On Wednesday we asked you to vote for your favorite Metallica songs ever. With over 600 comments and thousands of votes, we've stacked up the results and have compiled one of our best lists ever.
This week Metallica announced plans to work on their next album, so maybe the band will improve on their recent releases and bring you new classic to add to this list in the future.
For now, though, you've done yourself proud with an absolutely killer list.
Bravo! Be sure to pass it on and share your opinion in the comments.
10. "The Mechanix" from "No Life 'Til Leather"
Dave Mustaine wrote this song and took it with him when he formed Megadeth. It's actually been recorded several times, first as part of Metallica's "No Life 'Til Leather" demo in 1982, and later adapted and re-titled "The Four Horsemen" on "Kill 'Em All" the next year - though Mustaine wasn't too happy about it.
9. "For Whom The Bell Tolls" from "Ride The Lightning"
This is based on Ernest Hemmingway's novel of the same title about the dishonor of modern warfare. Cliff Burton's classic overdriven bass intro recently made it to number 5 on our Top 10 Basslines Of All Time too.
8. "Orion" from "Master Of Puppets"
The only instrumental track from "Master Of Puppets" features five different solos over eight minutes. Two of them were by Cliff Burton, though some people mistake his driven bass for a guitar, because they're dummies. Clearly he and the band were proud of the song because it was played at his funeral in 1986.
7. "One" from "...And Justice For All"
Metallica finally hit the US Top 40 with this single from their forth album. "The idea for the opening came from a Venom song called 'Buried Alive'", James Hetfiel told Guitar World in 1991. "The kick drum machine-gun part near the end wasn't written with the war lyrics in mind, it just came out that way".
6. "Blackened" from "...And Justice For All"
Jason Newstead's first co-writing effort with the band about the end of human civilisation is a dark one indeed. The intro is a dual-guitar harmony that plays in reverse, which means the band need to rely on a recording before they can kick in with playing it live - but as this video proves, it can make for a perfect opener to their live sets.
5. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" from "Master Of Puppets"
The last single with Cliff Burton is about being trapped by insanity. James Hetfield has said he wrote it as a tribute to "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". If you caught the band live in the early 2000s, you might have heard them merging the song with "Master Of Puppets" which they lovingly titled "Mastertarium".
4. "Creeping Death" from "Ride The Lightning"
Metallica have played this song more than 1,360 times, and it's second only to "Master Of Puppets" at over 1,400 plays. It's based on the great plagues in the bible and apparently told from the perspective of Moses. While watching a film about the ten commandments, Cliff Burton said the plague that killed every Egyptian first-born child was "like creeping death", and in turn conceived the name to this classic track.
3. "Master Of Puppets" from "Master Of Puppets"
Their most played song is about how drugs can take over control of your body. It's often ranked as the most popular heavy metal song of all time (though it looks like UG readers disagree), and also gets a nod for having some of the best riffs ever.
2. "Ride The Lightening" from "Ride The Lightning"
Written from the perspective of someone sitting on death row and awaiting their electrocution, this is one of the final songs that credit Dave Mustaine as a songwriter.
1. "Fade To Black" from "Ride The Lightning"
Looks like you picked a great winner for this Metallica poll! When a song has a solo this good, it's no surprise, but there's a lot to love about "Fade To Black".
Lars Ulrich said that he and James Hetfield were obsessed with death at the time this song was produced, and once talked about how it came to be:
"That song was a big step for us... I wrote the song at a friend's house in New Jersey. I was pretty depressed at the time because our gear had just been stolen, and we had been thrown out of our manager's house for breaking shit and drinking his liquor cabinet dry.
"It's a suicide song, and we got a lot of flak for it, as if kids were killing themselves because of the song. But we also got hundreds of letters from kids telling us how they related to the song and that it made them feel better".
Here's your official UG best Metallica song ever. Enjoy!
That's the end of our top 10 best Metallica songs ever.
