A serious look at the lyrics of metal's biggest band, disentangling
double meanings, explaining stories, uncovering sources, and
illuminating themes such as hope, despair, rage, resilience, power,
liberty, justice, love, death, and insanity.
More than 40 years since their formation, and 125 million album sales
later, Metallica is as relevant as ever. Much has been written about the
band, but The Meaning of Metallica is the first book to focus
exclusively on their lyrics.
Their mighty guitar riffs and pounding drums are legendary, but
Metallica's words match the intensity of their tunes. Lead singer James
Hetfield writes rock poetry dealing with death, war, addiction,
alienation, corruption, freedom, religion, and other weighty topics.
Painting a rainbow of emotions with a deft palette, subtle but not
obscure, Hetfield's lyrics deserve careful attention. A master of
narrative, Metallica makes listeners care about a vast array of
characters, from a vengeful God, to a suicidal teenager, to a man in
mid-life crisis.
The Meaning of Metallica is like a riveting conversation with a close
friend. A thematic tour de force that traces Hetfield's lyrical
development across the decades, this companion examines everything from
deep cuts like "Confusion" to megahits like "Enter Sandman." Sure to
spark debate and discussion, The Meaning of Metallica provides a close
reading of lyrics dense with details and rich with allusions.
