Metallica is a band that needs little introduction. Part of the iconic “Big Four” of thrash (accompanied by Megadeth, Anthrax, and Slayer), the band shot into the spotlight after the release of their third studio album Master Of Puppets (1986). From then on, they became powerhouses of metal and worldwide staples of music in general.
While a large portion of their music is hard-hitting, no-nonsense thrash, the outfit does expose a softer side from time to time. It’s not often, however. Here are Metallica’s 15 best love songs!
1. Sucking My Love (Diamond Head Cover)
Album: Unreleased
Released: 1982
If you’re looking for a true blast from the past or a taste of early-early Metallica, look no further than their cover of Diamond Head’s “Sucking My Love”. Featuring Dave Mustaine on guitars before he left Metallica to form Megadeth, it’s a raw, timeless piece of musical history before both bands skyrocketed into the powerhouses they are today.
The song has been interpreted to be about oral sex, but ex-Diamond Head vocalist Nick Tart has also suggested it might be about vampires. Either way, this cover respects the original nicely.
2. Now That We’re Dead
Album: Hardwired… To Self-Destruct
Released: 2016
As you’ll come to learn throughout this article, Metallica isn’t the best at writing traditional love songs. They love a darker edge to their themes and lyrical content, and “Now That We’re Dead” is no exception to that.
The track explores a man who lost his partner and hopes to meet her again in the afterlife to be reunited; as adorable and romantic as you’ll likely get with Metallica. There are some exceptions, but this is a true Metallica-style love song.
3. Mama Said
Album: Load
Released: 1996
Less of a traditional love song and more of an ode to platonic, familial love, “Mama Said” is Hetfield’s touching exploration of the death of his mother. Hetfield takes a country-style acoustic angle on this track, with Ulrich’s delicate drumming backing the emotional pull of the track.
If you’re looking for something very different from Metallica, “Mama Said” is a gateway to their less abrasive material.
4. Hero Of The Day
Album: Load
Released: 1996
For whatever reason, Load was one of Metallica’s most emotionally charged albums. “Hero Of The Day”, in my opinion, is one of their best offerings as it stands out so strongly from the rest of their discography.
Exploring the importance of love in a family household, especially for children, its innocent-sounding instrumentals help to create a message of hope. Fret not, however, as we’re graced with a heavier riff passage halfway through as the track takes a turn.
5. The Unforgiven
Album: Metallica
Released: 1991
“The Unforgiven”, and its second part “The Unforgiven 2” are some of Metallica’s more complex tracks but also demonstrative of their evolution as a band. Exploring the impact of Hetfield’s father leaving shortly before the death of his mother, the track can be taken as a message about the importance of love in the family and the impact a lack of it can have on a child.
“The Unforgiven” saw a shift from traditional Metallica ballads a la “Fade To Black”, and a more atmospheric, production-rich approach with Ulrich pushing for more dynamic verses.
6. Unforgiven 2
Album: Reload
Released: 1997
“The Unforgiven 2” is arguably one of Metallica’s most commercially successful tracks. Its subtle country influence hides under a dark overtone, with Hetfield’s painful wallows exploring the concept of trust in love. He’s sharing the pain of his inner demons with someone in this track, but “there’s no sun shining through.”
I think the chorus of this track is among Metallica’s finest, and a reason for their consistent commercial success.
7. Hell And Back
Album: Beyond Magnetic
Released: 2011
“Hell And Back” can be interpreted in a number of ways. It’s certainly discussing an unhealthy relationship to some extent, but it could be understood in the context of either a romantic relationship or alcoholism.
Musically, Metallica brings their sound to the modern musical arena while maintaining the darkness of their previous material; especially in the rhythm guitar sections.
8. Whiskey In The Jar
Album: Garage Inc
Released: 1998
I love “Whiskey In The Jar”. The traditional Irish track has been covered by many across its lifetime, from The Dubliners in the 1960s to Thin Lizzy in 1973. Metallica took it one step further in 1998’s Garage Inc and reignited its brilliance for the masses.
