Metallica Discography- Millions in Sales and Still Counting

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.

The original band members did not come together in the same way that members of other famous bands did. Metallica was not composed of long time friends but of strangers. Lars Ulrich started the ball rolling when he posted an ad for jam partners. Jams Hetfield took on Ulrich’s invitation and Metallica was born in 1981. Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney came in later to handle guitar and bass. McGovney however was later egged out in favor of Cliff Burton who exemplified the group’s definition of excellent bass playing.

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 alcohol use. He was replaced by Kirk Hammett. Mustaine however eventually went on to start Megadeth.

By 1983, music experts already began to foresee the future of Metallica merch and CDs selling like hotcakes. On this year, the band released Kill ‘Em All. There wasn’t a lot of cash in it but it did build a rock-solid following for the metal group. This following led the way to greater acceptance for future releases. By 1986, Metallica already had a gold album entitled Master of Puppets.

With their steady rise to fame, the band started moving around more for playing engagements and promotional work. It was while they were on one of these trips that Burton died in an accident. This was to be a nearly crippling event for the band but they moved on without Burton and chose Jason Newsted to fill his place. With a new player in the group, they released …And Justice for All which took #6 in the Billboard 200. In 2001, Newsted left and Robert Trujillo was recruited in his place.

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.

It’s clear that there is no chance that Metallica will fade into oblivion. With nine albums in the Metallica discography, nine Grammy awards, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and more than a hundred million records sold, their legend status has been etched in stone. Obviously more fans will be sporting studded belts in their honor.