Metallica Record Covers

A collectors guide to Metallica record covers. 

Here's a list of Metallica's major studio albums, along with descriptions of their cover art:

1. Kill 'Em All (1983)
   
   

   • Description: A bloodied hammer lies on a white background, symbolizing the album's original title, "Metal Up Your Ass."

2. Ride the Lightning (1984)
   
   

   • Description: An electric chair is struck by lightning against a blue background, representing the album's title.

3. Master of Puppets (1986)
   
   

   • Description: A cemetery of white crosses, each attached to strings controlled by a pair of invisible hands, illustrating themes of manipulation.

4. ...And Justice for All (1988)
   
   

   • Description: The statue of Lady Justice is bound by ropes, her scales tipping with dollar bills, commenting on corruption in the justice system.

5. Metallica (The Black Album) (1991)
   
   

   • Description: An all-black cover with a subtle depiction of the band's logo and a coiled snake, symbolizing a minimalist approach.

6. Load (1996)
   
   

   • Description: A photograph titled "Semen and Blood III," featuring a mixture of bovine blood and semen pressed between plexiglass, representing the album's experimental nature.

7. Reload (1997)
   
   

   • Description: A photograph titled "Piss and Blood XXVI," depicting a mixture of urine and blood, continuing the theme from "Load."

8. St. Anger (2003)
   
   

   • Description: A cartoonish depiction of a fist encased in a shackle, symbolizing themes of frustration and confinement.

9. Death Magnetic (2008)
   
   

   • Description: A white coffin surrounded by a magnetic field pattern, representing themes of death and attraction.

10. Hardwired... to Self-Destruct (2016)
    
    

    • Description: A distorted image of multiple faces merged together, symbolizing inner turmoil and destruction.

11. 72 Seasons (2023)
    
    

    • Description: A broken crib on a bright yellow background, representing themes of birth and the passage of time.