music history

Thirty years after its release, Metallica's Load remains one of the most debated albums in the band's catalogue, marking a dramatic shift in sound, image and creative direction that continues to spark discussion among fans and critics alike.

Four decades after its release, Metallica's Master Of Puppets remains one of the most influential heavy metal albums ever recorded, a landmark record that expanded the possibilities of thrash metal and cemented Metallica's place among the genre's most important bands.

Metallica closed their Australia and New Zealand tour in Auckland with a moment created only for local fans. The final night delivered the expected firepower across a career spanning setlist, yet the highlight arrived when Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett delivered their tour-tradition Doodle. This version was built around the Split Enz classic I Got You, paired with Six60's anthem Don't Forget Your Roots. The Doodle placed two of New Zealand's most important songs into the middle of Metallica's global production, creating a rare cultural crossover in front of a sold out crowd.

Metallica ended their 2025 Australian tour in Sydney with a surprise that honoured two of the city's most influential rock acts, and the crowd at Accor Stadium erupted as the nods to AC/DC and Rose Tattoo rang out across the venue.

Metallica's Australian tour has been nothing short of a love letter to Aussie rock, and Brisbane got its own wild chapter on Wednesday night, 12 November, when the metal legends tore through The Chats' viral anthem Smoko.

Metallica continued their tradition of performing a local classic at each show on their Australian tour. For Melbourne, they paid tribute to hometown heroes The Living End with a cover of Prisoner of Society.

Metallica fans in Australia are getting a rare chance to sit face-to-face with one of metal's most influential guitarists, as Kirk Hammett heads to Sydney for a special live conversation celebrating his new book The Collection: Kirk Hammett. The event, hosted by respected Australian music journalist Sean Sennett, will take place at the State Library of New South Wales on Friday 14 November.