Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles. Founded by James Hetfield (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums), the band has become one of the most influential and best-selling in music history. Their debut album Kill 'Em All (1983) marked the beginning of the thrash metal genre, and the subsequent album Ride the Lightning (1984) further refined their sound. With their third album Master of Puppets (1986), the band reached a peak of creativity but tragically lost bassist Cliff Burton in a bus accident during a tour. After Burton's death, Jason Newsted became the bassist, and the band continued their successful run with albums like ...And Justice for All (1988) and Metallica (1991), known as "The Black Album," which brought them global fame with hits like "Enter Sandman" and "Nothing Else Matters." Throughout the 1990s, the band experimented with musical styles through albums Load (1996) and Reload (1997), while controversies surrounding Napster and Newsted's departure in 2001 marked a turbulent period. New bassist Robert Trujillo joined the band in 2003. Continued success followed with albums Death Magnetic (2008) and Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016). The band was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2023, Metallica released their 11th studio album, 72 Seasons, which was praised for its energy and a return to the roots of thrash metal.