James Hetfield on his favourite metal songs of all time
James Hetfield played an indispensable role in shaping Metallica into the trailblazing thrash metal icons of the 1980s. Beyond their immense commercial achievements, Metallica stands as one of the most influential bands in history. Their adeptness in traversing diverse musical landscapes has propelled them to remarkable success, showcasing their mastery across various facets of the music industry.
While every band member holds their own iconic status, the influence of Hetfield is undeniable. With a commanding presence and an unmistakable voice, he also stands out as a legendary guitarist—a feat attained by few musicians.
Apart from Metallica’s foundation in 1970s heavy rock, including bands like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, their primary source of inspiration is rooted in their own musical niche of thrash metal. Although they may not be considered the sole originator of the genre, Metallica played a pivotal role in popularising it throughout the 1980s and beyond, alongside influential bands such as Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax.
When Hetfield was asked to pinpoint some of his favourites during an interview with Little Punk People, he explained: “Oh, my God! There’s tons of them,” Hetfield exclaimed. “Well, Exodus, for sure. We grew up with those guys in the Bay Area. Oh, and we stole their guitar player; that too. But, yeah, I think they’re great. Testament, a lot of bands in the Bay Area, a lot of thrash stuff. I just think even before that, punk rock was kind of the beginning of it for me.”
However, many of Hetfield’s favourites are also huge Metallica fans. For example, he cites Ghost, particularly their song ‘From The Pinnacle To The Pit’, as one he holds dear. The admiration goes both ways, with Hetfield and Ghost’s frontman Tobias Forge forming a close friendship, the latter even once covering the band’s ‘Enter Sandman’ in tribute.
Venturing a little further back, Hetfield singles out Venom’s ‘Die Hard’, a song which explores themes of rebellion, defiance, and anarchy, demonstrating the band’s penchant for controversial and provocative subject matter. Equally, another of Hetfield’s favourites, Death Angel’s ‘Volcanic’, explores notions of chaos and destruction, reflecting Hetfield’s penchant for dark and apocalyptic subject matter.
Other songs on his list showcase his interest in mysticism and mythology. High on Fire’s ‘Fertile Green’, for instance, explores themes of rebellion, defiance, and anarchy, culminating in controversial and provocative subject matter. Each track in Hetfield’s list offers a glimpse into his own prowess as a musician and songwriter, a sneak peek at his own internal musings as one of the most prominent forces in rock and metal.
Check out the full list below.
James Hetfield’s favourite metal songs:
- ‘From The Pinnacle to the Pit’ – Ghost
- ‘Shellshock’ – Tank
- ‘Gloomy Sunday’ – Pallbearer
- ‘Fertile Green’ – High on Fire
- ‘Lahja’ – Oranssi Pazuzu
- ‘Die Hard’ – Venom
- ‘Volcanic’ – Death Angel
