In a revealing 2023 interview, James Hetfield shared insights into his onstage persona, stating, “It’s no secret that onstage, I’m a different person.” He elaborated, saying, “More shooting from the hip, more embracing the unknown up there. I wish I could do that better in regular life.” This reflection highlights the contrast between his energetic performances and his everyday demeanor.

However, it’s important to note that neither Hetfield nor his Metallica bandmates are immune to the occasional slip-up during their performances. After decades of touring, experiencing a few hiccups is inevitable, and fans have come to embrace these moments as part of the live music experience.

“We are a live band,” Hetfield continued. “You’re gonna see some fricking horrendous mistakes, and it’s going to be unique.” He emphasizes that performing in front of vast audiences—sometimes up to 80,000 people—creates an extraordinary atmosphere that is hard to put into words. The thrill of having fans sing along and connect with the music is a profound experience.

Leveraging data from setlist.fm, we have meticulously compiled a comprehensive list detailing the most and least-played songs from each of Metallica’s studio albums. While some tracks may not have made it to the live stage yet, this dynamic could shift as Metallica continues their extensive touring journey. Here’s an overview of how the performances rank…

Album: Kill ‘Em All (1983)
Most-played: “Seek & Destroy”
Least-played: “Metal Militia”

Metallica commenced their journey with “Seek & Destroy” as early as July 1982, well before its official release on the album Kill ‘Em All. Since then, it has remained a staple in their setlists, accumulating an impressive total of 1,610 live performances over nearly 40 years and various tours. Remarkably, every track from this debut album has graced the live stage at least once. Even “Metal Militia,” the least-played track, boasts nearly 100 live performances to its credit.

Album: Ride the Lightning (1984)
Most-played: “Creeping Death”
Least-played: “Escape”

The album Ride the Lightning has also seen every song performed live, with “Creeping Death” leading the charge as the most-played track, racking up 1,637 performances. Lars Ulrich reflected on the song’s rapid evolution, stating, “Musically it was one of those songs that came quickly, and then became its own thing just as quickly,” in an interview with Metal Hammer. Conversely, “Escape” has been performed just once during the Orion Music and More Festival in 2012, where Metallica played the album in its entirety.

Album: Master of Puppets (1986)
Most-played: “Master of Puppets”
Least-played: “Mastertarium”

The title track from the landmark album Master of Puppets is not only the most-played song from this collection but also holds the record for the most performances in Metallica’s extensive live history. Kirk Hammett shared his fondness for the album, stating, “Master of Puppets is my favorite album, because we culminated as a band on Master of Puppets. Really!” He noted the band’s settled roles and chemistry, which contributed to their success. In contrast, “Mastertarium” has seen limited exposure, with only 29 live performances, primarily occurring in the year 2000.

Album: …And Justice for All (1988)
Most-played: “One”
Least-played: “To Live Is to Die”

Kudos to Metallica for ensuring that every track from …And Justice for All has been played live at least once. However, “To Live Is to Die,” a track from the album’s fourth side, has only been performed once at the Fillmore in San Francisco in 2011. Meanwhile, “One” shines as the most-played song from the album, with an impressive 1,599 performances, including two notable appearances at the Grammys in both 1989 and 2014.

Album: Metallica (1991)
Most-played: “Enter Sandman”
Least-played: Tie Between “The Struggle Within” and “Don’t Tread on Me”

Among all of Metallica’s albums, their self-titled 1991 release stands out as the one most frequently performed live. Leading the pack is “Enter Sandman,” the album’s opening track, which was the first song the band penned for this project. “It was about two or three o’clock in the morning. I had just been listening to Louder Than Love, the Soundgarden album,” Hammett recounted in 2017, detailing the inspiration behind the iconic riff. At the other end of the spectrum are “The Struggle Within” and “Don’t Tread on Me,” each having been performed just 20 times.

Album: Load (1996)
Most-played: “King Nothing”
Least-played: “Mama Said”

From the album Load, four tracks have yet to make their live debut: “The House Jack Built,” “Cure,” “Thorn Within,” and “Ronnie.” Notably, “Mama Said” has been performed only once, during a show in London in November 1996, coinciding with the location and timing of the music video shoot. In stark contrast, “King Nothing” has enjoyed significant live exposure, with 380 performances since its release, showcasing its popularity among fans and its ongoing relevance in Metallica’s repertoire.

Album: Reload (1997)
Most-played: “Fuel”
Least-played: “Fixxxer”

Following closely behind Load was its follow-up, Reload, released in 1997 and featuring a collaboration with Marianne Faithfull on “The Memory Remains.” The most frequently played song from this album is “Fuel,” which has amassed a remarkable 557 performances, earning a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance, although it ultimately lost to “Most High” by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page.

Album: Garage Inc. (1998)
Most-played: “Last Caress” by Misfits
Least-played: “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd

In a shift from their original material, Metallica released a compilation of covers called Garage Inc. in 1998. Out of the 11 songs featured, only six have been performed live, with Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” being the least-played, with just five performances. Interestingly, Gary Rossington contributed to the studio version of this cover. On the other end, Misfits’ “Last Caress” tops the list with an impressive 830 live performances.

Album: St. Anger (2003)
Most-played: “Frantic”
Least-played: “Sweet Amber”

In 2003, Metallica collaborated with producer Bob Rock for the final time on the album St. Anger, during which Rock played bass following Jason Newsted’s departure in 2001. Not including the four tracks that have never been performed live—”Invisible Kid,” “My World,” “Shoot Me Again,” and “Purify”—”Sweet Amber” ranks as the least-played song with just a single performance in 2004. In contrast, “Frantic” was heavily featured in live sets during 2003 and 2004 before disappearing for over a decade, only to return during the 2019 WorldWired Tour.

Album: Death Magnetic (2008)
Most-played: “The Day That Never Comes”
Least-played: “Suicide & Redemption”

With the introduction of producer Rick Rubin in 2008, Metallica saw a revitalization in their music with the release of Death Magnetic. Remarkably, all 10 tracks from this album have been performed live, including the instrumental “Suicide & Redemption,” which appeared in Denmark in 2009 and again in San Francisco in 2011. The standout track, “The Day That Never Comes,” is the most-played song from this album, with Ulrich describing it as a narrative about “human beings who don’t know each other, in a particularly tense situation,” ultimately revolving around themes of forgiveness and redemption.

Album: Hardwired…to Self-Destruct (2016)
Most-played: “Moth Into Flame”
Least-played: “ManUNkind”

From the album Hardwired… to Self‐Destruct, “ManUNkind” has only graced the stage twice, which is a notably low number, especially compared to the zero performances of “Am I Savage?” and “Murder One.” In contrast, “Moth Into Flame” has been performed over 200 times, including a memorable rendition at the 2017 Grammys with Lady Gaga. Hetfield noted the song’s inspiration, saying it was partially drawn from the documentary Amy about Amy Winehouse, reflecting on the tragic impact of fame and its parallels in contemporary life, where people seek validation through social media.

Album: 72 Seasons (2023)
Most-played: “Lux Æterna”
Least-played: “Sleepwalk My Life Away”

Given that 72 Seasons has only been released for a brief period of roughly two years, it is understandable that not all songs have made it to the live stage yet. Nevertheless, the album has received considerable attention in recent setlists. The least-played song, “Sleepwalk My Life Away,” has been performed only five times, while “Lux Æterna” leads with 36 performances. Trujillo expressed the significance of the album, stating, “Every note we play is a statement that appears on this record,” emphasizing the heartfelt authenticity and growth embedded within the songs.