Metallica’s Tribute Album Features 50+ Artists Including Elton John, Weezer and Chris Stapleton
42 years. That’s how lengthy heavy metallic band Metallica has been operating in a music trade infamous for its unpredictability. Since its inception in 1981, Metallica has seen greater than its fair proportion of highs and lows. From performing to a reported 1.6 million followers in Russia, to frontman James Hetfield’s wrestle with substance abuse, not many can say they’ve been collectively for nearly half a century. But right here they’re, presently within the midst of their “M72 World Tour,” which extends into 2026. A musical profession crammed with milestones, Metallica celebrated one specific achievement by releasing a particular tribute album, that includes a listing of equally proficient musicians from across the globe.
On September 10, 2021, Metallica launched their star-studded tribute album The Metallica Blacklist, a juggernaut that includes covers of all 12 tracks from their 1991 self-titled album, Metallica (generally known as The Black Album). With 53 musicians on board, every tune is recorded a median of 5–7 instances, aside from “Nothing Else Issues,” which has 12 covers.
Thought of one in all Metallica’s extra bold tasks, The Metallica Blacklist celebrates totally different musical kinds, generations, and cultures coming collectively to ship their very own spin on the tracks. Contemplating how Metallica was as soon as gate saved by heavy metallic purists again within the early ‘90s, The Metallica Blacklist breaks the obstacles of style, proving that their music is common with out going astray from the band’s roots. Reacting to the discharge of The Metallica Blacklist, Hetfield expresses his gratitude in direction of the artists who’ve contributed to the challenge.
Whereas the variety of artists themselves comes off as extreme, the aim of the tribute album is to rejoice a “huge vary of genres, generations, continents and extra, every contributing a novel interpretation of their favourite Black Album lower.” The characteristic roster consists of big-name superstars like Miley Cyrus, to indie gems like Mac DeMarco. Simply as Metallica is grateful for his or her options, their chosen artists additionally share the identical sentiment for the legendary band. Songstress Phoebe Bridgers, who lined “Nothing Else Issues,” has “always been a big Metallica fan.” As a youngster, she watched a Metallica set at Outdoors Lands.
One specific characteristic has a particular reference to Metallica. Weezer, who did a rendition of “Enter Sandman,” is finest recognized for making nerd rock music with hits like “Buddy Holly” and “Island within the Solar.” However Weezer’s frontman Rivers Cuomo, is a widely known Metallica fan — a lot in order that the riff in “Undone (The Sweater Tune)” is an unintentional rip-off of the riff in Metallica’s “Sanitarium.” The irony is that when Cuomo was writing “The Sweater Tune,” he approached it with the mentality of wanting to write down a Velvet Underground tune. Having been a metalhead since highschool, which is the explanation he realized his instrument within the first place, it’s no shock that his metallic roots would present unconsciously. Luckily for Cuomo, drummer Lars Ulrich “was cool” about the riff.
Receiving 10 Grammys (out of 26 nominations) is one factor, however nothing beats Metallica receiving their flowers from Sir Elton John. Fittingly, John can be a part of The Metallica Blacklist challenge, protecting what he deems “among the best songs ever written.” Joined by fellow celebrity Miley Cyrus, their rendition of “Nothing Else Issues” trades Hetfield’s and Kirk Hammett’s guitars for John’s piano. John even went on to make it publicly clear simply how a lot he loves the tune on The Howard Stern Present, transferring a visibly touched Hetfield nearly to tears.
“It’s a tune that by no means will get previous. And taking part in on this observe, I simply couldn’t wait. The chord construction, the melodies, the time adjustments, it’s obtained drama written throughout it. I’ve to say, it was a no brainer taking part in on this tune. Metallica are in all probability the crème de la crème of these sorts of bands. You possibly can’t actually outline them. They’re not a heavy metallic band. They’re a musical band. Their songs aren’t simply heavy metallic. They’re lovely songs. That is such a melodic tune — it’s f***ing nice, truly.”
