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Metallica Learns to Press Vinyl at Their Vinyl Plant

Metallica is clearly not afraid to learn new things, as evidenced by a video they shared learning how to press vinyl at Furnace Record Pressing, the Virginia-based vinyl pressing plant…

Metallica black and white press photo.
Tim Saccenti

Metallica is clearly not afraid to learn new things, as evidenced by a video they shared learning how to press vinyl at Furnace Record Pressing, the Virginia-based vinyl pressing plant they invested in in March 2023.

In the video below, each member of Metallica learns to press vinyl step-by-step. In fact, each member presses a "splatter vinyl" of their classic album Ride the Lightning. The clip is cheekily captioned, "Even with 43 years and 12 LPs under their belts, the fine folks at Furnace Record Pressing can still teach Metallica a thing or two about ~making~ a record."

When Metallica invested in Furnace Record Pressing in 2023, they gained a majority interest in the plant, which was first founded in 2014 and has pressed over five million vinyl records for Metallica over the years.

Metallica saw this investment as an opportunity to better serve its fans and their demand for vinyl. James Hetfield said in a statement, "Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans. This deepened relationship between Metallica and Furnace ensures that fans of vinyl everywhere, particularly our Fifth Members, will have continued access to high quality records in the future."

While Metallica has seen the value in investing in a vinyl pressing plant, the growing popularity of vinyl hasn't exactly translated into turntable sales. According to a report from Luminate (h/t Music Business Worldwide), 50% of consumers who purchased music on vinyl in their 12-month study don't own a turntable. You know...the thing that actually plays the vinyl!

So, what's the point of owning vinyl if you don't actually play it? Music Business Worldwide cited a 2016 BBC story that talked to a vinyl customer who didn't own a turntable. This customer told the BBC, "I just collect them and put them on my wall, I think it looks great. I literally do it based on how it looks, or if I feel like I have a connection with the artist… If I think it’ll look good on my wall, so be it."

While the concept of owning music you can't play still seems silly, displaying vinyl sleeves is incredibly popular. A simple internet search of "vinyl wall display" yields a wide variety of results for nearly every price point. Clearly, there is a demand for this, but it still would be nice if vinyl owners actually owned turntables, too.

Metallica is one of the most revered bands of all time with a catalog any up-and-coming band could only dream of having. It's impossible imagining the rock/metal landscape without them.

With this in mind, we did a deep dive on the mighty Metallica catalog focusing only on albums/EPs with new material (sorry, Garage Inc.) but excluding Lulu, their infamous 2011 collaboration with Lou Reed for obvious reasons (not sorry about that.)

Buckle in for a wild ride that will likely get very opinionated, because here is every Metallica song ranked from worst to best. Yeah-Yeah!

Author credits
(EB) = Erica Banas
(AE) = Anne Erickson
(SP) = Sara Parker
(ST) = Sydney Taylor

127. "Suicide & Redemption" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Blackened-Recordings.jpgWarner Bros.

126. "Purify" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra.jpgElektra

125. "Shoot Me Again" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

124. "My World" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

123. "Attitude" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra.jpgElektra

122. “Sweet Amber” - ‘St. Anger’ (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

121. "The Unnamed Feeling" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

120. “Hell And Back” - ‘Beyond Magnetic’ (2011)

Metallica_Beyond_Warner-Bros.jpegWarner Bros.

119. "Bad Seed" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

118. "Lords of Summer" - Single (2014)

Metallica_Lords_Blackened-Recordings.jpgBlackened Recordings

117. "Murder One" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings.jpegBlackened Recordings

116. “Don’t Tread On Me” - ‘Metallica’ (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra.jpgElektra

115. "Just a Bullet Away" - 'Beyond Magnetic' (2011)

Metallica_Beyond_Warner-Bros-1.jpegWarner Bros.

114. "Better Than You" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

113. “Am I Savage?” - ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-1.jpegBlackened Recordings

112. "The Unforgiven III" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros.jpgWarner Bros.

111. "Slither" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

110. "Broken, Beat & Scarred" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-1.jpgWarner Bros.