Hetfield’s signature vocals in this cover inject new life into an already brilliant song about the betrayal of love and give it a heavier edge than its previous variations.
9. Sweet Amber
Album: St. Anger
Released: 2003
Besides the Lulu record, St. Anger is Metallica’s more controversial album from a critical perspective. Many dismiss it due to Ulrich’s snare sound and their change in musical direction, but I believe it features some of Metallica’s most interesting work.
“Sweet Amber” starts with a country twang but turns into a raw, aggressive track about either a girl named Amber, or alcoholism. Either way, there’s a dark, problematic love relationship occurring which fits the bill for Metallica love songs.
10. Frustration
Album: LuLu
Released: 2011
LuLu is, frankly, a weird album. A collaborative project between Lou Reed and Metallica, it’s a ten-track marathon of random musical arrangements and sheer ‘out there’ experimentation, to both good and terrible effect.
“Frustration” is one of the ‘hits’ of the record, which explores loving a person who’s with someone else and constantly ‘falling over’ in the process. Metallica’s heavy riffs behind Lou Reed’s peculiar vocals are an interesting combination that works in this instance.
11. Nothing Else Matters
Album: Metallica
Released: 1991
If you’re looking for the Metallica love song, look no further than Nothing Else Matters. It’s Hetfield at one of his most sensitive moments as he sings about how much he needs someone else.
Jason Newstead’s penetrating basslines support Lars Ulrich’s unexpectedly heavy drum beats while Hetfield takes the track to another level with his serene vocals. In true Metallica fashion, however, the track erupts in its last hurrah to create one of the strongest moments in their discography.
12. One
Album: …And Justice For All
Released: 1988
In the most impressive album of Metallica’s career lies “One”; arguably their magnum opus. The track explores the pain of a man severely injured in the war and unable to move, speak, hear, or see.
It’s a miserable track with powerful musicianship and an even more powerful message. I feel the saying “make love not war” is relevant here, as the track discusses the horror of violence and war in extreme detail.
The way Metallica explores the individual’s emotions through each stage of the song – from hopelessness in the more melodic sections to anger in the thrash-oriented finale – is an example of the band’s creative genius.
13. Fade To Black
Album: Ride The Lightning
Released: 1984
“Fade To Black” is arguably one of Metallica’s most iconic tracks and my personal favorite. It’s a desperate power ballad exploring the lack of will to live, and a desire to end it all. While that might not sound like a love song, it does suggest a lack of love is the reason for this mentality, and the presence of love could fix it.
Hetfield’s lyrics and vocals here are depressive but are elevated by a combination of delicate guitar work and hard-hitting thrash.
14. The Day That Never Comes
Album: Death Magnetic
Released: 2008
Death Magnetic was a period of robust change for Metallica. They shifted from traditional, ‘early’ thrash to a more contemporary rock-meets-metal fusion, which I feel is perfectly shown in “The Day That Never Comes”. Its softer intro and more ballad-style approach, while still sounding like Metallica, was a great middle-ground for the growth of the band.
The track explores the importance of love in the family, and the impact a lack of it can have.
15. Loverman (Nick Cave Cover)
Album: Garage Inc
Released: 1998
Here we have a song that dives into the darker side of this article’s content and isn’t for the faint of heart. Discussing the idea of being in love with a prostitute, it’s a more depraved song than a romantic one (romance is hard to find here), but their cover of this Nick Cave track is arguably better than the original.
I think the backing screams added with Hetfield’s disturbing whispers help give respect to the original while giving it a Metallica twist.
Jordan McEvoy is a UK-based music journalist. He’s also an avid concert-goer, amateur photographer, and part-time gig promoter. When he isn’t rambling about his love for metal, attempting to write poetry, or playing RuneScape for the 50th time, he’s usually surrounded by coffee and listening to techno or Woods Of Ypres.
