With more than 26 million monthly Spotify listeners, Metallica are still one of the most played rock bands in the world (Image: Getty)
From early thrash roots to stadium-scale production, Metallica have spent over four decades evolving without losing their identity. The band – James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo (and earlier, Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted) – built their reputation on uncompromising sound, technical musicianship and songs that often told darker stories.
But while the group have long been synonymous with heavy metal, their music has reached far beyond that label. Today, their catalogue spans acoustic ballads, war-inspired epics, reworkings of Irish folk songs and tracks embraced by generations.
So which of their songs are listeners turning to most in the streaming age? Based on Spotify play counts, here are Metallica’s 10 most popular tracks to date:
10 – Fuel
327,211,282 streams
Kicking off the list is 1997’s ‘Fuel’, a fast-paced rock track that became one of the key singles from Reload. With its aggressive vocal delivery and high-speed riffs, it captures the adrenaline of the late ’90s era when Metallica were experimenting with broader, more accessible sounds. Though it came from a period some fans found divisive, ‘Fuel’ proved successful on radio and in concert setlists. Its opening line – “Gimme fuel, gimme fire…” – is still widely recognised.
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9 – Fade to Black (Remastered)
375,662,293 streams
‘Fade to Black’ signalled a shift in the band’s approach when it appeared on Ride the Lightning in 1984. Starting with clean guitar and sombre tones, the track gradually builds into heavier sections without ever losing its introspective edge. The lyrics reflect themes of despair and uncertainty, a contrast to much of the band’s earlier workd. At the time, it surprised listeners who had only known Metallica for speed and aggression – and today, it’s considered a pivotal track in their catalogue.
8 – Sad But True
430,586,571 streams
From The Black Album, released in 1991, ‘Sad But True’ slows the tempo and leans into a heavy, grinding rhythm. Producer Bob Rock encouraged the band to explore a thicker, more direct sound, and the result was a track that relied on sheer weight rather than speed. The lyrics speak to internal conflict and personal duality, and Hetfield’s delivery gives the message real force. It’s one of the tracks that defined the band’s shift into mainstream recognition without compromising their tone or attitude.
7 – Whiskey in the Jar
525,718,125 streams
Originally a traditional Irish folk song, ‘Whiskey in the Jar’ was made popular in rock circles by Thin Lizzy. Metallica’s 1998 cover, featured on Garage Inc., brought the song into their world with a raw, guitar-driven arrangement and Hetfield’s distinctive vocal delivery. Though not a typical Metallica composition, it connected strongly with fans and won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance. The track’s lasting popularity highlights the band’s ability to reinterpret older material in a way that suits their style while introducing it to new audiences.
6 – For Whom the Bell Tolls (Remastered)
605,515,246 streams
Based on the Hemingway novel of the same name, this track opens with one of Metallica’s most recognisable bass lines, played by the late Cliff Burton. Released on Ride the Lightning, it builds tension gradually and reflects on the senselessness of war. Its mid-tempo structure and focused composition make it stand apart from the faster tracks of the era. The atmosphere it creates – sombre and weighted – has helped keep it in the band’s live repertoire for decades.
5 – The Unforgiven
623,809,538 streams
‘The Unforgiven’ took a different approach to the typical power ballad. Featuring quiet, melodic verses interrupted by heavier choruses, the song tells a story of isolation and lost innocence. The structure itself subverts expectations, and it became one of the defining tracks from The Black Album. It introduced a new emotional tone to Metallica’s music without stepping away from their core identity. Follow-up songs ‘The Unforgiven II’ and ‘III’ continued the theme, but it’s the original that listeners return to most.
4 – One
693,157,111 streams
Released in 1989, ‘One’ was the band’s first track to feature a music video – a black-and-white piece blending performance with scenes from Johnny Got His Gun, the novel that inspired the song. Musically, it starts in a reflective space, with clean guitar tones and restrained vocals, before shifting into a faster, more aggressive final section. The lyrics tell the story of a wounded soldier unable to speak or move, highlighting the psychological toll of war. It helped introduce Metallica to a wider audience and showed their ability to combine narrative with music.
3 – Master of Puppets (Remastered)
1,030,457,799 streams
A near nine-minute composition from the 1986 album of the same name, ‘Master of Puppets’ has long been considered one of the group’s most ambitious and technically impressive tracks. Exploring themes of addiction and control, the song shifts through multiple sections without losing momentum. It’s a clear example of the band’s talent for blending structure, concept and musical intensity. A boost in recent years came when the track featured in Stranger Things, but it was already a defining part of the Metallica catalogue long before that.
2 – Nothing Else Matters
1,386,909,963 streams
Written during a tour as a personal message never originally intended for release, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ became one of Metallica’s most recognisable songs. Its gentle guitar introduction and orchestral backing marked a departure from their usual sound, but the emotional weight and sincerity of the lyrics made it stand out. Over time, the song has been reinterpreted in numerous styles and covered by artists in multiple genres. For many fans, it showed a different side to the band – one maked by simplicity.
1 – Enter Sandman
1,708,578,149 streams
‘Enter Sandman’ introduced a broader audience to Metallica’s music when it launched as the lead single from The Black Album in 1991. With its powerful opening riff, nightmare-inspired lyrics and a chorus built for live performance, it became the band’s biggest commercial success. The track played a key role in the shift toward a more radio-friendly sound while retaining the edge that long-time fans expected. Over 30 years later, it still draws new listeners and remains one of the most played rock tracks in the streaming era.