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Quizzes > Music

Metallica quiz: How well do you know the band?

Quick, free Metallica trivia quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Marc CohenUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Metallica fandom quiz on dark blue background

This Metallica quiz helps you test your knowledge of riffs, lyrics, albums, and band history, with instant scoring. When you are done, explore more with our heavy metal quiz, take an AC/DC quiz, or try a Nirvana quiz.

In which city was Metallica formed in 1981?
Los Angeles
San Francisco
Seattle
New York City
Metallica was formed in Los Angeles, California, by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield in October 1981. The band moved to San Francisco shortly afterward, but their origin is Los Angeles.
What is the title of Metallica's debut studio album?
…And Justice for All
Ride the Lightning
Master of Puppets
Kill 'Em All
Metallica's debut studio album, released in 1983, is titled Kill 'Em All. It laid the groundwork for the thrash metal genre and established the band's aggressive style.
Which Metallica song features the lyric 'Exit light, enter night'?
Fuel
Seek & Destroy
Sad But True
Enter Sandman
The opening lines 'Exit light, enter night' are from 'Enter Sandman,' the lead single from Metallica's self-titled 1991 album (often called The Black Album). It became one of their signature songs.
Who is Metallica's rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist?
Lars Ulrich
Robert Trujillo
Kirk Hammett
James Hetfield
James Hetfield is Metallica's rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist, co-founding the band with Lars Ulrich in 1981. His distinctive vocal style and riffing drive the band's sound.
Which member of Metallica is the band's drummer?
Dave Mustaine
Lars Ulrich
Jason Newsted
Cliff Burton
Lars Ulrich is the co-founder and drummer of Metallica. His fast and technical drumming style has been a defining element of the band's sound since its inception.
In what year did bassist Cliff Burton tragically die in a tour bus accident?
1984
1988
1990
1986
Cliff Burton died on September 27, 1986, in a bus accident while Metallica was touring in Sweden supporting their album Ride the Lightning. His untimely death profoundly affected the band and fans.
Which Metallica album is commonly referred to as 'The Black Album'?
Ride the Lightning
Reload
Metallica (self-titled)
Kill 'Em All
Metallica's 1991 self-titled album is nicknamed 'The Black Album' due to its minimalist black cover. It marked a shift toward a more mainstream sound and became their best-selling record.
Who replaced Cliff Burton as Metallica's bassist?
Rob Trujillo
Paul McCartney
Gary Holt
Jason Newsted
Jason Newsted joined Metallica as bassist in late 1986, shortly after Cliff Burton's death, and remained with the band until 2001. He recorded four studio albums with them.
Which album features the track '…And Justice for All' along with complex song structures and time signatures?
Master of Puppets
…And Justice for All
Load
St. Anger
…And Justice for All (1988) is known for its intricate compositions and lengthy songs, including the title track and 'One.' Its production and mix have been subjects of debate among fans.
Which Metallica song earned the band their first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance?
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman
One
The Unforgiven
Metallica won their first Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1990 for the song 'One' from …And Justice for All. It was their first of many Grammy wins.
Which documentary film follows Metallica during the recording of St. Anger and explores their interpersonal struggles?
S&M
Metallica: Through the Never
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 documentary that chronicles the making of the 2003 album St. Anger, highlighting the band's therapy sessions and creative conflicts.
On Metallica's live album S&M, what does 'S&M' stand for?
Sound & Mix
Steel & Music
Symphony & Metallica
Speed & Metal
S&M stands for Symphony & Metallica, referring to the collaboration between Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Michael Kamen. The album was released in 1999.
Who performed the lead guitar parts on Metallica's debut album 'Kill 'Em All'?
Kirk Hammett
Jason Newsted
Lars Ulrich
Dave Mustaine
Kirk Hammett replaced Dave Mustaine just before the recording of Kill 'Em All, performing all the lead guitar parts on the album, which was released in 1983.
Which studio album marked Robert Trujillo's debut as Metallica's bassist?
Hardwired… to Self-Destruct
St. Anger
Load
Death Magnetic
Robert Trujillo joined Metallica in 2003 but first recorded with the band on the 2008 album Death Magnetic, bringing a renewed thrash influence to their sound.
Which tuning is used on the guitar tracks for the song 'Sad But True' from the self-titled album?
D Standard (D G C F A D)
Drop D (D A D G B E)
Drop C (C G C F A D)
E Standard (E A D G B E)
'Sad But True' is played in D standard tuning, where every string is tuned one whole step down from standard E tuning. This lower tuning gives the song its heavy, sludgy tone.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Recall Iconic Riffs -

    Identify hallmark Metallica guitar riffs and connect them to their respective albums, sharpening your recognition of the band's musical evolution.

  2. Match Deep-Cut Lyrics -

    Pinpoint lesser-known Metallica song lines by recalling lyrics, demonstrating mastery over the band's extensive lyrical catalog.

  3. Analyze Band History -

    Evaluate key events and milestones in Metallica's journey through targeted trivia questions, solidifying your understanding of their legacy.

  4. Assess Fan Status -

    Determine your standing as a true metallica fan quiz champion based on your metallica quiz performance and quiz score.

  5. Apply Trivia Expertise -

    Leverage your metallica trivia know-how to engage confidently in fan discussions and showcase your dedication in any Metallica community.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Memorable Early Albums & Release Years -

    Review Metallica's first four studio albums in order - Kill 'Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), Master of Puppets (1986) and …And Justice for All (1988) - using the mnemonic "KRMJ" ("Kill, Ride, Master, Justice") for easy recall. This chronological grasp is a staple in any strong metallica trivia arsenal and will serve you well in a metallica quiz. Many university-level heavy metal course syllabi cite these albums for their groundbreaking thrash innovations.

  2. Classic Riffs & Musical Techniques -

    Master iconic riffs like "Master of Puppets" (E5 palm-muted gallop) and "Enter Sandman" (down-picked E minor pentatonic), noting that their signature thrash tone comes from down-tuning to E standard with high-gain amps. Practicing these riffs helps you pinpoint them instantly in a metallica fan quiz and deepens your appreciation of James Hetfield's rhythm prowess. As per Guitar World, these techniques define Metallica's signature thrash rhythm style.

  3. Lyric Deep Cuts & Themes -

    Familiarize yourself with lesser-known lyrics from tracks such as "Leper Messiah" or "Damage, Inc.", focusing on lines like "Predestined, my own disease" and noting themes of power and corruption. To remember verses, try the acrostic method by taking each opening word's initial letter to form a memorable code, boosting your performance in true metallica fan quiz challenges. Scholars from the Metal Music Studies Journal note these lyrical motifs as central to Metallica's storytelling.

  4. Band Member Timeline & Trivia -

    Understand key lineup changes: original formation in 1981 with Hetfield, Ulrich, Burton, Hammett's 1983 debut, followed by Newsted in 1986 and Trujillo in 2003. Linking each member's entry with landmark album years makes for an engaging mental timeline you can flex during any metallica trivia showdown. Official band bios on Metallica.com confirm these lineup milestones and their impact on the band's sound.

  5. Production & Stylistic Shifts -

    Study the evolution from Rasmussen's crisp 1980s production on Master of Puppets to Bob Rock's polished Black Album sound (1991), then the experimental groove metal of Load and Reload (1996 - 1997). Noting these shifts gives you contextual answers in a metallica quiz and showcases your deep fan knowledge. Academic papers on popular music evolution often highlight these production pivots as case studies.

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