subject: Metallica Discography - Music From The Kings Of Metal [print this page] The Metallica discography should be enough proof to show that the band is the leader of the pack in the heavy metal genre. Naturally, other outstanding acts in the same category would dispute this but they'd be hard put to dethrone the group from its lead status. Ask anyone, even those who don't listen to metal and they'd know the band.
Unlike other groups, this legendary band was not made up of childhood school or neighborhood friends. The band's mundane birth began when Lars Ulrich advertised for musicians who wanted to jam. The one other founding member who had been with the band from the very beginning, James Hetfield answered the ad. The band was officially formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Guitarist Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney were later recruited to complete the original line up. Burton, who was deemed the better bassist, later replaced McGovney.
Like many music legends, this group was initially rejected by a number of music labels. It was only with some borrowed cash that the band was able to begin work on its first album with Megaforce Records. It was sometime at this point when Mustaine was pushed out due to drug and album use. He was replaced by Kirk Hammett. Mustaine however eventually went on to start Megadeth.
In 1983, the birth of Metallica CDs became a future vision. It was on this year that they released their first album Kill 'Em All. Although this initial release did not bring in the money, it did build a loyal fan base for the group. This paved the way for better reception of succeeding albums. Their third release, Master of Puppets in 1986 gave them their first glimpse of rising success with the album reaching gold status.
It was unfortunate that on the year the group first had a taste of excellent album sales they lost Burton in a bus accident. Although the incident jarred the group, they eventually decided to move on and settled on Jason Newsted to fill in Burton's shoes. It was with him that the group recorded...And Justice for All which was the first of the band's work to reach a prime spot in the Billboard 200 at number 6. By 2001 however, Newsted decided to leave the band and was replaced by Robert Trujillo.
Trujillo came at an unusual moment in the band's history. Their eighth album, St. Anger finally took the first spot in the Billboard 200 but it was to be a controversial success because it was the first piece of work that departed dramatically from the band's signature sound. Critics noticed the lack of guitar solos, focus, differentiated tuning and a slower, rawer pace. This prompted a return to the band's usual sound in Death Magnetic, their ninth release.
To date, the band's fame and influence is undisputed. After generating a prolific Metallica discography marked by nine hit albums, the group has earned for itself nine Grammy awards, two American Music Awards and three Billboard Music Awards. They were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. With more than one hundred million record sales, there is no questioning where the group stands.
