In honor of Metallica's 30th birthday I will count down their top 30 best songs. Some will agree and others will rip it apart and I cannot wait to read what you all will have to say! This will be more like A opinion list but I will do my best to iron out their 30 best. Without a further ado let the show begin

Number 30. Hit The Lights, Track 1, Kill 'Em All.
I am starting off the list with their very first song. This song signified what Metallica was going to be for their careers; fast, thrash, in your face, epic solo's, and not giving two damns of what people thought. It was the way they are and will always be. Like it or not this is what Metallica was always meant to be.

Number 29. Jump In the Fire, Track 4, Kill ‘Em All.
If fans know what” Hit The Lights” is like they already have an idea of what “Jump In The Fire” brings to the table. The song from the start already has fans headbanging and ready to start a moss pit. The sound is hard, fast, and thrash. The breakdown of the song slows the song down but not by much and its transition to the rest of the song is perfect. A song that most fast love it deserves to make it onto the list.

Number 28. Escape, Track 6, Ride The Lightning.
This song stands out from the rest of the album and of all their songs. Fans will state that this song gives Metallica an 80’s metal pop-sound while others will say that it was a sound they experimented with just for the song. Whatever the case may have been for Metallica it worked to perfection. The song may not sound like the regular Metallica everyone knows but that does not diminish at all their image or impact. It is the odd family member of the bunch and one that almost every fan loves to hear.

Number 27. Damage Inc.., Track 8, Master of Puppets
This is one of Metallica’s heaviest songs they have ever produced. It is dark, fast, and hooks the fan in from the start. It starts off with simple guitar slides before transitioning into unrelenting metal sound. The song itself may not always be a fan favorite but if anyone was to ask them about the song they will all tell you it is without a doubt one of their heaviest. Give it a listen.

Number 26. Phantom Lord, Track 7, Kill ‘Em All.
This song much like “Hit The Lights” and “Jump In The Fire” gives the listener no chance to relax and rest. When this song gets turned on the band demands that the fan bow to the Phantom Lord. When listening to the song they’ll be too busy mosh pitting and headbanging to even consider the thought. A song with great guitar and breakdown it is easily on of the best songs not just on the album but on this list.

Number 25. Leper Messiah, Track 6, Master of Puppets.
The song starts off with a count down and begins on a catchy rhythm that no fan can resist. The beat will have any metal fan head banging and the entire song consist of it. There is almost no thrashing or breaking the speed of life, just a simple rhythm that flows throughout the entire song. Fans who love metal but want to take a small break from the thrash will love everything this song is. Very underrated by the fans and even the band itself, this is one of the hidden gems of their collection.

Number 24. The Thing That Should Not Be, Track 2, Master of Puppets.
Another song that is dominate in not having any real thrash or speed to it, it follows a rhythm that is catchy as hell and flows with it the entire song. It does not vary that much but it hypnotizes the listener to keep with it and not change to another song. It is one of my personal favorites and a song any metal fan can enjoy.

Number 23. Eye of The Beholder, Track 3, …And Justice For All.
This entire album is Metallica at its darkest and it shines through in this song. The song starts with a climbing rift that draws the fan in and leads the fan further with the change of drum beat before finally transitioning into what the rest of the song will be. The tempo for the song is somewhat fast for Metallica standards but James’s voice is changed in a dark sense. It is haunting and is perfect for what the album itself is. A great listen for any metal fan and Metallica fan.

Number 22. No Remorse, Track 8, Kill ‘Em All
This song is the perfect title for what it is. The beginning of the song has a nifty guitar rift while the leading guitar solos the hell out of itself and it is only the beginning of the song. The nifty rift continues throughout the song and changes up when it’s appropriate. The ending to the song is nothing but thrash and it sounds beautiful. Any fans who love to hear random thrashing as a finish will not only love this song but cherish.

Number 21. Sad But True, Track 2, Metallica (Black Album).
Considered to be the favorite after “Enter Sandman” this is a simple hard rock version of Metallica. The rift is catchy as hell and will force the listener to keep with it for its entirety. Not a fast song by any means it is just a simple hard rock song, with a kick ass hard rock rift and kick ass lyrics as well. Oh and the solo aint bad either.

