Metallica: 10 Best Hard Rock Songs
2. No Leaf Clover
For many fans, Metallica already seemed to be up to some weird stuff when they put out a new record filled with cover material. After announcing a new album, fans weren't met with all-new music but a live performance of the band with an entire symphony orchestra.
At this point, we've definitely come a long way from the band's thrash metal beginnings, but the music created is truly awe-inspiring. The band's older material is given a healthy dose of musical professionalism injected into it thanks to the arranging of Michael Kamen, but the brightest spots are when both worlds can work in conjunction with each other.
One of the only originals to come from the S&M concert, "No Leaf Clover" is the one instance where Metallica fully conjoined the musical sophistication of their work with the heavy bombast of their more punk-leaning side.
On the surface, nothing too flashy is happening with the guitars, but they are just where they need to be to create a dense mood, with Hetfield detailing the life of a man growing up to be a successful musician.
It could have come off as a well-orchestrated piece of self-indulgence, but "No Leaf Clover" stands as not only a great hard rock song, but one of the best songs the band has ever written period.