Remember to share the article using the Facebook and Twitter buttons in the top right, and if you think that an alternative Metallica song has gone criminally underrated, let us know about it in the comments.
Oh yea, if too many peoples opinion was different from yours and a song you didn't like ended up on the list it would make the entire list stupid and worthless because it is not your opinion.
Damn people and their differing opinions *shakes fist*
James said in an interview with Jim Breuer that if he was stranded on a desert island, and had one metallica song on tape to listen to, it would be fade to black...killer list overall
Ya I saw that one... Lar's was Suicide and Redemption. Kirk's was Enter Sandman. Robert's was My Apocalypse. I'm just dissapointed nothing from Death Magnetic made. At least, Unforgiven III. And No Leaf Clover (S&M Only).
It's actually a pretty good riff. Oh, and the fact that Pink Floyd created it and named the song around it "Goodbye Blue Sky" has something to do with it I guess.
One, Blackened, Master of Puppets, To Live is to Die, Orion, and Disposable Heroes are all better that the studio, but the live version is untouchable in my opinion. Also, Sister> day Dream Nation
Guitar World did a 100 Best Metallica Songs list a while back... because it's nearly impossible to limit it to a ten best. Reading the list I went 'good song... good song...' the whole way through. Then found myself asking 'what about...?'
Kinda like this list- hard to pick a top 10. If they do a '10 best Megadeth' list, it'll probably be dominated by songs with the Mustaine/Ellefson/Friedman/Menza lineup. At least, if I did one it would...
That's because all of their best songs are from the 80's. The first four albums are masterpieces that the other five (soon to be six) cannot ever top. Even if the 90's had some gems (Wherever I May Roam), none of them can top what Metallica put out in the 80's.
I think it has more so to do with the listener than the album.
Some people, such as yourself, seem to right off anything passed 1988 as inferior.
Some people, such as yourself, write-off new material as inferior before they've even heard it yet (at least give them a chance to write it first).
I guess when it comes down to it though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, since you can't please everybody it really is just a matter of taste; some people hold the first 4 up on a pedestal, while I actually consider Load their best album (you just gotta love how personal James Hetfield got on that album).
I agree had it not been for Load I would have never gotten in to Metallica. I would have loved to see King Nothing on this list, but over the years Ride the Lightning has excelled as my favorite album.
I will second this comment, and even go so far as to throw in Death Magnetic too. There are some killer songs on that album.
Problem is that Metallica were so great in the 80's that it's hard to top yourself.
I am confused as to how Sandman didn't make the cut. Overplayed or not...it's iconic.
I think it's the fact that a lot of people that frequent this site are diehard fans instead of just casual fans. I'm in that boat too. Sure Sandman is a cool song, and growing up in the late 80's/early 90's, that's most likely the first song you heard by Metallica (it was probably my first)....but after hearing everything else they have to offer, I just don't think it belongs in the top 10.
Don't forget The Struggle Within, Through The Never, Ain't My Bitch (am I the only one who likes it?), Hero Of The Day and a lot of stuff from Death Magnetic (I love that album). They should make a list just for the post ...and Justice For All stuff in my opinion.
UG must have made a mistake by not taking your vote as the deciding factor and instead did a silly thing by gathering the total sum of all votes. Hopefully they will not make this mistake again.
I hear ya, as stated before, it's pretty much impossible to list MetallicA's 10 best. But there's definitely the few diamonds that got overlooked, oh well, great list regardless.
...And Justice for All (song) isn't even on the list, the part in the article talking about the reversed intro is talking about Blackened.
Re-read the article, otherwise decent comment.