109. "Invisible Kid" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

108. "The Judas Kiss" - ‘Death Magnetic’ (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-2.jpgWarner Bros.

107. "Devil's Dance" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

106. "Dirty Window" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

105. “Here Comes Revenge” - ‘Hardwired… To Self Destruct’ (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-2.jpegBlackened Recordings

104. "The Unforgiven II" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

103. "ManUNkind" - Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-3.jpegBlackened Recordings

102. "Cyanide" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-3.jpgWarner Bros.

101. "Hate Train" - 'Beyond Magnetic' (2011)

Metallica_Beyond_Warner-Bros-2.jpegWarner Bros.

100. "The Shortest Straw" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra.jpgElektra

99. "Some Kind of Monster" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

98. “You Must Burn!” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened.jpgBlackened

97. "Wasting My Hate" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra.jpgElektra

96. "Prince Charming" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

95. "Thorn Within" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

94. “Crown of Barbed Wire” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-1.jpgBlackened

93. "Carpe Diem Baby" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

92. "The House Jack Built" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

91. "Where the Wild Things Are" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-8.jpgElektra

90. "Poor Twisted Me" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

89. "The Outlaw Torn" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

88. "Rebel Of Babylon" - 'Beyond Magnetic' (2011

Metallica_Beyond_Warner-Bros-3.jpegWarner Bros.

87. “Chasing Light” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-2.jpgBlackened

86. "Ronnie" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

85. "Holier Than Thou" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

84. "Of Wolf and Man" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

83. "Cure" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

82. "The Struggle Within" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

81. "Confusion" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-4.jpegBlackened Recordings

80. “Hero Of The Day” - ‘Load’ (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

79. "All Within My Hands" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-8.jpgElektra

78. "St. Anger" - 'St. Anger' (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-9.jpgElektra

77. “Frantic” - ‘St. Anger’ (2003)

Metallica_St-Anger_Elektra-10.jpgElektra

76. "My Apocalypse" - Death Magnetic (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-4.jpgWarner Bros.

75. “Screaming Suicide” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-3.jpgBlackened

74. "My Friend of Misery" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

73. "Halo On Fire" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-5.jpegBlackened Recordings

72. “Sleepwalk My Life Away” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-4.jpgBlackened

71. "Through the Never" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

70. “Escape” - ‘Ride The Lightning’ (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce.pngMegaforce

69. "The End of the Line" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-5.jpgWarner Bros

68. "Mama Said" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-8.jpgElektra

67. “Too Far Gone?” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-5.jpgBlackened

66. “No Remorse” - ‘Kill ‘Em All’ (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce.jpgMegaforce

65. "Ain't My Bitch" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-9.jpgElektra

64. "The God That Failed" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

63. "That Was Just Your Life" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-6.jpgWarner Bros.

62. “If Darkness Had a Son” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-6.jpgBlackened

61. "Dream No More" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-6.jpegBlackened Recordings

60. “Phantom Lord” - ‘Kill ‘Em All’ (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-1.jpgMegaforce

59. "- Human" - 'S&M' (1999)

Metallica_SM_Elektra.jpgElektra

58. "2 x 4" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-10.jpgElektra

57. "All Nightmare Long" - 'Death Magnetic' (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-7.jpgWarner Bros.

56. “Room of Mirrors” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-7.jpgBlackened

55. "Now That We're Dead" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-7.jpegBlackened Recordings

54. "(Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth" - 'Kill 'Em All' (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-2.jpgMegaforce

53. “Jump In The Fire” - ‘Kill ‘Em All’ (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-3.jpgMegaforce

52. "Fixxxer" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-9.jpgElektra

51. “Inamorata” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-8.jpgBlackened

50. "The Memory Remains" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-10.jpgElektra

49. “72 Season” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-9.jpgBlackened

48. "The Thing That Should Not Be" - ‘Master of Puppets’ (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra.jpgElektra

47. "No Leaf Clover" - 'S&M' (1999)

Metallica_SM_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

46. "Dyers Eve" - ‘...And Justice for All’ (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

