The Favorite Albums of Metallica in the Late ’90s Explains A LOT

The members of Metallica told a magazine what their favorite albums were back in 1998 and their selections explain a lot.

A fan shared a photo of a magazine clipping on the Metallica Reddit page that lists all of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted‘s favorite albums back in 1998. They had just released their covers album Garage Inc. that year, which featured tracks that were originally recorded by Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mercyful Fate and some others.

The individual who shared the photo didn’t specify which publication the list was printed in, but the section was titled “The Miseducation of Metallica” because one of the members’ choices was The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. 

Because of the diversity of artists covered on Garage Inc., it’s not entirely surprising that the members were listening to a wide variety of musicians around the time. It also may explain why Load and Reload were so different than their earlier releases.

We compiled a short gallery of images below to list each of the members’ 10 favorite albums that they mentioned in the magazine, and the year that they came out. Nu-metal was on the rise at the time, but it doesn’t seem that they were too keen on much that was new, as many of their selections were already a few years (and even decades) old.

A couple of the rockers had a few of the same picks, but for the most part, they each had a pretty distinct set of musical preferences. It would be interesting to see how their picks from back then compare to their favorites today!

Metallica Members’ Favorite Albums in the Late ’90s

James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Jason Newsted told a magazine what their favorite albums were back in 1998.

Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner

Mick Hutson, Getty Images

James Hetfield

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Live Seeds (1993)

Laibach, Opus Dei (1987)

Led Zeppelin, Remasters (1990)

Misfits, American Psycho (1997)

Ennio Morricone, A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

The Reverend Horton Heat, Smoke ‘Em if You Got ‘Em (1990)

Rocket From the Crypt, Scream, Dracula, Scream! (1995)

Thin Lizzy, Thin Lizzy (1971)

Tom Waits, Bone Machine (1992)

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

Lars Ulrich

AC/DC, Let There Be Rock (1977)

Alice In Chains, Dirt (1992)

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959)

Deep Purple, Made in Japan (1972)

Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction (1987)

Bob Marley and the Wailers, Babylon by Bus (1978)

Oasis, Definitely Maybe (1994)

Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991)

U2, Achtung Baby (1991)

The Verve, Urban Hymns (1997)

Ebet Roberts, Getty Images

Kirk Hammett

David Bowie, Low (1977)

John Coltrane, Blue Train (1958)

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue (1959)

Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings (1990)

Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti (1975)

Mercyful Fate, Melissa (1983)

UFO, Force It (1975)

Tom Waits, Rain Dogs (1985)

Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book (1959)

Gie Knaeps, Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jason Newsted

Black Sabbath, Master of Reality (1971)

Jeff Buckley, Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk (1998)

Earth, Wind & Fire, All ‘n All (1977)

Jimi Hendrix, Electric Ladyland (1968)

Los Lobos, How Will the Wolf Survive? (1984)

Bob Marley and The Wailers, Catch a Fire (1973)

Massive Attack, Blue Lines (1991)

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Texas Flood (1983)

Tom Waits, Rain Dogs (1985)

Barry White, Anthology (1994)

Favorite Metallica Album of 30 Big Rock + Metal Musicians

Ozzy Osbourne, Dave Grohl, Corey Taylor and others reveal which Metallica album has made a lasting impact on their careers.

Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll

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Chuck Billy of Testament

Favorite Metallica Album: Kill ‘Em All

What they said about it: “Such a breakthrough record, I loved everything that it stood for. That record was such a big deal for the Bay Area, for thrash metal, for the scene, it was huge and meant so much to us.” – Chuck Billy, Metal Hammer interview.

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George Clarke of Deafheaven

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “With a short glance at the track list, though it’s hard to believe so many good songs are on one album. Master of Puppets is perfect from front to back.” – George Clarke, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

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Billy Corgan

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “The perfect combo of blitzing riffs matched with the beginnings of Hetfield finding that melodies weren’t just something in the way of this robotic right hand.” – Billy Corgan, listing his 10 favorite metal albums for Music Radar.

