14 Bands That Metallica Fans Should Listen To

Ever since Metallica stormed the rock industry with its aggressive, fast-paced style in 1981, the band has become important to many people, albeit for several different reasons (per Britannica). Most notably, the band was instrumental in the creation of thrash (or speed) metal. It also played a massive role in introducing a larger amount of the population to heavy metal as a whole, predominantly after the release of the "Black Album" in the early 1990s, which had mainstream appeal (via Spin).

These days, Metallica still has its core of diehard fans that have been with the band from the beginning and always will, but overall its base has expanded far outside the borders of heavy metal to an audience that's more diverse than ever. Punk rockers, alternative aficionados, and many others all appreciate Metallica. The band's large fan base means there are a great number of other acts fans will dig as well, all with ties to the various subgenres related to the band. Here are some of the best groups Metallica enthusiasts are sure to enjoy rocking out to.

When it comes to thrash music, Metallica is considered the best by a significant number of metalheads. However, Slayer is often a solid second. Along with Megadeth and Anthrax, the band is an essential part of the exclusive group known as the "Big Four" of thrash metal and is, thus, necessary listening for those who cannot get enough of the extreme style of music. The band is so extreme, in fact, that its iconic album, "Reign in Blood," was rejected by its label Columbia Records in 1986 because of lyrics involving Nazis and Satanism, according to Billboard. Luckily, Geffen Records came to the rescue so the speed metal classic could reach the masses.

Since Slayer is pretty much the embodiment of hardcore metal, the band may be too much for those who prefer the softer tunes of Metallica post-1990. On the other hand, it would be nearly impossible to find a more renowned group with brutal songs and guitar solos of the same quality.

When thrash metal was thriving in the 1980s, there were many awesome bands outside of the "Big Four" who also played a huge part in forming the subgenre. Without a doubt, Flotsam and Jetsam is one of these groups and rose within the scene just a few years after Metallica.  The rock stars of Metallica were certainly impressed with at least one member of Flotsam and Jetsam, Jason Newsted, since the bassist joined the band after the tragic death of Cliff Burton in 1986 (per the Arizona Republic). 

The remaining members of Flotsam and Jetsam admitted that losing such an important bandmate was rough, but they overcame it and produced some great music in the following decades.

One aspect of Flotsam and Jetsam that sets it apart from some other bands in the genre is the quality of the clean vocals from lead singer Eric "A.K." Knutson. Although still solidly thrash, the voice of the talented frontman leads to a more melodic sound as opposed to the harshness of some other major rivals, like Slayer.

As Motörhead played a crucial role in Lars Ulrich's decision to pursue a career as a musician, UFO had the same effect on the young Kirk Hammett. In a conversation with Guitar World, Metallica's lead guitarist explained why UFO's album "Force It," made the biggest impact on his life: "That record taught me a lot about solo structure, phasing and melody, as well as playing for the song. I was amazed how UFO could be so heavy and so melodic in the course of one song."

With a history reaching back even before 1971, when the band took on the name UFO, the British rockers were among the first major players in the metal scene (per AllMusic). So, for those who seek an OG in the genre that has hard rock credentials and a quality layer of the early progressive style, UFO is essential listening. Since Hammett was clearly impressed by the band upon discovering them, Metallica fans are likely to feel the same the first time they hear them as well.

As a Metallica fan, checking out Megadeth, Slayer, and Anthrax may already seem like a given, since all three bands are almost as well-known as Metallica. On the other hand, Kirk Hammett's first band, Exodus, does not receive nearly as much recognition as it truly deserves, despite being considered to be the same superb quality of thrash metal. When the Metallica guitarist was talking about his former group with Metal Hammer, he admitted, "I think their first album is just as good as [Metallica's] 'Kill 'Em All.'"

Hammett is not the only one to heap such praise on the veteran heavy metal act. His deep respect for Exodus is shared by the Megadeth frontman as well. In an interview with Radio.com, Dave Mustaine was asked if any other thrash masters belonged in the prestigious "Big Four," and replied, "I think probably Exodus, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community" (per Blabbermouth).

Understandably, Exodus guitarist Gary Holt could not agree more with that assessment. As he told Metal Asylum, "I think it should be the 'Big Five' with Exodus because we were there at the start of thrash metal with Metallica in the real early 80s." Such vital figures within the metal world cannot all be wrong, which is a major sign to Metallica fans that if they have not done so already, they need to listen to Exodus.

While Guns N' Roses is more hard rock-oriented with aspects of heavy metal, the band was at its height when Metallica veered a bit away from its traditional thrash style in that direction for the "Black Album" in 1991 (and with great success). As Slash explained to Spin, "The Black Album crossed over in a way that made them a household name and they achieved that while maintaining their sonic integrity, songwriting and attitude. They took their signature style and recorded an album that became universally accessible, but still f***ing cool."

Diehard fans may not have been pleased with the more mainstream approach of the iconic album (as well as the music like it that Metallica released afterward). But for those who appreciate what they created outside of the thrash borders, Guns N' Roses should be near the top of the list of bands to check out. The group has not had the longevity of Metallica, but that does not diminish how Guns N' Roses stood alongside Metallica at the top of the rock industry in the early 1990s (per Ultimate Classic Rock).

The Misfits are a great band for Metallica fans to check out, but not because it has similar, heavy music. Instead, metalheads should consider giving the punk rockers a listen simply due to the fact that Metallica members are such huge fans themselves, and have been for a very long time. The Misfits were founded shortly before the metal band in the late 1970s, and it was not long after that one of Metallica's earliest members, Cliff Burton, got a "crimson ghost" tattoo, the traditional mascot of the punk group, says Metal Sucks. Later, as the rockers grew in popularity, Metallica was also more than happy to support the punk band by wearing its shirts in public.

The Misfits were the first to establish what would later become horror punk, but have been strongly connected to the hardcore metal scene as well. And since thrash is essentially the fusion of heavy metal with hardcore punk, Metallica fans will probably find themselves pleasantly surprised with The Misfits' music. 

Like Mastodon and many other more recent metal bands, Killswitch Engage is another group that has been heavily influenced by Metallica's massive contribution to the thrash subgenre. When interviewed by Radioactive Mike at KCAL 96.7, guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz revealed, "James Hetfield has pretty much shaped the guitar player that I am. I grew up on Metallica, pretty much. Those riffs taught me how to play guitar" (via Metal Sucks). 

The guitarist added, "Right when '...And Justice For All' came out, that's when I was, like, 'What the hell is this? This is so sick.' And then I kind of worked my way backwards. I feel like the entire catalog, from the 'Black Album' back, is just, like, a classic, man."

Killswitch Engage may not be thrash, but the band was hugely responsible for raising the popularity of the newer subgenre metalcore, after their album, "Alive Or Just Breathing," was released in 2002 (per Metal Hammer). Very similar to the thrash style of music, metalcore also has its roots in hardcore punk, but is distinguished by its more frequent use of melodic vocals and guitars amidst contrasting breakdowns and harsh screams. Out of the many heavy metal acts established in the last two decades, is almost guaranteed that Metallica fans will appreciate what KSE has contributed to the genre.