Damn I didn't know No life til leather counted.. I thought they only meant studio albums. In that case I would have said Jump in the Fire, Motorbreath, and hit the lights. All from No Life Til Leather. Dave Mustaine kills it on there and it opened te doors to so many things
That was one thing I was disappointed with was Motorbreath wasn't on here, but then again I don't remember anything off the Kill Em All album being on this list.
the list should be called... "Metallica's fans top 10 songs" because there are countless songs left out, you could argue that an entire album could be a top 10 itself
My favorites are a dead tie between One and Battery. There is literally nothing that could be done to those songs to make them better. They literally are my 100% perfect songs of all time. They are the kind of songs that I listen to multiple times per day and they NEVER get old.Just perfect songs in every way.
I felt like the S&M concert did a great job with One. I actually prefer it to the studio version. Both are great though. With that said, I do prefer Battery as the album version.
So, with the risk of sounding like a dumbass, who's the one singing in The Mechanix? Is it James? Or is it Dave? Because it doesn't really sound like James, but James is (obviously) the lead singer...
I'd pick songs from Load/Reload over songs from DM, but I'm also surprised that nothing from the black album made it on here. I am glad that Enter Sandman isn't on this list.
Yeah but you can't please everyone. If enter sandman were on this list everyone would moan about how it's too predictable a choice. Metalheads are pretty much impossible to please. There's always a handful that complain.
features five different solos over eight minutes. Two of them were by Cliff Burton, though some people mistake his driven bass for a guitar, because they're dummies.
That would be 4 different solos, with 1 by Burton. The beginning of the 2nd half of the song isn't a solo. That's like saying Hetfield is soloing every time he starts a song with a riff.
Oh, and we got:
"For Whom The Bell Tolls" from "Ride The Lightning "
"Creeping Death" from "Ride The Lightning "
"Fade To Black" from "Ride The Lightning "
And yet, then we have:
"Ride The Lightening " from "Ride The Lightning "
For god's sake, where is the usual copy/paste when you need it??!
Well he is playing a lead overtop the rhythm guitar in that section, I guess it's boarder line between the two
"(...) some people mistake his driven bass for a guitar, because they're dummies.
A bit harsh UG, it's an understandable mistake. At the time, basses didn't sound like that and bass players certainly didn't play like that. No need to belittle when you've probably made the same mistake yourself at one point.
Then you must not know the solo at 6:35 is bass, there are 2 bass solos in Orion, one at 1:42 and another at 6:35.
It's an honest mistake, most people can't tell it's bass, I won't call you a "dummie" like UG since it just validates my point further.
What can we as fans say, everyone screams ...And Justice For All. But fan based polls on songs have prooven that Ride the Lightning is the BEST METALLICA album
no, just no dude. have a listen to the solos in four horsemen and compare again. kirks solo is in timing, in tune, and cleaner. it sounds better in every way. no offense to mustaine, but he really wasnt that greata lead guitarist in his no life til leather and KimB days.
@bustapr - I'm sorry, but are you deaf? Even with the shittier recording quality of The Mechanix, it's clearly audible that Dave's solo is MUCH cleaner and MUCH more accurate. That said, I think The Four Horsemen is a lot better track overall.
Where the hell is No Remorse? Probably my favourite off of Kill 'Em All. And Call of Ktulu (S&M version) should be on there over most of the rest of the list.
I second your inclusion for the S&M version of Call of Ktulu. Personally, its my favourite Metallica song of all time. There were about three years there after its release that I listened to it everyday.
Four songs from Ride the Lightning, The Mechanix, and no Enter Sandman... for once, this UG list isn't awful doesn't seem like it was made by a 12-year-old. It could use something more from Kill 'em All though.
The fact that this list only contains songs from the 80's releases makes me wonder why they still sell so many records...dude back then they kicked some serious ASS, man. Had to be fade to black imo. Breathtaking masterpiece.
That's a complete load of bullshit.
This is such a crappy list, and it's pretty sad so many people here gave it a thumbs up, but the top ten all-time guitarists list wasn't perceived as well. That list was by far the best guitarist list i've ever seen. It just shows how many ****in idiots there are here.
Not necessarily. But people always think "if I show that I like the old stuff I show that I'm a real fan", or "only I know Metallica because I still remember how it was like in the old days, which makes me more of a fan than those who listen to Death Magnetic".