45. "Atlas, Rise!" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-8.jpegBlackened Recordings

44. “Shadows Follow” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-10.jpgBlackened

43. "Fuel" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-11.jpgElektra

42. "Metal Militia" - ‘Kill 'Em All’ (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-4.jpgMegaforce

41. “Until It Sleeps” - ‘Load’ (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-11.jpgElektra

40. “The Four Horsemen” - ‘Kill ‘Em All’ (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-5.jpgMegaforce

39. "Ride the Lightning" - 'Ride the Lightning' (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-1.pngMegaforce

38. "To Live Is to Die" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

37. "Motorbreath" - 'Kill 'Em All' (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-6.jpgMegaforce

36. “Leper Messiah” - ‘Master of Puppets’ (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-1.jpgElektra

35. "Bleeding Me" - ‘Load’ (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-12.jpgElektra

34. "Spit Out the Bone" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-9.jpegBlackened Recordings

33. "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

32. "Low Man's Lyric" - 'Reload' (1997)

Metallica_Reload_Elektra-12.jpgElektra

31. "Eye of the Beholder" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

30. "Moth Into Flame" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-10.jpegBlackened Recordings

29. “Trapped Under Ice” - ‘Ride The Lightning’ (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-2.pngMegaforce

28. "Disposable Heroes" - 'Master of Puppets' (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-2.jpgElektra

27. "Orion" - ‘Master of Puppets’ (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-3.jpgElektra

26. "Hardwired" - 'Hardwired...To Self-Destruct' (2016)

Metallica_Hardwired_Blackened-Recordings-11.jpegBlackened Recordings

25. "...And Justice for All" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

24. "The Call of Ktulu" - 'Ride the Lightning' (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-3.pngMegaforce

23. “The Day That Never Comes” - ‘Death Magnetic’ (2008)

Metallica_Death-Magnetic_Warner-Bros-8.jpgWarner Bros.

22. "King Nothing" - 'Load' (1996)

Metallica_Load_Elektra-13.jpgElektra

21. "Harvester of Sorrow" - ‘…And Justice for All’ (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

20. "Blackened" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

19. "Wherever I May Roam" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-7.jpgElektra

18. “Lux Æterna” - ‘72 Seasons’ (2023)

72-Seasons_Blackened-11.jpgBlackened

17. "Hit the Lights" - 'Kill 'Em All' (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-7.jpgMegaforce

16. "Creeping Death" - 'Ride the Lightning' (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-4.pngMegaforce

15. "Fight Fire with Fire" - ‘Ride the Lightning’ (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-5.pngMegaforce

14. "Whiplash" - 'Kill 'Em All' (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-8.jpgMegaforce

13. "I Disappear" - 'Mission: Impossible 2 Soundtrack' (2000)

Metallica_I-Disappear_Hollywood.jpgHollywood

12. "Nothing Else Matters" - ‘Metallica’ (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-8.jpgElektra

11. “Fade To Black” - ‘Ride The Lightning’ (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-6.pngMegaforce

10. "Enter Sandman" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-9.jpgElektra

9. “The Unforgiven” - ‘Metallica’ (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-10.jpgElektra

8. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" - 'Master of Puppets' (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-4.jpgElektra

7. "Seek & Destroy" - 'Kill 'Em All' (1983)

Metallica_Kill-em-All_Megaforce-9.jpgMegaforce

6. "Battery" - 'Master of Puppets' (1986) 

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-5.jpgElektra

5. "Sad But True" - 'Metallica' (1991)

Metallica_Metallica_Elektra-11.jpgElektra

4. "Damage, Inc." - ‘Master of Puppets’ (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-6.jpgElektra

3. "One" - '...And Justice for All' (1988)

Metallica_And-Justice_Elektra-8.jpgElektra

2. "For Whom the Bell Tolls" - 'Ride the Lightning' (1984)

Metallica_Ride-the-Lightning_Megaforce-7.pngMegaforce

1. "Master of Puppets" - 'Master of Puppets' (1986)

Metallica_Master-of-Puppets_Elektra-7.jpgElektra
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights