Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and later based primarily in San Francisco. The band is regarded as one of the leading acts in thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Its core lineup has long consisted of Hetfield, Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, and bassist Robert Trujillo. Former members include Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth, and bassists Ron McGovney, Cliff Burton, and Jason Newsted.

The band achieved early commercial success with its third album, "Master of Puppets" (1986), which is frequently cited as one of the most influential metal albums. Its follow-up, "...And Justice for All" (1988), brought its first Grammy Award nomination. The self-titled album "Metallica" (1991), also known as "The Black Album", marked a stylistic shift towards a more accessible sound and became one of the best-selling albums in the United States. After experimenting with different musical approaches during the 1990s, the band returned to a style closer to its earlier work with "Death Magnetic" (2008). Its eleventh studio album, "72 Seasons", was released in 2023.

In 2000, Metallica filed a lawsuit against the peer-to-peer file-sharing service Napster over copyright infringement, leading to a widely publicised legal dispute that ended in a settlement. The band was the subject of the documentary film "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" (2004), which documented internal tensions and the recording of "St. Anger" (2003). In 2009, Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The band later appeared in the concert film "Metallica: Through the Never" (2013), which combined live performances with a fictional narrative.

Metallica is among the most commercially successful music artists, with over 163 million albums sold worldwide as of 2023. It is also one of the best-selling acts in the United States since the introduction of SoundScan tracking in 1991. The band has released eleven studio albums, along with multiple live recordings, video releases, extended plays, and singles. It has received ten Grammy Awards from 26 nominations, and several of its studio albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Publications such as Rolling Stone have included Metallica in lists of the greatest artists of all time.

The band was formed after Ulrich placed an advertisement seeking musicians, to which Hetfield responded. Early recordings included the demo "Power Metal" and contributions to the compilation "Metal Massacre". Dave Mustaine was initially recruited as lead guitarist but was dismissed in 1983 and replaced by Kirk Hammett. The debut album, "Kill 'Em All" (1983), was released on Megaforce Records and helped establish the band within the underground metal scene.

The second album, "Ride the Lightning" (1984), expanded the band’s musical range and led to a contract with Elektra Records. The third album, "Master of Puppets" (1986), achieved significant critical and commercial success. During a tour later that year, bassist Cliff Burton died in a bus accident in Sweden. He was subsequently replaced by Jason Newsted.

With Newsted, Metallica released "...And Justice for All" (1988), which achieved strong sales despite criticism of its production. The album included the song "One", accompanied by the band’s first music video. The following album, "Metallica" (1991), brought widespread mainstream success and a more streamlined sound.

During the 1990s, the band released "Load" (1996) and "Reload" (1997), which incorporated elements of alternative and hard rock and received mixed responses from fans. In 1998, it issued the covers album "Garage Inc.", and in 1999 collaborated with the San Francisco Symphony on "S&M". The Napster controversy in 2000 brought further public attention. Jason Newsted left the band in 2001.

The album "St. Anger" (2003) was recorded during a period of internal difficulties and featured a raw production style. It received mixed reviews but won a Grammy Award for its title track. Robert Trujillo joined as bassist the same year. The band’s experiences during this period were documented in "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster".

In 2008, "Death Magnetic" marked a return to a more traditional thrash metal sound and debuted at number one in multiple countries. Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. The band also participated in joint performances with Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax, often referred to as the "big four" of thrash metal.

The collaborative album "Lulu" with Lou Reed was released in 2011. In 2012, the band founded its own label, Blackened Recordings. The concert film "Metallica: Through the Never" followed in 2013. After several years of touring and recording, the album "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct" was released in 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

In subsequent years, Metallica continued touring globally and released various live recordings and special projects, including "S&M2" (2020). During the COVID-19 pandemic, the band streamed archival concerts and worked on new material remotely. In 2023, it released "72 Seasons" and began the M72 World Tour.

As of the mid-2020s, members of the band have indicated ongoing work on new material, although no release date for a subsequent album has been announced.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallica

Studio albums Kill 'Em All (1983) Ride the Lightning (1984) Master of Puppets (1986) ...And Justice for All (1988) Metallica (1991) Load (1996) Reload (1997) St. Anger (2003) Death Magnetic (2008) Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016) 72 Seasons (2023)