I agree.. But the first four were heavy metal thrash... I liked Death Magnetic because of the old feel that made them returned. The Black Album was good and had some awesome songs.. I just feel that it was hit or miss after black album up untill magnetic.
Death Magnetic was awesome... But the recording was bullshit. I think St. Anger would be cool too just if Lars hadn't put the snare drum. Awesome list, proves Ride the Lightning is a great album. I think Clover and Ktulu should've been there somewhere. But it's hard to pick only 10 greatest Metallica songs. Load and Reload has some good stuff, like Unforgiven II, Until It Sleep, and Outlaw Torn.
Impossible to make a list of 10 metallica songs that will satisfy everyone, as my favorite Metallica song doesn't appear on the list and the only one in there I can saw I would really enjoy is Orion. Don't get me wrong they are great songs; however certainly not my fan favorites of this band. Anesthesia...Pulling Teeth, Call of Ktulu, Seek and Destroy, Battery, Hit the Lights, No Leaf Clover, Unforgiven I guess I like the crappier Metallica more
Anesthesia is a great song and battery and the call of kthulu are as well.. I suggested Orion on Wed. Because I love it and thought it highlighted the group as a whole. But ur favs are far from crappy...
Such a cliché list. As if it's only good if it's old. Music fans always think they have to like old stuff to be a conaisseur. Don't get me wrong, these songs are great, but I think post-1990 Metallica deserves some credit too.
It's funny how Master Of Puppets was able to make it to 2nd place on UG's list of best metal songs of all time but could only make it to 3rd on their own list.
quite good list. my personal list wouldnt have included the justice songs, that albums sound just bugs me for some reason. i wouldve taken out a few and included holier than thou, unforgiven, and all nightmare long. but still respectable list. fade to black solo is my personal favorite solo of all time.
Cool list, a bit disappointed that Disposable Heroes and Battery didn't make it, but still a pretty good list with a worthy #1. Fade to Black is one of their most grand and emotional songs for sure, the guitar work is brilliant as well as the overall guitar tone on Ride the Lightning.
one was #7.. shoulda been #1 though cause I always like debating their slower tracks lol. and fade to black and one being the most alike, at least one sort lifts you back up at the end rather than "fading to black" all sad and shit. i'll stfu up though cause both are great.
All Nightmare Long. Suicide and Redemption. Unforgiven III. Clover. Ktulu. Hate Train. Astronomy. To Love Is To Die. The Day That Never Comes. The House That Jack Built. I Disappear. Wherever I May Roam. Nothing Else Matters.Just A Bullet Away. Anesthesia.
Should be in there own list called "Metallica's Top 15 JR . List."
Really good list I must say. I would have added Ktulu towards the top myself but that's me. Other than that really fantastically ranked list. Kudos UG readers.
Your list seems to be missing Dyer's Eve and Disposable Heroes.This list is invalid. I could in the least give Damage Inc an honorable mention if not actually including it on the list.
also. fourth not forth. spell check people.
I should add though...Thank you for not trying to include anything from St Anger or Death Magnetic. That would have just made me question you as human beings.
I really wish Unforgiven II had made it. I think its by far the best songwriting they've ever done, and probably ever will do. Yeah, its not as heavy, but its a really full song. But I guess its just me.
I'm not trying to start a fight here, but honestly I didn't really dig Unforgiven 2. I just didn't like its vibe.... its too cheesy.... the slide guitar, the lyrics..... That's just my opinion though.
It fits with where Met were at that time, around Load/Reload. I personally like it, as I enjoy the textured, layered and introspective approach the band took around that time
Number 2 is my favourite of the unforgivens, I've always thought it to be one of Metallica's most emotive songs. I also would've lied to see No Leaf Clover on this list, it's a really unique song
Eh, no it's not. Hetfield has said it is about drugs. What also said was that years later he realised the lyrics could also be applied to how alcohol had control over him.
