Ranking the Closing Song on Every Metallica Album

Ready to rank the closing song on every Metallica album? Join us, won't you, as we continue our latest Metallica journey here at Loudwire that began with ranking Metallica album openers and discussing everything we know about the preeminent metal band's imminent 72 Seasons.

After all, Metallica are so important to metal — not to mention music and culture in general — that looking at their catalog from different angles can sometimes offer a unique perspective, especially for the metalhead deeply familiar with all of it. So let's rank the closing song on every Metallica album, shall we?

See our ranking down toward the bottom of this page.

You may or may not entirely agree with our ranking, which spans from the final song on Metallica's 1983 debut, Kill 'Em All, up through closing track of their last LP, 2016's Hardwired… To Self-Destruct. It doesn't include Lulu, Metallica's album with Lou Reed, though Metallica consider it canon in their discography.

Ranking Metallica's Album Closers

But please be aware that each metal fan will have a different perspective of how this ranking would personally shake out for them. After the reception to our countdown of Metallica album openers, we wanted to clarify that we see these rankings as a fresh take on classic material.

Plus, it's fun to compare modern Metallica songs to the old standbys to gain a wholly retrospective understanding of the band. Why not dig into everything that's available?

And now, with the band's new 72 Seasons album on the way, we'll soon have even more material to consider alongside what's already Metallica's exceedingly influential oeuvre.

See Metallica on Tour

Metallica will again tour the world this year and into next on "The M72 World Tour." Support includes Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, Greta Van Fleet and others depending on the date.

Metallica will play each city on the tour for two shows without repeating songs. The concert also features a new in-the-round stage design that relocates the famed "Metallica Snake Pit" to center stage for a complete 360-degree view of the show.

See Metallica dates at this link. Get tickets here. 72 Seasons arrives April 14.