{"title":"Metallica","description":"\u003ch2\u003eAbout Metallica\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMetallica formed in Los Angeles in October 1981 around drummer Lars Ulrich (a Danish immigrant) and guitarist\/vocalist James Hetfield. Dave Mustaine was the band's lead guitarist from 1982 to April 1983 before being fired and forming Megadeth; Kirk Hammett (formerly of Exodus) replaced him. Cliff Burton joined as bassist in late 1982 and shaped the band's musical direction with his classical music influences. They are widely cited as one of the Big Four of American thrash metal alongside Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax. Burton died in a tour bus accident in Sweden on September 27, 1986 at age 24; he was replaced by Jason Newsted. Their 1991 self-titled fifth album (the Black Album) became one of the highest-selling rock albums of all time with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. Newsted departed in 2001; Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne) joined as bassist in 2003. They launched their own Blackened Recordings label in 2012. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Their foundational influence on heavy metal and broader rock music is widely documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSound and style\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMetallica's sound is foundational to thrash metal and broader heavy metal - combining thrash metal, heavy metal, hard rock, speed metal, and (in their post-1991 catalog) hard rock and alternative metal with Hetfield's distinctive vocal delivery, Ulrich's drumming, Hammett's lead guitar work, and varied compositional approaches across their multi-decade catalog. Their foundational influence on heavy metal as a recognized genre is widely documented.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eDiscography highlights\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKill 'Em All (1983, Megaforce)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRide the Lightning (1984, Megaforce\/Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaster of Puppets (1986, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e...And Justice for All (1988, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMetallica (the Black Album) (1991, Elektra) - 30M+ copies sold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLoad (1996, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReLoad (1997, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eS\u0026amp;M (1999, Elektra) - with San Francisco Symphony\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSt. Anger (2003, Elektra)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDeath Magnetic (2008, Warner Bros.)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016, Blackened)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e72 Seasons (2023, Blackened)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFor collectors\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOriginal Megaforce and Elektra pressings of the 1980s Metallica catalog are widely collected. Multiple anniversary editions, audiophile reissues, and the comprehensive Blackened Recordings reissue programs have been released. The Black Album has received multiple anniversary edition treatments.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhere to start\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eListeners new to Metallica typically start with Master of Puppets (1986) or Metallica (the Black Album, 1991). \u003cspan class=\"related-collections\"\u003eExplore more: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/metal-vinyl-records\"\u003eMetal\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"metallica-black-album-cd","title":"Black Album CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eDigitally remastered. The Black Album is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of all time, with global sales of over 35 million, and contains a series of unrelenting singles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540729770167,"sku":"210000062781","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3986546-3324786.jpg?v=1781154031"},{"product_id":"metallica-reload-cassette-remastered","title":"Reload CASSETTE","description":"\u003cp\u003eShips - 6\/26\/2026 - Reload remastered on cassette - Reuben Cohen's new master gives magnetic punch and tape warmth to 'Fuel' and the album's heavy grooves; issued with an 8-panel j-card.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540751298743,"sku":"210000105893","price":16.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4515298-3606143.jpg?v=1781154129"},{"product_id":"metallica-5-98","title":"5.98 EP","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica covers 5 excellent old punk and\/or NWoBHM anthems from Killing Joke, Budgie, and more!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540883026103,"sku":"210000034742","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3764161.jpg?v=1781154602"},{"product_id":"metallica-master-of-puppets-vinyl","title":"Master of Puppets LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn 2016, the album became the first metal album to be added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress, an honor granted to works deemed \"culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant\".\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540883124407,"sku":"210000032608","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/metallica.jpg?v=1781154603"},{"product_id":"metallica-ride-the-lightning-vinyl","title":"Ride the Lightning LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eRide the Lightning is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 27, 1984, by the independent record label Megaforce Records.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540883157175,"sku":"210000038123","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/r-8385645-1463553159-3537jpeg.jpg?v=1781154602"},{"product_id":"metallica-kill-em-all-vinyl","title":"Kill 'em All LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eKill 'Em All is regarded as a groundbreaking album for thrash metal because of its precise musicianship, which fuses new wave of British heavy metal riffs with hardcore punk tempos.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540883189943,"sku":"210000037763","price":28.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/r-1259481-1265953833jpeg.jpg?v=1781154604"},{"product_id":"metallica-black-album-vinyl-180g","title":"Black Album 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter years of wild thrash metal, Metallica simplified everything and became the biggest band in the world. The Black Album’s dark, muscular sound would permanently alter the course of heavy music.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540972351671,"sku":"210000062645","price":33.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/metall.jpg?v=1781154913"},{"product_id":"metallica-reload-vinyl","title":"Reload 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eShips - 6\/26\/2026 - Reload (Remastered); Metallica on 180g 2LP (black vinyl). Newly remastered by Reuben Cohen; pressed as a double LP in a gatefold with two inserts and MP3 download. Features 'Fuel' and other album favorites.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541038379191,"sku":"210000105892","price":41.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4515294-3606131.jpg?v=1781155178"},{"product_id":"metallica-load-vinyl-remastered","title":"Load 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eLoad is the follow-up to Metallica, the best-selling album of the Soundscan era. It contains fan favorites including \"Until It Sleeps,\" \"Hero of the Day,\" and \"King Nothing,\" and for the first time ever, the original extended version of \"The Outlaw Torn\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48541038444727,"sku":"210000098231","price":41.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/metallic.jpg?v=1781155179"},{"product_id":"metallica-kill-em-all-cd","title":"Kill 'Em All CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica's \"Kill 'Em All\" doesn't just usher in thrash metal; it delivers a clear message: precision can clash violently with pure chaos. Tracks like \"Whiplash\" and \"Hit the Lights\" embody a duality where aggression is artfully arranged, leaving peers in the dust. This isn't merely a debut; it's a bold statement that speed and volume form the backbone of calculated fury.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785646682295,"sku":"210000037323","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3018088-3324787.jpg?v=1783045541"},{"product_id":"metallica-ride-the-lightning-cd","title":"Ride the Lightning CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eExperience Metallica's musical evolution with the \"Ride the Lightning\" CD, a digitally remastered edition of their iconic 1984 album. This landmark record, produced by Flemming Rasmussen and known for its thought-provoking lyrical depth, includes powerful tracks like \"Fight Fire with Fire\" and \"For Whom the Bell Tolls,\" showcasing the band’s mastery of both thrash metal intensity and sophisticated compositions.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785646747831,"sku":"210000048013","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3018099-3324788.jpg?v=1783045540"},{"product_id":"metallica-master-of-puppets-cd","title":"Master of Puppets CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica's \"Master of Puppets\" CD delivers a blunt force of sound and thematic weight, pushing boundaries in heavy metal. Each track, from \"Battery\" to the title piece, offers a sharp dissection of control and chaos. With six Platinum certifications behind it, this album sits where few dare tread, in the National Recording Registry; a rare honor for a metal album.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785655857335,"sku":"210000061482","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3250270-3324789.jpg?v=1783045566"},{"product_id":"metallica-and-justice-for-all-cd","title":"...And Justice for All CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen ...And Justice for All dropped in '88, it hit like a thunderstorm crashing onto a calm beach; a whirlwind of intensity and thought. This CD packs Metallica's sophisticated riffs and biting lyrics about political injustice and war into just twenty-eight minutes, proving heavy metal packs more than just a punch. \"One\" stands tall like a flickering beacon amid chaos, ringing true for anyone who's felt the pressure of the world. Brace yourself for an outburst that cuts through suburbia louder than your neighbor's lawn maintenance on a sleepy Sunday.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785656086711,"sku":"210000090723","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3573624-3324790.jpg?v=1783045566"},{"product_id":"metallica-load-remastered-cd","title":"Load (remastered) CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica's Load returns with a potency that reverberates through each track. This remastered edition intensifies classics like \"Until It Sleeps\" and \"King Nothing,\" sharpening every riff and lyric into a gripping experience. Produced by Bob Rock and refined by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, it stands unapologetically powerful, just like the band. Prepare to turn up the volume; this is where Metallica commands attention.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785668341943,"sku":"210000098200","price":15.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4426875-3396708.jpg?v=1783045601"},{"product_id":"metallica-reload-cd","title":"Reload CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica's Reload maintains the band's heavy sound under Blackened Recordings. Featuring tracks like \"Fuel\" and \"The Unforgiven II,\" it delivers the same audio as its 1997 Elektra release. There are no new surprises here; just straightforward Metallica material for fans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785691377847,"sku":"210000090724","price":12.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2310797.jpg?v=1783045667"},{"product_id":"metallica-s-m2-san-francisco-symphony-cd","title":"S\u0026M2 \u0026 San Francisco Symphony 2CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe collaboration between Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony is no mere gimmick; it's like discovering a gourmet burger paired with a craft brew; unexpected yet entirely fitting. S\u0026amp;M2 invigorates classic tracks, turning familiar anthems into grand symphonic expressions, complete with knockout audio that'll leave you grinning. Over two hours of stunning sound celebrate a monumental concert, marking an electrifying chapter for both the band and the venue, proving Metallica still knows how to shake the rafters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785698554039,"sku":"210000050114","price":14.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/3840857-2584870.jpg?v=1783045689"},{"product_id":"metallica-re-load-vinyl","title":"Re-Load 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe grinding intensity of Metallica's Re-Load 2LP roars like a freight train streaking through a moonlit night. This double vinyl resurrects the 1997 masterpiece with a clash of raw power and melodic intricacy, highlighted by tracks like \"Fuel\" and \"The Unforgiven II.\" Released by Blackened Recordings, it shatters the pavement of metal's evolution while rooted in those gritty streetwise origins. For warriors of heavy metal yearning for authenticity, this record is a clarion call.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785820090551,"sku":"210000069453","price":42.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/2748348.jpg?v=1783046011"},{"product_id":"metallica-and-justice-for-all-vinyl","title":"... And Justice for All 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eWritten after the death of bassist Cliff Burton, this is Metallica’s infamously abrasive masterpiece.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785820516535,"sku":"210000035515","price":45.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/r-371162-1531515576-1093jpeg.jpg?v=1783046013"},{"product_id":"metallica-garage-inc-vinyl-import-portugal","title":"Garage Inc. 3LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eMetallica's \"Garage Inc. 3LP\" serves up a compelling collection, presenting the Garage Days Re-Revisited EP alongside rare B-sides that highlight the band's inventive spirit. Thick, beautifully pressed vinyl from Portugal enhances the tactile experience, allowing tracks like \"Whiskey in the Jar\" and \"Am I Evil\" to resonate powerfully. This three-disc set illustrates distinct phases in Metallica's artistic growth, inviting fans to immerse themselves in the depth of the band's influences and musical evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48785847910583,"sku":"210000059357","price":45.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/1820250.jpg?v=1783046090"},{"product_id":"metallica-reload-cd-remastered","title":"Reload CD","description":"\u003cp\u003eReload, newly remastered and issued on CD in a wallet sleeve with printed inner sleeve and booklet. The remaster; overseen by Greg Fidelman and mastered by Reuben Cohen; sharpens the album’s punch without softening its grit; tracks such as \"Fuel\" and \"The Memory Remains\" land with renewed clarity and weight. A compact, late-night-ready reissue for fans and racks alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wax Trax Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48860503441591,"sku":"210000106839","price":15.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0745\/5755\/4871\/files\/4515295-3606129.jpg?v=1783653951"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.waxtraxrecords.com\/collections\/metallica.oembed","provider":"Wax Trax Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}