Nathaniel Shannon

Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden

Favorite Metallica Album: Metallica

What they said about it: “We could never do an album like that, because we’re not that under control, and we don’t want to be. With us, the wheels would fall off the bus and we’d end up firing the producer.” – Bruce Dickinson, interview with Classic Rock magazine.

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David Draiman of Disturbed

Favorite Metallica Album: Metallica

What they said about it: “We’ve always used that as a goal – the record that literally every single track on it could be a hit. A record that breaks doors down, that opens up new opportunities to us, that helps you achieve true immortality as an artist.” – David Drainman, interview with Metal Hammer.

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Joe Duplantier of Gojira

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “This album to me is the definition of what metal is. It has perfect songwriting and perfect sound, and it’s the perfect length.” – Joe Duplantier, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

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David Ellefson

Favorite Metallica Album: No Life ‘Til Leather (Demo)

What they said about it: “I remember going to Dave’s [Mustaine] apartment and he was playing it one day while he was doing the dishes or making lunch or something. There was something just so haunting and dark, yet rowdy and fun about it, that I just love.” – David Ellefson, interview with Ultimate Guitar.

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “So I always will have a connection with Ride The Lightning over the other ones, even though maybe I technically like Master of Puppets better or …[And] Justice [For All]’. But Ride The Lightning was my first one.” – Chad Gray, interview with WRIF’s Talkin’ Rock With Meltdown.

Dave Grohl

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “I bought this mail order from some catalogue based purely on the description of the album. It said ‘thrash metal’ which I’d never heard before. It came and I couldn’t believe it. I’d heard Motorhead and some punk, but not a band as fast and tight and as metal.” – Dave Grohl, interview with Q.

Rob Halford of Judas Priest

Favorite Metallica Album: Kill ‘Em All

What they said about it: “It was great: here was a band from America, on the West Coast who are part of the world that… maybe this will sound ridiculous, but when I was growing up, San Francisco was this hippie place. Beads and sandals and all that kind of stuff, and then you get these metal maniacs making this incredible racket.” – Rob Halford, interview with Metal Hammer.

Kirk Hammett

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “A lot of the music from that time now sounds samey and similar. But there’s really nothing on Master of Puppets that dates it to any particular period – sound-wise, production-wise, recording-wise. Master of Puppets is my favorite of all the albums we’ve ever done.” – Kirk Hammett, interview with Rock Candy.

Favorite Metallica Album: Ride the Lightning

What they said about it: “With Ride the Lightning, there was no manager telling us ‘Stay away from the studio,’ we were really integrated into it, and we were able to help with the sounds, help with the ideas and all that stuff. – James Hetfield, interview with Newsweek.

Chris Jericho of Fozzy

Favorite Metallica Album: Ride the Lightning

What they said about it: “I took the bus down to the record store and found Ride the Lightning and I put it on my old stereo that was the size of a desk, and it starts with the harpsichord thing, and I thought ‘This isn’t heavy metal, this is stupid,’ and then of course it kicks in. It was insane, it blew my mind big time.” – Chris Jericho, listing 11 records that changed his life for Classic Rock magazine.

Kerry King

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “I love ‘Battery’ and ‘Master of Puppets.’ It’s a little long for me. You know, Slayer doesn’t really make epic songs, ’cause I get tired of ’em. But that record, it’s got a billion great songs on it.” – Kerry King, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

Dave Mustaine

Favorite Metallica Album: Kill ‘Em All

What they said about it: “It’s Kill ‘Em All.” – Dave Mustaine, responding to a fan on Twitter who asked if he has a favorite Metallica album.

Jason Newsted

Favorite Metallica Album: Ride the Lightning

What they said about it: “In the beginning there was Ride the Lightning. For me, this is probably the best Metallica album.” – Jason Newsted on his favorite album for Metal Castle.

