In the early eighties the metal scene was undergoing change. British heavy metal took storm with bands such as Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. However, America didn’t seem to have an answer to these colossal artists. Then emerged Metallica, and they set out on a path to free metal from the likes of commercialism and glam-metal bands. Metallica reinvented metal with inspiration from metal’s own inventors. Aggression, no regard for fashion, and spiritual independence borrowed from the new wave of British heavy metal helped to assemble Metallica’s foundation. Early lyrical themes by vocalist James Hetfield included subjects of destruction, death, and the human soul. With hunger for fame without strong commercial influence, Metallica performed at …show more content…
The thrash metal that was Metallica’s 1983 debut album Kill ‘Em All evolved and became polished up to 1988’s ...And Justice for All. Internal conflict and loss within the band caused chaos, fueling its cataclysmic nature and only serving to further its and popularity. Metallica’s members went from young adults having fun on stage to angry men with a message about war and politics. They were the first widely known American metal band and are to this day regarded as the most famous of all time. After diverging on more of a mainstream route, many fans felt that Metallica had turned its back on the idea of popularity without compromise. They’ve since mellowed out with age but still continue to achieve significant milestones within the music …show more content…
Possibly the most hated heavy metal record in history, Lulu can tell us about how Metallica’s work with Lou Reed before his death harmed their image. McIver puts a new spin on the aftermath of these albums and breaks apart the matured appearance of current Metallica.
Pillsbury, Glenn T. Damage Incorporated: Metallica and the Production of Musical Identity.
New York: Routledge, 2006. Google Books. Web. 28 Mar. 2015.
Damage Incorporated takes a look at Metallica’s music within a larger landscape of popular music. Wide scopes of topics converge within Metallica’s music and cultural influences. By placing the band within the field of other popular music, one can understand what made Metallica creep into the charts and what made hardcore metal fans despise them.
Sharpe-Young, Garry. Thrash Metal. New Plymouth, N.Z.: Zonda, 2007. Google Books. Web.
30 Mar. 2015.
Early 80’s thrash metal breathed new life in to rock scene, essentially making the traditional rock song more outrageous; an ideology Metallica capitalized upon. Interviews with surrounding bands of Metallica like Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth give a contextual approach to Metallica’s own success. These four bands opened up the floodgate for other sub-genres of metal and a second wave of American thrash metal