budgie | 1988 | [20] | ||
| "Broken, Beat & Scarred" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| "Carpe Diem Baby" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Chasing Light" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Cheat on Me" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Commando" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | [21] | ||
| "Confusion" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [22] | ||
| "Crash Course in Brain Surgery" | Burke Shelley Tony Bourge Ray Phillips | Budgie | 1987 | |||
| "Creeping Death" | Metallica | 1984 | ||||
| "Cretin Hop" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | |||
| "Crown of Barbed Wire" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Cure" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Cyanide" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "Damage Case" | Lemmy Kilmister Eddie Clarke Phil Taylor Mick Farren | Motörhead | 1996 | [23] | ||
| "Damage, Inc." | Metallica | 1986 | ||||
| "" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "Devil's Dance" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Die, Die My Darling" | Glenn Danzig | Misfits | 1998 | |||
| "Dirty Window" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Disposable Heroes" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "Don't Tread on Me" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Dragon" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Dream No More" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [24] | ||
| "Dyers Eve" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "" | Ennio Morricone | Ennio Morricone | 2007 | [25] | ||
| "" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "Enter Sandman" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Escape" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1988 | ||||
| "Fade to Black" | Metallica | 1984 | ||||
| "Fight Fire with Fire" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| "Fixxxer" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "For Whom the Bell Tolls" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Frantic" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Free Speech for the Dumb" | Garry Maloney Kevin Morris Tony Roberts Roy Wainwright | Discharge | 1998 | |||
| "Frustration" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Fuel" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Halo on Fire" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [26] | ||
| "Hardwired" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [27] | ||
| "Harvester of Sorrow" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Hate Train" | Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Hell and Back" | Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Helpless" | Sean Harris Brian Tatler | Diamond Head | 1987 | |||
| "Here Comes Revenge" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [28] | ||
| "Hero of the Day" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Hit the Lights" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Hugh Tanner | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Holier Than Thou" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "I Disappear" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2000 | [29] | ||
| "Iced Honey" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "If Darkness Had a Son" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Inamorata" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Invisible Kid" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "It's Electric" | Sean Harris Brian Tatler | Diamond Head | 1998 | |||
| "" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "Jump in the Fire" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Junior Dad" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Just a Bullet Away" | Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Killing Time" | Vivian Campbell Trevor Fleming Raymond Haller Davy Bates | Sweet Savage | 1991 | [30] | ||
| "King Nothing" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Last Caress/Green Hell" | Glenn Danzig | Misfits | 1987 | |||
| "Leper Messiah" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "Little Dog" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Lords of Summer" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett Robert Trujillo | Metallica | 2014 | [31] | ||
| "Loverman" | Nick Cave | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds | 1998 | |||
| "Low Man's Lyric" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Lux Æterna" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Mama Said" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "ManUNkind" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Robert Trujillo | Metallica | 2016 | [32] | ||
| "Master of Puppets" | Metallica | 1986 | ||||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Mercyful Fate" | King Diamond Hank Shermann | Mercyful Fate | 1998 | |||
| "Metal Militia" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Mistress Dread" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "" | Garry Maloney Kevin Morris Peter Purtill Roy Wainwright | Discharge | 1998 | |||
| "Moth into Flame" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [33] | ||
| "Motorbreath" | James Hetfield Hugh Tanner Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Murder One" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [34] | ||
| "My Apocalypse" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "My Friend of Misery" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Jason Newsted | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "My World" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "No Remorse" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Nothing Else Matters" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | |||
| "Now That We're Dead" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [35] | ||
| "Of Wolf and Man" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "One" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Orion" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Overkill" | Lemmy Kilmister Eddie Clarke Phil Taylor | Motörhead | 1996 | [36] | ||
| "Phantom Lord" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Poor Twisted Me" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "" | Sean Harris Brian Tatler | Diamond Head | 1988 | |||
| "Prince Charming" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Pumping Blood" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Purify" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Rebel of Babylon" | Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "Remember Tomorrow" | Steve Harris Paul Di'Anno | Iron Maiden | 2008 | [37] | ||
| "Ride the Lightning" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton Dave Mustaine | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| "Ronnie" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Ronnie Rising Medley" | Ritchie Blackmore Ronnie James Dio Cozy Powell | Rainbow | 2014 | [38] | ||
| "Room of Mirrors" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Sabbra Cadabra" | Tony Iommi Ozzy Osbourne Geezer Butler Bill Ward | Black Sabbath | 1998 | |||
| "Sad but True" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Screaming Suicide" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Robert Trujillo | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Seek & Destroy" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Shadows Follow" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Shoot Me Again" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Sleepwalk My Life Away" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Robert Trujillo | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Slither" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "" | John Mortimer | Holocaust | 1987 | |||
| "So What?" | Nick Kulmer Chris Exall Clive Blake | Anti-Nowhere League | 1991 | |||
| "Some Kind of Monster" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Spit Out the Bone" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2016 | [39] | ||
| "St. Anger" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Stone Cold Crazy" | Freddie Mercury Brian May Roger Taylor John Deacon | Queen | 1990 | [40] | ||
| "Stone Dead Forever" | Lemmy Kilmister Eddie Clarke Phil Taylor | Motörhead | 1996 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Suicide & Redemption" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "Sweet Amber" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "That Was Just Your Life" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "Thorn Within" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "Through the Never" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "To Live Is to Die" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Cliff Burton | Metallica | 1988 | |||
| "Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | |||
| "Too Far Gone?" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 2023 | |||
| "Too Late Too Late" | Lemmy Kilmister Eddie Clarke Phil Taylor | Motörhead | 1996 | |||
| "Trapped Under Ice" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1984 | |||
| "Tuesday's Gone" | Ronnie Van Zant Allen Collins | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 1998 | |||
| "Turn the Page" | Bob Seger | Bob Seger | 1998 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "" | Metallica | 2008 | ||||
| "The Unnamed Feeling" | Metallica | 2003 | ||||
| "Until It Sleeps" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "" (with Lou Reed) | Lou Reed and Metallica | 2011 | ||||
| "" | Jaz Coleman Geordie Walker Martin Glover Paul Ferguson | Killing Joke | 1987 | |||
| "Wasting My Hate" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1996 | |||
| "We Did It Again" (with Swizz Beatz and Ja Rule) | Kasseem Dean Jeffrey Atkins James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica and Ja Rule | 2002 | [41] | ||
| "We're a Happy Family" | Joey Ramone Johnny Ramone Dee Dee Ramone Tommy Ramone | Ramones | 2003 | |||
| "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Kirk Hammett | Metallica | 1986 | |||
| "When a Blind Man Cries" | Ritchie Blackmore Ian Gillan Roger Glover Jon Lord Ian Paice | Deep Purple | 2012 | [42] | ||
| "Where the Wild Things Are" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Jason Newsted | Metallica | 1997 | |||
| "Wherever I May Roam" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1991 | |||
| "Whiplash" | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich | Metallica | 1983 | |||
| "Whiskey in the Jar" | Traditional | Thin Lizzy | 1998 | |||
| "You Must Burn | " | James Hetfield Lars Ulrich Robert Trujillo | Metallica | 2023 | ||
| "You Really Got Me" (with Ray Davies) | Ray Davies | The Kinks | 2010 | [43] |