Number 20. Fight Fire With Fire, Track 1, Ride The Lightning.
The beginning to the song would throw any metal fan off at first if they did not know Metallica well. It starts off with a beautiful 12-string guitar that transition’s into a song that will make their ears bleed from its awesome song. It is heavy, it is fast, it is Metallica in every way. It sets the tone for what the rest of the album will bring, aside from Escape. If a person does not like this song, they do not like what Metallica is all about.

Number 19. The Shortest Straw, Track 5, …And Justice For All.
The song itself is nothing but a heavy rhythm song with a pounding drum beat, angry lyrics, and wish’s to do nothing but tell you that you are going to die. Seriously. The solo is one of the best of Kirk’s career and stands out from most of his others. One of the best songs on the album there is not much else that can be said about the song than I already have.

Number 18. For Whom The Bells Toll, Track 3, Ride The Lightning.
A song that starts off with the bells tolling, this song features a rift that not only catches the ears but is one of the most well-known rifts in Metallica’s career. Written by Cliff himself, he considered it one os his baby’s and was very satisfied with what it became. Everything is perfect in the song. The rhythm they set, the tempo they go at, the lyrics they preach, nothing about this song is sour at all.

Number 17. Welcome Home (Sanitarium), Track 4, Master of Puppets
This song is extremely haunting. From the first note to the last it gives the eerie feeling of what the lyrics describe. It talks about a prisoner being trapped and wanting to escape. The lyrics are some of Metallica’s most memorable and one of the big fan favorites at Metallica shows. The solo is incredible and the break down is great. A must listen for any fan out there.

Number 16. To Live Is To Die, Track 8, ...And Justice For All
This song was dedicated and was a tribute to their fallen bass guitarist Cliff Burton. Considered by any t be one of the best bassist in metal history he contributed much of Metallica's content and ideas. This song is at a medium tempo and depressing. It lasts almost 10 full minutes but the solo is what people remember most after Cliff's last written lyrics are sang. The solo has brought many fans to tears and that is something not done since by Metallica. It has never been plaid in full by the band live. It was their good bye and it’s in the best way they could have done it.

Number 15. Blitzkrieg, Track 12, Kill ‘Em All
This may be a cover song but Metallica is known for covering songs and doing I better than the originator’s. This is one of their shining examples. There are almost no mistakes in the song and sounds just so damn good. It is just what Metallica is and that is thrashy, unrelenting, and having epic solo’s. This song is a short one and one of their best. This is another one of the underrated and hidden gems of their collection.

Number 14. Am I Evil, Track 11, Kill ‘Em All
Another cover song by Metallica but Dammit they did this so much better than Diamond head! The Metallica version of this song is ten times better than the original one and a rare treat to those who hear it live. Nothing much can be said about this song other than listen to it and you will know what I am saying.

Number 13. Harvester of Sorrow, Track 6, ..And Justice For All.
This song is dark and the drums pound with a purpose. This sound is eerie and speaks volumes as to how dark Metallica can get. James’s voice appears to get even dark on this song and there is nothing but pure misery surrounding in the lyrics. Metallica never goes fast in the song and with good reason. The hauntingness of the song can be scary if really thought out. All of that however is the reason why it works so well and why it is considered one of Metallica’s best songs.

Number 12. The Frayed Ends of Sanity, Track 7, …And Justice For All.
This song starts off with a chant that all fans know. It goes at Metallica speed and the lyrics are sickening in the sense of describing what is going on. In this song it is very clear that the person’s sanity that is being talked is about reaching its end and channels the songs rhythm. The solo is great and is argued to be one of best in the bands career. The song has never been performed live by the band but small snippets of it are. This song is one of the pulses of life for this album and definitely more than worth checking out.

Number 11. Trapped Under Ice, Track 5, Ride The Lightning.
This song is nothing but unrelenting, punch you in the fucking face, Metallica heavy metal. It is fast, it is loud, and a fan favorite. Some fans consider this to be the best song on the album while others say it is very close to it. Whatever the case may be this song is one of the bands fastest and heaviest songs they ever made. It is nothing but pure gold and never a skipper on a playlist.

