Photo of Metallica
Photo: Kreepin Deth · CC BY-SA 4.0

Band

Metallica

Active1981-present
OriginLos Angeles, California
Albums11
Tracks119

Most frequent collaborator: Bob Rock  ·  50 tracks

Heavy MetalThrash MetalHard Rock
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 119 of 119 tracks

Did Metallica write their own songs?

Yes, all of them. Metallica is a self-writing band, and the members hold a writing credit on 100% of their tracks. Founders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are the primary songwriters behind classics like 'Enter Sandman,' 'Master of Puppets,' and 'One.' The main outside credits belong to Dave Mustaine, who co-wrote a few early songs before leaving, and producer Bob Rock.

By the Numbers

11
Studio Albums
119
Tracks Credited
100%
Self-Written
163M+ albums
Records Sold
45
Years Active
6
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 119 / 119 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 119 tracks: how many Metallica wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Metallica has a writing credit100%
86%
14%
Sole author102tracks86%
Co-written17tracks14%
Outside writers0tracks0%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Metallica's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 119 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)97%
Composer (music)100%
Producer78%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 119 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
James Hetfield 1981-present
97%
99%
62%
99%
Lars Ulrich 1981-present
96%
98%
62%
99%
Kirk Hammett 1983-present
45%
46%
0%
99%
Cliff Burton Died September 27, 1986 1982-1986
8%
9%
0%
22%
Jason Newsted Former 1986-2001
3%
3%
0%
40%
Robert Trujillo 2003-present
11%
12%
0%
38%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Metallica's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1983Kill 'Em All
1984Ride the Lightning
1986Master of Puppets
1988...And Justice for All
1991Metallica
1996Load
1997Reload
2003St. Anger
2008Death Magnetic
2016Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
202372 Seasons
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
1980s
Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning +2 more
100%
1990s
Metallica, Load +1 more
100%
2000s
St. Anger, Death Magnetic
100%
2010s
Hardwired...to Self-Destruct
100%
2020s
72 Seasons

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Metallica sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Metallica
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Celine Dion2%
Backstreet Boys25%
NSYNC41%
Boyz II Men51%
TLC59%
Guns N' Roses78%
Aerosmith86%
100%Metallica
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Enter Sandman
Metallica
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Wrote it
Sad but True
Metallica
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Wrote it
Until It Sleeps
Load
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Wrote it
Hero of the Day
Load
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Wrote it
King Nothing
Load
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Wrote it
The Memory Remains
Reload
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
Wrote it
The Unforgiven II
Reload
Written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett
Wrote it

Discography 11 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Metallica119 tracks
BR50 FR25 GF24 PC10 RR10 DM6

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. BR Bob Rock · FR Flemming Rasmussen · GF Greg Fidelman · PC Paul Curcio · RR Rick Rubin · DM Dave Mustaine

The Writers & Producers Behind Metallica 6 key collaborators

BR
Bob Rock
Producer
Metallica / Load / Reload / St. Anger50 tracks
FR
Flemming Rasmussen
Producer
Ride the Lightning / Master of Puppets / ...And Justice for All25 tracks
GF
Greg Fidelman
Producer
Hardwired...to Self-Destruct / 72 Seasons24 tracks
PC
Paul Curcio
Producer
Kill 'Em All10 tracks
RR
Rick Rubin
Producer
Death Magnetic10 tracks
DM
Dave Mustaine
Songwriter
Kill 'Em All / Ride the Lightning6 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

James Hetfield writes virtually all of Metallica's lyrics, while he and Lars Ulrich co-write nearly all the music. Kirk Hammett rarely receives a formal songwriting credit despite being the lead guitarist for over 40 years. The most notable exceptions are the early albums where former guitarist Dave Mustaine co-wrote several tracks before being fired, Cliff Burton's sole bass composition '(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth' on Kill 'Em All, and Burton's co-writing contributions on Ride the Lightning. On ...And Justice for All, Jason Newsted received his only co-writing credit on 'Blackened,' and Cliff Burton received a posthumous co-credit on 'To Live Is to Die.' From the Black Album onward, all four current members are credited as co-writers on most tracks.

Quick Facts

  • Grammys10 Grammy Awards from 26 nominations
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009
  • Black AlbumTheir 1991 self-titled album is the best-selling album of the SoundScan era, certified 16x platinum
  • Big FourOne of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal, with Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer
  • SongwritersFounders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are the band's primary songwriters

Creative Fingerprint

A band that writes its own metal: Metallica's members wrote every track, led by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich; the only outside writing credits belong to early co-writer Dave Mustaine, later of Megadeth, and to producer Bob Rock.

The Story

Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and commercially successful metal bands of all time, they helped pioneer thrash metal with ferocious early albums like Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning, and Master of Puppets before reaching mainstream dominance with their self-titled 1991 Black Album, which became one of the best-selling albums in history. Their lineup solidified with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett joining in 1983 and bassist Robert Trujillo in 2003, following the tragic death of original bassist Cliff Burton in 1986 and the departure of Jason Newsted in 2001. Across more than four decades and eleven studio albums, Metallica have sold over 125 million records worldwide and earned nine Grammy Awards.

Awards & Recognition

Sold more than 163 million albums worldwide
Won 10 Grammy Awards from 26 nominations
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009
The 1991 'Black Album' is the best-selling album of the SoundScan era, certified 16x platinum in the US
One of the 'Big Four' of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer

Frequently Asked Questions Metallica

Did Metallica write their own songs?
Yes, all of them. Metallica is a self-writing band, and the members hold a writing credit on 100% of their tracks. Founders James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are the primary songwriters behind classics like 'Enter Sandman,' 'Master of Puppets,' and 'One.' The main outside credits belong to Dave Mustaine, who co-wrote a few early songs before leaving, and producer Bob Rock.
Who wrote 'Enter Sandman'?
'Enter Sandman' (1991) was written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett. It opened the Black Album, became Metallica's biggest hit, and helped make that album the best-selling of the SoundScan era.
Did Dave Mustaine write Metallica songs?
Yes, a few early ones. Before he was fired in 1983 and went on to form Megadeth, Dave Mustaine co-wrote tracks including 'The Four Horsemen' and 'Ride the Lightning,' which still carry his writing credit.
Who wrote 'Master of Puppets'?
'Master of Puppets' (1986) was written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and bassist Cliff Burton. It is one of the most acclaimed metal songs ever recorded.
Who are Metallica's songwriters?
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are the primary songwriters and have been since the band formed in 1981. Guitarist Kirk Hammett and, on some songs, bassists Cliff Burton and Robert Trujillo also share credits.
How many albums has Metallica released?
This catalogue covers 11 of their studio albums, from Kill 'Em All (1983) to 72 Seasons (2023).
How many records has Metallica sold?
More than 163 million albums worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time.
How many Grammys has Metallica won?
Ten Grammy Awards from 26 nominations over their career.
Is Metallica in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes. Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009, in their first year of eligibility.
What is the 'Big Four' of thrash metal?
The 'Big Four' are the four bands most credited with defining thrash metal: Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer. Metallica became by far the most commercially successful of them.

Sources

Wikipedia: Metallica Wikipedia: Kill 'Em All Wikipedia: Ride the Lightning Wikipedia: Master of Puppets Wikipedia: ...And Justice for All (album) Wikipedia: Metallica (album) Wikipedia: Load (album) Wikipedia: Reload (Metallica album) Wikipedia: St. Anger Wikipedia: Death Magnetic Wikipedia: Hardwired...to Self-Destruct Wikipedia: 72 Seasons