"Needlework the way..."
"Chop your breakfast on a mirror"
No disrespect to Dave Mustaine or his song writing but I'm not surprised Het reworked those lyrics into something else after Mustaine was given the heave-ho. The lyrics from the Mechanix are terrible and totally out of place with the other lyrical themes on KEA . They read like something much more akin to what glam metal bands were singing about at the time with cheesily obvious and overly macho car engine-sex analogies.
1) One
2) Fade to Black
3) Master of Puppets
4) Nothing Else Matters
5) Enter Sandman
6) For Whom the Bell Tolls
7) Battery
8) No Leaf Clover
9) Seek and Destroy
10) All Nightmare Long
You def. cant argue that any of these songs suck, BUT MY top ten would go something like
1. The Thing that should not be
2. Of wolf and Man
3. Through the never
4. For whom the bell tolls
5. Seek and Destroy
6. Jump in the fire
7. Battery
8. To live is to die
9. Master of Puppets
10. fade to black
Good list... I've been listening to Metallica for about 25 years and Fade to Black has still got me hurting my neck from head bangin'! I was actually impressed that nothing from the Black Album was on the list. I remember watching MTV waiting for the Enter Sandman video to come on for the first time. Good lord, was that a disappointment. So Top 40... My girlfriend at the time even liked that song and she was a Depeche Mode fan. At that point, I knew the album would suck. I went to the concert, and it was full of kiddies with their parents, no joke. What can I say, to each their own... I prefer some good covers like Breadfan and Am I Evil? over most of that album. Ok, I'm done. For now. Ok, I liked Death Magnetic. Now I'm done.
Nothing from Black Album or newer? And you throw a Megadeth song on the list? Granted Black Album to Death Magnetic were not as legendary as their first few albums, but there are still good songs on those albums. Quit voting for Master of Puppets. That song is played so much it's tiring. I don't even want to hear it anymore and if I was James, I would retire that song. Try to have more of an open mind people. As much as I don't like these songs either because of how over played they are, I would have expected to see at least Enter Sandman or Sad But True. After all a Metallica set without Enter Sandman would just be blasphemy since everyone expects them to play that song at every gig.
I agree with both vinnym86 and Redon13. Metallica please give us a setlist without these songs. No I do not mean replace them with St Anger songs either. I'm careful with what I wish for cause I may regret it or just might get it. King Nothing reference there lol.
Wow...can't believe Fade to Black made it to first. It's my favourite song of all time, Metallica, or otherwise, but still...wouldn't have expected it to be first. Awesome list, as you would expect. Don't appreciate Mechanix being in there. Four Horsemen is better...the best part of the song being the middle that was added by Kirk Hammett. Also, I find Hammett's solos on that song far better.
I only miss two songs on this list - "Harvester of sorrow" and most importantly "To live is to die" - but otherwise great list, much better than I expected - and kudos for the Orion entry!
Not the shittiest list I've ever seen here, but not a really good one either. Probably because everyone who voted was an 80's Metallica fanboy. Seriously, nothing from the Black Album?! Have you people no emotions whatsoever? Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and Wherever I May Roam, just to name a few, are more than worth being on this list. Just because something isn't thrash, doesn't mean it isn't metal. And it sure as hell doesn't mean it isn't GOOD metal.
On another note, The Four Horsemen is much better than The Mechanix (especially lyric-wise) and Battery runs circles around Orion. Also, Creeping Death isn't told from the perspective of Moses, but that of the creeping death itself ("I'm sent here by the chosen one (...) To kill the first born pharaoh's son / I'm creeping death").
I think the problem is they asked everyone for the single top song, not a list of their own. If I had to put my top 10 Metallica songs I'd definitely have some from the self-titled and further, but my #1, like for most people, was an older song.
Notice that all these songs are pre Black album. Therefore Metallica before 1990's=Good!!!Metallica after 1990's=Not so much. Bar some Black album stuff.
