Metallica: James Hetfield (vocals, guitar); Kirk Hammett (guitar); Cliff Burton (bass); Lars Ulrich (drums).

Recorded at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark from September through December, 1985.

Metallica's irresistible rise to the top continued with this enigmatic 1986 album. Metallica was a constant touring unit by this point, and their combination of light and dark and their deft staccato delivery, especially on the title track, came brusquely through. Their ever-lengthening arrangements (three songs came in at over eight minutes), bolstered by the precise snap of Hetfield's vocals, testified to their undeniable power. The striding "Battery," the darkly lit "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," as well as the complex instrumental "Orion" all gave powerful testament to their ever-developing skill and vision.