Story Behind the Song

Opening with a thrashy mish-mash of distortion and ear-piercing drums, Metallica's 'Hit the Lights' is four minutes and seventeen seconds of non-stop metal. As the first track to 1983's 'Kill 'Em All,' 'Hit the Lights' sets the stage for what fans can expect from the album as a whole...

"The Memory Remains" features Marianne Faithfull and is one of Metallica's most recognizable songs in the live setting.

In 2003, Metallica released their eighth studio album, a record that will forever carry with it much controversy. Prior to 'St. Anger,' it seemed like everything was headed in the right direction; seven studio albums into their career and Metallica had sold millions upon millions of records, picked up several industry awards and even recorded an epic performance with the San Francisco Symphony...

While slower than the stereotypical thrash tune, "Creeping Death" keeps the efforts Metallica made with 'Kill 'Em All' alive and strong.

When you think of Metallica and cover songs, certain bands immediately pop into your head: The Misfits, Motorhead and Black Sabbath, just to name a few. A band you might not think of is actually responsible for one of Metallica's most popular cover songs. Originally released in 1974, Queen's 'Stone Cold Crazy' has turned into a staple in Metallica's deep cover catalog.

The fifth single from Metallica's ninth studio album, 'All Nightmare Long' might be one of the heaviest tunes churned out by the band in recent memory. As the epitome of what 'Death Magnetic' stands for as an album,' 'All Nightmare Long' features killer guitar riffs, speedy rhythms and face-melting solos...

Released as the third single from 1988's '...And Justice for All,' "One" has become a staple among Metallica fans' favorite tracks of all time.

As the opening track on 1991's self-titled album, Metallica's 'Enter Sandman' is one of the most well-known songs from the band's last three decades. With a memorable opening guitar riff, the song lays the foundation for what fans affectionately call 'The Black Album...