You know where you can find the latest Metallica videos. But in this article, we will share the best and most original Metallica music videos of all time with the fans. Metallica released music videos for over 40 years, including studio albums, live albums, covers albums, soundtracks, collaborations, and many EPs.

They’ve also published many videos frequently with massive dramatic budgets in that period. However, some of the Metallica music videos will stay with us for a long time in our memories. Let’s look at the top 12 Metallica music videos below!

Top Metallica Music Videos Of All Time

Metallica began curating their official channel on YouTube. After 16 years, the band has gathered over 10 million subscribers and almost 6 billion views. Not bad for a band who was so anti-video that it took them four albums to decide to release their first music video.

What is the best Metallica music video?

So, here are Metallica‘s twelve YouTube music videos.

• St. Anger (2003)
• The Day That Never Comes (2008)
• Whiskey In The Jar (1999)
• Enter Sandman (1991)
• One (1998)
• Until It Sleeps (1996)
• Nothing Else Matters (1991)
• The Unforgiven (1991)
• Turn the Page (1998)
• Hardwired (2016)
• 72 Seasons (2023)
• Mama Said (1996)

Metallica always worked with one of the most famous directors when they filmed music videos. 

1. St. Anger (2003)

Metallica‘s “St. Anger” music video, released in 2003, is a dramatic visual portrayal of the song’s pure brutality and the band’s challenging experience while recording the “St. Anger” album.

The Malloys directed the video for “St. Anger” in San Quentin State Prison in California. Except for the death chambers and death row cells, the band performed to hundreds of willing prisoners at various sites throughout the area and the background Lars Ulrich playing drums with prisoners. 

It is also the first Metallica video to feature bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined the band shortly before filming began.

The video’s visual design is defined by gritty, industrial elements corresponding to the album’s overall tone. It has an empty metropolitan setting, rusted chains, and stark black-and-white graphics. And, this music video focuses on Metallica performing the song in a dimly lit warehouse-like atmosphere. Close-ups of the band members show their focused concentration while accentuating the emotional depth of the song.

The music video for “St. Anger” perfectly compliments the song’s portrayal of human hardships, rage, and inner demons. It vividly portrays the emotional intensity that saturates the whole “St. Anger” album.

Also, the St. Anger video is shot in a documentary style, showcasing the band’s frank and powerful performance. This method emphasizes the unprocessed nature of their emotions and the unedited quality of their music at the time.

2. The Day That Never Comes (2008)

Metallica‘s 2008 music video for “The Day That Never Comes” is a moving narrative that supports the song’s themes of war, betrayal, and hope in the face of challenges. The video, directed by Thomas Vinterberg of Denmark, unfolds as a mini-drama set in a war-torn environment.

The music of “The Day That Never Comes” video includes shots of Metallica performing the song amongst the desolation of the war-torn terrain. These performance segments serve to emphasize the emotional intensity of the music.

Finally, “The Day That Never Comes” film delivers a message of persistence and the human spirit. It suggests that even in the worst of circumstances, there is a chance of redemption and a better future.

3. Whiskey In The Jar (1999)

Metallica‘s “Whiskey in the Jar” music video, released in 1999 and directed by Jonas Åkerlund, showcases the band’s live skill and ability to bring energy and enthusiasm into a classic Irish folk song.

Metallica, an American metal band, performed an arrangement similar to Thin Lizzy’s in 1998 but with a more brutal sound, winning a Grammy for the song in 2000 for Best Hard Rock Performance. A Canadian singer-songwriter, Bryan Adams, covered the song on his 2019 album Shine a Light.

The video focuses on Metallica’s live performance of “Whiskey in the Jar.” It was shot during one of their concerts and highlighted the band’s fantastic stage presence and love for their live acts.

Metallica’s cover of “Whiskey in the Jar” combines their characteristic heavy metal sound with the song’s traditional folk components. This fusion gives the concert a new depth and displays the band’s musical diversity.

4. Enter Sandman (1991)

The music video for Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman,” released in 1991, is an iconic visual representation of one of the band’s most enduring and known tracks. This video, directed by Wayne Isham, shows the dark and atmospheric atmosphere of the song.

The film begins with strange footage of a child sprinting through a desolate area. These scenes are intercut with views of a sinister Gothic-style structure. This background establishes the mood for the video, eliciting feelings of dread and foreboding.

The film turns into a weird dreamscape packed with scary and nightmarish imagery when the child enters the building. A snake creeping across a crucifix, a child’s toys transformed into horrific characters, and a funeral procession with a casket are among them.

The video delves into themes of childhood fears and dreams, which correspond to the song’s words about bedtime and the Sandman. It dives into the darkest regions of the imagination, making it an appropriate companion to the song’s lyrics.

5. One (1998)

Metallica‘s first music video was shot for the song “One” from the album “...And Justice for All“. The film was shot in December 1988 with directors Bill Pope and Michael Salomon. The video was first shown on MTV on January 22, 1989, at the Headbangers Ball.

The music video is the band performing the song “One” in an abandoned warehouse in Long Beach, California.

Using footage from the 1971 film adaptation of Dalton Trumbo’s book “Johnny Got His Gun,” which Metallica purchased rights to use instead of making an oh going deal, Metallica shows a soldier who has lost his arms, legs, and all of his face (including his eyes, ears, teeth, and tongue). Still, his mind functions perfectly, leaving him a prisoner in his body.

