Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California, by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The early lineup took shape around Hetfield's rhythm guitar and Ulrich's drums, with guitarist Dave Mustaine contributing material before his departure in 1983. Kirk Hammett joined as lead guitarist that year, and bassist Cliff Burton joined in 1982. Burton died in 1986 during a European tour, and Jason Newsted became the bassist in 1987. Since 2003, Robert Trujillo has been the band's bassist.

Metallica helped define thrash metal through fast tempos, aggressive guitar riffs, and technical precision on albums such as Kill 'Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), and Master of Puppets (1986). After Burton's death, ...And Justice for All (1988) broadened their musical scope, while the self-titled Black Album (1991) brought substantial mainstream success with tracks like Enter Sandman.

The band has continued releasing albums across the decades, including Load (1996), Reload (1997), St. Anger (2003), Death Magnetic (2008), Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016), and 72 Seasons (2023). They issued the live album S&M (1999) with the San Francisco Symphony and its 2019 successor S&M2. In 2012 they founded Blackened Recordings to reissue and release new material.

Metallica is one of the most commercially successful and influential heavy metal bands, widely regarded as part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal alongside Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. The group has sold more than 125 million records worldwide, earned numerous awards including multiple Grammys, and remains active through extensive touring and recording.