Number 10. …And Justice For All, Track 1, …And Justice For All.
This is almost Metallica’s longest song. It is a masterpiece. The entire song varies from different rhythm’s and the drum beat is perfection. It sets the tone of the album for its darkness and lets the listener know they are not messing around. Filled with epic solo’s this is one their best and well known songs.

Number 9. Seek and Destroy, Track 10, Kill ‘Em All.
This is the song that ends every Metallica show. It has always been fan favorite and a song that Metallica has always known the rock the hell out of. A song about going out and hunting a person down is something any fan can relate to and with their heavy metal ways leading this song there is nothing stopping it from greatness.

Number 8. Ride The Lightning, Track 2, Ride The Lightning.
From beginning to end this song is incredible. It is heavy, it is fast, and there is nothing slowing it down. Headbanging and mosh-pitting are two common things along with air-guitaring that occur when this song is played. It is one of the fan favorites and for a great reason. It is everything a metal fan wants and more.

Number 7. Blackened, Track 1, …And Justice For All
A song that strangely enough starts with a reversed guitar rift it is well known among fans. It is dark, fast, haunting, and features strong drum rhythm that will cause massive head banging to begin. The lyrics to the song are just like the rest of the lyrics to the album disturbing as hell. This is not a bad thing at all as it creates the atmosphere of what is expected and runs with it. The solo is mind boggling and fits everything the song is. There is no such thing has a Metallica fan without loving this song.

Number 6. Disposable Heroes, Track 5, Master of Puppets.
This is the heart of the album outside of the album title. This song is everything that the album is about. The sound is top notch, the lyrics are memorable, and everything else is perfected. This is the underrated song by Metallica that fans do not seem to talk about often. It is there most prized hidden gem and when discovered produces all sorts of head banging madness. A true Metallica fans knows this song by heart.

Number 5. Battery, Track 1, Master of Puppets.
This song sets the tone for the entire album and how great is it. Considered to be one of Metallica’s fastest songs it is nothing but pure metal from beginning to end. The guitars galloping, the drums pounding, the lyrics catchy as hell, there is nothing about this song to hate; only to love.

Number 4. Orion, Track 7, Master of Puppets.
This entire instrumental in constructed from guitar riffs and drum beats not used on the songs. Instead of throwing them away, Cliff and Lars had the idea of just mashing them together and seeing what came out of it. What was produced was a fan favorite and a track that is song the most memorable for all metal fans. Some say it is the best song on the album while others are content to say it is just one of the best. Make no mistake about it, this is one of the best track Metallica has ever put together.

Number 3. Creeping Death, Track 7, Ride The Lightning
This song is about the movie “The Ten Commandments.” Moving along.
Okey, there is some more to it than that. This song is always played at a Metallica concert and one fans look forward to. At the concert the fans get to scream “Die” over and over again and I have been a part of it; it is a lot of fun. The solo in the song is also a fan favorite and truly one of the best Kirk has ever done. There is no such thing as a Metallica fan without this song and no Metallica playlist is complete without it.

Number 2. One, Track 4, …And Justice For All.
It is said the best solo in Metallica’s career is in this song. I agree. This song is about a solider in a hospital being badly wounded in battle. The lyrics take the listener through his experience in a hauntingly descriptive way. The song is nothing but dark and one of the lyrics are “darkness imprisoning me..” That one lyric alone describes everything the song is about. Every fan knows it, almost every fan loves it, and there is no denying that this song is one of the best they ever produced.

Number 1. Master of Puppets, Track 2, Master of Puppets.
Come on! Everyone knew going into this list this song would be number one! This song IS the perfect Metallica song. Every fan loves it, knows it, every fan rocks out to it. There is nothing about this song that is bad, poorly done, could have been done better at all. This song starts off with a guitar riff that pulls the listener in and from there the lyrics pull them down even further. The song itself is about drug addiction in a descriptive way with two epic solos that every metal fan will love. Just like the songs story it gets additive very fast and once it’s heard it is never forgotten.

Thank you all for reading! I hope you all enjoyed! Let me know your opinions on the matter. Agree, disagree and why. Peace!