6. Until It Sleeps (1996)

Metallica‘s music video for “Until It Sleeps,” released in 1996, is a visually spectacular and symbol-laden production that digs into suffering, metamorphosis, and rebirth themes. The video, directed by Samuel Bayer, deviates from the band’s previous, more basic videos.

The video especially shows the band’s frontman, James Hetfield, experiencing a physical makeover. He has enlarged fingers, a deformed visage, and appears engulfed by black matter. The song’s themes of inner conflict and personal progress are mirrored in this change.

With scenes of desolation and decay, the video has an industrial and post-apocalyptic vibe.

Shots of the band performing the song are interspersed among the strange episodes. These performance scenes are set against a backdrop of burning crosses, adding to the provocative and thought-provoking imagery in the video.

“Until It Sleeps” is frequently seen as a mirror of James Hetfield’s issues, including his fight with addiction and the changing dynamics of the band. The themes of suffering and transformation in the video correspond to these difficulties.

7. Nothing Else Matters (1991)

The music video for Metallica‘s “Nothing Else Matters,” released in 1992, is a visually simple yet emotionally powerful accompaniment to one of the band’s most iconic and sad tracks.

The video, directed by Adam Dubin, focuses on the band’s song performance, emphasizing the emotional depth of the lyrics and music.

The footage was filmed of parts from the documentary A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica, which was shot during the band’s recording sessions. During the second chorus, one shows Hetfield playing a Gibson EDS-1275 guitar.

MTV will no longer play the video during the day because it contains nudity through pin-up posters and Playboy centerfolds taped in the studio. It also has a photograph of Winger’s Kip Winger, towards whom Ulrich is seen throwing darts.

The posters, like the nudity in the music videos for “Turn the Page” and “Whiskey in the Jar,” are censored on the band’s 2006 music video collection DVD. The music video will be released in August 2021.

8. The Unforgiven (1991)

Metallica‘s music video for “The Unforgiven,” released in 1991, is a visually stunning and theoretically profound production that compliments the song’s theme. The video, directed by Matt Mahurin, provides an appealing visual narrative that’s similar to the emotional depth and complexity of the song.

The video shows the emotional intensity of “The Unforgiven,” highlighting the lyrics’ frustration, desire, and resistance expressions. Close-up images of James Hetfield singing and the boy’s face as he fights against his harsh circumstances accomplish this.

The youngster experiences a change as the film unfolds, breaking free from his restraints and rediscovering his personality. This metamorphosis reflects the song’s theme of breaking away from the past and societal expectations.

9. Turn the Page (1998)

The music video for Metallica‘s “Turn the Page,” released in 1998, is a powerful and sobering depiction of the difficulties experienced by artists on the road, as well as a reflection on the toll that such a lifestyle can take on personal relationships. Jonas Åkerlund directed this music video, which shows the rough and sometimes lonely realities of traveling.

Metallica, an American heavy metal band, released a rendition of the song as the first single from their 1998 album Garage Inc. The song was number one on the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 11 weeks in a row, a record.

Metallica‘s version is performed at a similar speed as Bob Seger‘s but with a heavier vibe; a high slide guitar riff from Kirk Hammett replaces the saxophone melody. The accompanying music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, depicts a day in the life of a single mother (played by Ginger Lynn) who works as a sex worker. 

10. Hardwired (2016)

The music video for Metallica‘s “Hardwired,” released in 2016, is a high-octane, rapid-fire visual accompaniment to the band’s violent and powerful song. Colin Hakes and Claire Marie Vogel directed the video, which approximates the intensity and pace of the song while including aspects of social satire.

According to the band’s website, the CD edition of the album will include two discs with six tracks each, and the album will have approximately eighty minutes of new music.

That same day, Metallica released the album’s first single, “Hardwired,” and those who pre-ordered the album on the band’s official website immediately downloaded the song. Herring & Herring developed the album artwork, and the music video for “Hardwired” was also published.

11. 72 Seasons (2023)

Tim Saccenti directed Metallica‘s “72 Seasons” music video. 

Metallica revealed the album’s title, release date, tracklist, and the M72 world tour, which will take place in North America and Europe and will feature Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills, Greta Van Fleet, Architects, Volbeat, and Mammoth WVH.

Following that, the band released the album’s first song, “Lux Æterna,” accompanied by a music video. Metallica released a new music video for “Screaming Suicide” on January 19, 2023. 

Metallica released a new music video for “If Darkness Had a Son” on March 1 after teasing it on TikTok in the last few days of February. On March 30, the title tune “72 Seasons” was released.

12. Mama Said (1996)

Metallica‘s music video for “Mama Said,” released in 1996, turns from the band’s usual heavy metal sound, presenting a more philosophical and acoustic side.

The music video for “Mama Said,” directed by Anton Corbijn, matches the song’s philosophical and emotionally intense lyrics.

The “Mama Said” video, less well-known among Metallica‘s music videos, has James Hetfield sitting in the backseat of a car while performing the song on an acoustic guitar. The truck looks to be going down a Southwestern highway, and the other members of Metallica may be seen outside peering out the window as it passes by.

As the song concludes, the camera pans back to see Hetfield sitting in a motionless backseat inside a studio. He then approaches a horse, removes its bridle, and goes away from the camera. Anton Corbijn directed the film, which was shot in November 1996 in London, England.

You can also check our best 15 bands similar to Metallica here.

What are your thoughts, and which Metallica music videos are the best for you? Let us know in the comment section!

The post The Top 12 Metallica Music Videos Of All Time appeared first on Metal Shout.