Not bad but obviously the more complex song Metallica has & noboy cares about it much is The Frayed Ends Of Sanity, I would wiped out Blackened & include this one, but it's about tastes soo...it's the same anyways
this list is based on what people voted in the comments section of another article. so why are people complaining that "X" or "Y" didn't make the list? if anything you should blame the UG users lol
Mechanix is good but I prefer the four horsemen. People say the intro sounds so badass but the slow solo Kirk put in is so much better. And just because its fast doesn't make it better. I know I'm going to get thumbs down from the butthurt and another Kirk vs Dave fight.
I rather Hammet's solos around and after the And Justice album. He's a terrific player, but he never came nearly Mustaine at his worst moments, there is just NO WAY to compare.
I would've liked to see ...And Justice For All or Eye Of The Beholder up there, they are (in my opinion) the best Metallica songs (lyric-wise), but the ten songs on the list are truly great ones (no complaints).
Great songs, not a full on thrashing list though. I gotta say that some Metallica covers, like blitzkrieg or remember tomorrow for example, should have at least a mention in this list. Also the 90's material are ****ing flawless.
I love this list! A shame Enter Sandman didn't make it. Also, I think One and Master of Puppets are better than Fade to Black, but good list nonetheless!
**** off... it sounds like you haven't heard "All Nightmare Long. Suicide and Redemption. Hate Train. I Disappear. Just A Bullet Away. Hell And Back. No Leaf Clover..."
Seriously, Metallica post AJFA wasn't thrashy but still was metal and awesome.
If I had a top 10 favorites (that's favorites as in my opinion not the set in stone greatest)...
10) Enter Sandman
9) Harvester of Sorrow
8) Mama Said
7) Attitude
6) Ain't My Bitch
5) No Remorse
4) Master of Puppets
3) Leper Messiah
2) Creeping Death
1) Disposable Heroes
Just because you're tired of hearing Enter Sandman doesn't make it a bad song. Yeah it's overplayed as hell but it was so influential in making metal music more widely accepted and definitely deserves to be on this list. Besides that I definitely approve of this top ten!
Good list, but I would have removed sanitarium for DH and one (though fantastic) for dyers eve. Also, I had always heard that "one" was written by hetfield about his "mythical magical marshall" being stolen. I prefer to believe that story.LOL.
Wouldn't it be nice to think that somehow Metallica might actually see this poll and finally accept that everything they did from the 1990's until current day sucked.
I'll never forget buying MoP back in 86 and running home to pop it in the tape deck. By the time i flipped the tape over to side two my life had changed.
Exactly what I said haha. It's not even a favorite song of mine, but what the song did for the band (how many people know Metallica because of MTV and the radio pimping out Enter Sandman everyday? quite youngin's, some of us didn't grow up on the net :p ), it amazes me it didn't even make the top 10.
But this song (and album) is the exact reason why they lost so many fans from the 80's. When I saw the hoards of Top40 fans all of a sudden liking Metallica, they became instantly uncool and have remained that way since.
I like the Black album and Load and Reload because it showed who the true Metallica fans were. The poseurs just stopped listening to it after the Black album. Real Metallica fans (like me) would hold on to the Hate Train and follow Metallica through.
Shouldn't the article read "UG's Favorite Metallica Songs"?? A tiny group of people voted for their favorite songs lol, how does that even come close to being able to claim "Top 10 Metallica Songs Ever"?
Dyers Eve, To Live Is To Die, Whiplash, No Remorse, Metal Militia, The Frayed Ends of Sanity, Eye of the Beholder, ...
I know that not every song can make it in this super irrelevant list, but it still bugs me that there are always "overrated" songs in lists like this. Don't get me wrong! Those songs are not bad! Fucking awesome actually ( ! ) but what about the "underrated" songs? Do you even know some of the songs above? If not, you're not a fan and go kill yourself ;P (or go listen it!)
