10 Bands And Artists Who Pass The Five Album Test
2. Metallica
A major part of the reason Metallica fans find their post-’91 output so frustrating is just how incredible those first five records are. The thrash giants debuted with a raw but gripping sound, and over five albums they honed and expanded their sound while helping to shape a genre.
Debut Kill ‘Em All is simply all out assault, combining the careering thrash riffs of "Whiplash" with the long, technical "The Four Horsemen".
From there, they refined the sound further, though without smoothing any edges just yet. Ride The Lightning has the booming "For Whom the Bell Tolls", while third record Master Of Puppets saw frontman James Hetfield take greater creative control; it’s a record of real vision, slowing down just a tad as Hetfield came on as a lyricist.
The run ends with the self-titled Black Album, a far cleaner release that led to accusations of selling out. While there’s certainly a push for radio play here, the craftsmanship is so great that it can’t be denied.