From humble beginnings, as they emerged pimple-popped and sweaty out of a global New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene infiltrating California in the early 80s, through to almost complete world domination, sell out tours and Billboard chart success, Metallica's story is like few others. With an insatiable hunger andhell-for-leatherr attitude, they helped to forge a new direction for metal music across the world, combining progressive anger with, at times, sweeping ballads. In the space of just a few album,s they transformed from thrashing wannabes (Kill 'Em All) into real heavy rock contenders (...And Justice for All) – before unleashing a new blend of chart-topping heavy metal on the masses (Black Album). A band of dogged workers, with twists and turns, heartbreak and line-up changes peppering their more than 40-year career, if they aren't on the road, it seems they're in the recording studio, with an incessant hunt for the next loudest, ground-breaking sound, spurring them on. They rode a wave, then started a tsunami, so prepare to be blown away. Metallica give you 'heavy baby!' AUTHOR: Barry Wood, born in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 1977, grew up in Lincolnshire, studied drums at music college and graduated with a degree in Journalism from the University of Lincoln in 2005. Cutting his teeth as a news reporter at a local daily paper for a few years, he then moved into communications for the NHS. A lover of all things musical, he's drummed in various bands (covers and original) since school and completed an MA in Creative Writing, while writing his first novel. A dad of three, living in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds – Metallica has always been a passion.