April 2023  ·  Released July 25, 1983

July 25, 1983: the day that changed heavy metal forever. The debut album that did for thrash metal what Black Sabbath's debut did for heavy metal — heavier, faster, and more aggressive than anything that had come before it. The first shot fired in a sonic revolution. Cliff Burton introduced music theory to the band, contributing to the quantum leap in song-craft from the demo days. Also: find out which Metallica song was the first to have keyboards and acoustic guitars, and always remember — junts are for metal.

August 2020  ·  Released July 27, 1984

The first official Metallica Metal Nerdery episode. Ride the Lightning is one of the most glorious sophomore slams in metal history — right up there with Paranoid and Vulgar Display of Power. The title was derived from Stephen King's The Stand. Cliff Burton co-wrote 6 of the 8 tracks. Dave Mustaine — tangentionally related by Megadeth and no longer in the band — co-wrote 2. Features Bill's take on For Whom the Bell Tolls and the eternal hatred of Escape. That's NOT a bell.

2020  ·  Released March 3, 1986

The Holy Grail of Metal. Library of Congress. 8× Platinum with zero commercial radio airplay. Everyone has a MOP story. It's one of those albums — each listen reveals something new that changes the experience going forward. Sublimely and brutally transcendental in every facet of its creation. The Baklava of James Hetfield's rhythm guitar sound. Battery is #cantbeloudenough. Orion is baby-making music. Damage Inc. drops F-bombs in the last 28 seconds for one reason: because it can. ZERO TRACKING CHANGES NEEDED.

2021  ·  Released August 1987

After the devastating loss of Cliff Burton on the Master of Puppets tour, Metallica needed to introduce their new bassist to the world. Enter Jason Newsted. Enter Garage Days. The cheapest and arguably one of the best thrash metal EPs ever released. The production is legendarily crystal clear for a "garage" recording — almost as if Rick Rubin had a hand in the not-so-produced producedness of it all. If you're ever in doubt of how killer a bass sound should be, re-revisit this. Then let it ring out. Okay turn it off now.

2022  ·  Released September 7, 1988

The most progressive thrash metal album ever released by the biggest thrash metal band on the planet. The Last Great Metallica Album. The Pre-Black-Album Album. No other record in metal sounds anything like AJFA — its sheer progressive ambition was unlike anything they'd done before or would do again. #justiceforjason — the bass is there in the low end if you look for it. "One" was Metallica's first music video and first Grammy performance. The reversed intro to Blackened still hits like a freight train.

September 2021  ·  30th Anniversary  ·  Released August 12, 1991

The first time with Bob Rock. You can ACTUALLY hear The Jason playing The Bass again. Enter Sandman: the cleanest guitar sound ever captured on a Metallica album. Sad But True is tuned down a whole step and someone ordered the extra balls. This is basically Metallica's "Exciter" moment. You can hear the Motley Crue Dr. Feelgood DNA in the production — hence the need for the Bob Rock. Also: The Unforgiven is a romantical ballad, Don't Tread on Me is the Gadsden Flag in song form, and Nothing Else Matters was described as an extremely #romanticalballad. 30 years on — still the most powerful force in all of metal.

April 2023  ·  Load: June 1996 / Reload: November 1997

After touring the ever-living hell out of the Black Album, Metallica released Load and Reload from the same sessions — originally intended as one massive double album, but concern about "too much to swallow" led to two distinct loads. Loaded with sonic experimentations including 70s classic rock, country, and stoner metal riffs — the Loads sound like absolutely nothing else in the catalog. The task: building the perfect combined Load. Until It Sleeps should be the opener. The Unforgiven II is a country song. Slither is almost AC/DC. The Loads of Anger live at the bottom — the bottom is filled with Anger and Loads.

August 2023  ·  Released November 1998

Metallica's definitive covers collection — and one of the best arguments for the power of their sonic identity. Every band they cover sounds like Metallica by the time they're done with it. Disc 1 is new recordings; Disc 2 collects the Garage Days EP and other previous covers. Their Motörhead covers are outstanding — see also the Motörhead episode for "Stone Dead Forever." Their version of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath introduced an entire generation to that song. That CRUNCH.

March 2025  ·  Released September 12, 2008

The Rick Rubin produced 9th studio album and the first featuring Robert Trujillo on bass — even though he joined the band in 2003 around the time St. Anger sessions wrapped. Death Magnetic confirmed that Metallica was 100% back — guitar solos returned (famously absent from St. Anger), the classic logo came back, and the sound harkened all the way to the Lightning and Puppets era. "A good creepy soft intro preceded by the heartbeat of thrash, something missing since at least The Black Album." The Loads of Anger are still at the bottom. The bottom is filled with Anger and Loads.

November 2021  ·  5th Anniversary  ·  Released November 18, 2016

Released on what has now been declared Metallica Day (November 18 — also the release date of Reload). Hardwired is the 10th studio album and the reassurance that Metallica was 100% back in the saddle again. Tell me you cannot hear Hardwired (the track) coming right after Justice. No buildup, no soft intro — straight into the meat. Atlas, Rise has that Black Album PLUS vibe. Moth into Flame is definitely a favourite. Halo on Fire is the culmulation of every era of the band from beginning to now. "Almost like some Sabbath and Maiden spices were sprinkled in the mix."

June 2024  ·  The 1986 Head-to-Head — Parts 1 & 2

The most brutal Death Match in Metal Nerdery history — and the most inevitable. Two albums released in the same year that together define what thrash metal is. The deliberation was not easy. Comparing them is like comparing tacos and spaghetti: equally incredible yet vastly unique. Battery vs Angel of Death. Orion vs Raining Blood. Damage Inc. vs Criminally Insane. Two parts across two episodes. The verdict was reached. The carnage was real. Also referenced in the Class of 1986 episode.

January 2025  ·  Deep cuts from the First Four albums of all Big Four bands

Deep cuts from the first four albums of each Big Four band — Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax. For Metallica: Phantom Lord from Kill 'Em All ("probably the least played — AND it's got keyboards on it"), Jump in the Fire, Trapped Under Ice, and Escape from Ride the Lightning. Escape: "It's trying to be Maiden… it's a good song though." The eternal Escape debate continues.

January 2025  ·  Deep cuts from the Second Four albums of all Big Four bands

The second round of Big Four deep cuts — moving into the second set of four albums for each band. For Metallica: the deeper cuts of Ride the Lightning through the Black Album era. The perfect companion episode to Vol. 1 for any serious student of thrash metal.

February 2023  ·  The second album head-to-head — Metallica vs Megadeth

Two of the most important follow-up albums in thrash history go head-to-head. Ride the Lightning (1984) vs Peace Sells… But Who's Buying? (1986) — the pre-Puppets Puppets against the Megadeth classic that put Dave Mustaine in the conversation permanently. Track by track: Fight Fire with Fire vs Wake Up Dead. Ride the Lightning vs Peace Sells. Creeping Death vs My Last Words. The Call of Ktulu vs I Ain't Superstitious. "Those first three Metallica albums are like the first six Black Sabbath albums." Is it a lightning dildo? The debate has never been resolved.

November 13, 2025  ·  The Cliff Burton vs Jason Newsted era showdown

The internal Metallica Death Match nobody saw coming — the greatest album from the Cliff Burton era against the greatest album from the Jason Newsted era. Side 1 sets the terms: Puppets represents the end of one era, Justice the beginning of another. Battery vs Blackened as killer openers. The album covers compared. Early concert memories. "The Black Album is closer to Puppets than AJFA." "You go to the peak of your ability… that's what Justice was… it was their Hemispheres." #Rushtallica.

November 20, 2025  ·  The nail-biting conclusion — and the shocking verdict

The math doesn't sync up perfectly track for track on Side 2, but they worked out the math to keep it "Even Steven." Orion vs To Live Is to Die — the instrumental showdown. Damage Inc. vs Dyers Eve. "That riff… is nothing but sack." "Dyers Eve — surgical… precise… clinical… that one is personal. VERY personal." The final verdict was more shocking than anyone anticipated. #NoDraws. Also: stay until the very end to discover the power of frontmasking.

May 2024  ·  Inspired by catching Damage Inc. live in concert

After catching Damage Inc. live, the Metal Nerdery crew investigated the vast universe of artists who have covered the biggest cover band to ever bless heavy metal. Motörhead covering Whiplash: "They did to a Metallica song what Metallica did to every cover song they ever did." Disturbed doing Fade to Black (with strings). Machine Head doing Battery: "That's glorious… balls all day." Ghost covering Enter Sandman. Miley Cyrus and Elton John doing Nothing Else Matters — "it makes me cry a lot." Cannibal Corpse doing No Remorse. Rolling your R's is an important social skill.

June 12, 2025  ·  M72 World Tour, June 3, 2025  ·  with Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies

The Metal Nerdery crew attended the M72 Tour stop at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on June 3, 2025 — Suicidal Tendencies, Pantera, and Metallica on the same bill. The verdict was nuanced: the show was incredible, the production was staggering, but the sound was the big issue. "It was noise salad." "They're not a stadium band… they're the same thing as The Stones of metal." Pantera got screwed on the bass. One got an extra measure from Lars — the crowd went crazy. No deep cuts. Four fingers is all it takes. Park it in The Red Deck.