And Justice For All
Metallica
Metallica, the most innovative metal band of the late 80s and 90s, formed in 1981 in California, by drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist James Hetfield. Despite many line-up changes, Cliff Burton joined on bass in 1982, and Kirk Hammet replaced Megadeth guitarist Dave Mustaine in 1983.
This combination endured until September 1986, when Metallica’s tour bus overturned in Sweden, killing Cliff Burton. During the four years with Burton, the band put thrash metal on the map, with the aggression of their debut album ‘Kill ‘Em All’. Although 1984’s ‘Ride The Lightening’ was a distinctive metal release, it was 1986’s ‘Master of Puppets’ that shock the metal scene, taking thrash to a whole new level.
Following the death of Burton, the band chose to continue, recruiting Jason Newstead on bass. Sessions for ‘And Justice For All’ began, resulting in a spectacular moment in ‘One’, which entered highly in the UK and US charts.
1991’s chart-topping album ‘Metallica’ held some of the bands most impressive hits, with the MTV-friendly ‘Enter Sandman’ breaking the band on a stadium level, showing how the band had matured from the chaotic ‘Kill ‘Em All’ ten years previous. A stopgap live set marked time while the band completed work on the eagerly awaited follow-up to ‘Metallica’.
Finally released in 1996, ‘Load’ entered the US charts at number one. The album marked a change in image for the band, who began to court the alternative rock audience. The following year's ‘Reload’ collected together more tracks recorded at the ‘Load’ sessions, and featured 60s icon Marianne Faithfull on the first single to be released from the album, ‘The Memory Remains’. ‘Garage Inc.’ collected assorted cover versions, and the following years release ‘S&M’, was recorded live with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra..
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In January 2001, Newstead announced he was leaving after almost 15 years with the band. His replacement was former Suicidal Tendencies' bass player Rob Trujillo. Recording sessions for the new studio album were fraught with difficulty, with Hetfield at one point departing to spend several months in rehab. When it finally appeared in 2003, ‘St. Anger’ was given a mixed reception by critics who had rapidly fallen out of love with the band.
Death Magnetic was released on September 12, 2008, topping the UK and US album charts – making Metallica the first band to have five consecutive number one albums. Despite previous criticisms, the album charmed music journalists - and it was hailed as some of Metallica's best work.
On January 14, 2009, it was announced that Metallica would be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 4, 2009.
Carly Page
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