Buzz Osborne of Melvins

Favorite Metallica Album: Lulu

What they said about it: “Those guys got taken to task for it, and I think it’s their best record, easily the weirdest one.” – Buzz Osborne, interview with New Noise Magazine.

Ozzy Osbourne

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “I took Metallica on tour with me after the release of Master of Puppets. The album was a milestone for the band and for heavy metal.” – Ozzy Osbourne, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

Jimmy Page

Favorite Metallica Album: St. Anger

What they said about it: “I know Jimmy … He got up and walked over to me, gave me a big hug and said, ‘It’s great to see you,’ blah. blah, ‘I love the St. Anger album.'” – Producer Bob Rock on the Talk is Jericho podcast

Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater

Favorite Metallica Album: Kill ‘Em All

What they said about it: “I remember the first time I heard Kill ‘Em All, I had never heard anything that raw and heavy and fast in my life. I had already been listening to Motorhead and stuff like that, but this was the power and volume of Motorhead, and it was really tight.” – Mike Portnoy, listing the 10 albums that “changed his life” for Classic Rock magazine.

M. Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “If I was to play any song for anybody asking, ‘What is metal about?’ I’d just play ‘Master of Puppets.’ The progressions and the brige are just brilliant.” – M. Shadows, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

Slash

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “This one’s off of Master of Puppets, which is the ultimate Metallica album or all time. I love the rhythm and timing on this one, and it’s got a real sinister drive to it, too. Like you just know something bad’s about to happen.” – Slash choosing a guitar riff from “Disposable Heroes” as one of his 10 favorites for Paste Magazine.

Paul Stanley of KISS

Favorite Metallica Album: Metallica

What they said about it: “‘Enter Sandman’ – that song really flicked a switch, it changed something. It retained the grit, the passion and the rawness of what they had done until that point, but it managed to package it in a way that had a more widespread appeal.” Paul Stanley, interview with Classic Rock magazine.

Serj Tankian of System of a Down

Favorite Metallica Album: …And Justice For All

What they said about it: “Metallica’s song arrangements are so unique. They write really intense, complex songs that are so popular. They’ve sold millions, and you’re like, ‘These are really complex songs!'” – Serj Tankian, listing 10 albums that changed his life for Metal Hammer.

Corey Taylor

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “It is the perfect metal album. There is no fucking way that you could improve on that album. Ever.” – Corey Taylor, ranking his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

Mark Tremonti of Creed

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “Before I heard that record, I was listening to the Beastie Boys, I was listening to the J. Geils Band and whatever was popular on the radio. And I came across that record and from that point on, I’ve been a metalhead, looking for the heaviest thing that I could find.” – Mark Tremonti, interview with TV War.

Robert Trujillo

Favorite Metallica Album: Master of Puppets

What they said about it: “I feel Master of Puppets has a lot of everything. It’s got instrumentals, it’s got great segues, great riffs. It’s got one of my favorite songs ever by Metallica, and that song is ‘Disposable Heroes.'” – Robert Trujillo, interview with Rocket Beans TV.

Lars Ulrich

Favorite Metallica Album: Hardwired… To Self-Destruct

What they said about it: “Hardwired… To Self-Destruct is the one I have the fewest issues with, and the one that still sounds the most representative of my current head space.” Lars Ulrich, interview with Classic Rock magazine.

Bill Ward of Black Sabbath

Favorite Metallica Album: Metallica

What they said about it: “The Black Album is very, very listenable to me, and it was easy on my ears, easy on my heart, and it was easy on where I was at. I felt very, very grateful that an album like the Black Album had come out, because I felt like it was the beginning of a new road and I felt like there’s been some gaps or some things that were kind of severed after [Black Sabbath’s] Heaven and Hell.” – Bill Ward, choosing his 10 favorite metal albums for Rolling Stone.

Jack White

Favorite Metallica Album: St. Anger

What they said about it: “I was at the premiere, and Jack White came over – he says, ‘I’m Jack White.’ I said, ‘I know.’ He says, “That’s (St. Anger) my favorite Metallica album.'” –