In 2021, Metallica marked the 30th anniversary of its self-titled 1991 record, known to fans as the Black Album, with more than a remaster. The band invited 53 artists from pop, country, hip-hop, Latin, jazz, punk, and metal to reinterpret the album’s 12 songs. The result was The Metallica Blacklist, one of the largest single-album tribute projects in rock history and a charity effort.
The Metallica Blacklist is a 53-artist tribute album released by Metallica on September 10, 2021, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Black Album. Every song from the 1991 record is covered at least once, and ‘Nothing Else Matters’ is covered by about a dozen artists. Net proceeds are split equally between Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and charities chosen by each participating artist.
- The Metallica Blacklist features 53 artists covering all 12 tracks of the 1991 Black Album, spread across roughly four hours of music.
- It launched digitally on September 10, 2021, alongside the Black Album remaster, with physical formats following shortly after.
- Proceeds are split 50/50 between the All Within My Hands Foundation and more than 50 artist-selected charities.
- Standout covers include Miley Cyrus’s star-studded ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ Ghost’s ‘Enter Sandman,’ and St. Vincent’s ‘Sad But True.’
- The project showed how far Metallica’s influence reaches beyond heavy metal, into genres the band rarely touches.
What Is The Metallica Blacklist?
The Metallica Blacklist is a covers compilation built around one album. Many tribute records collect songs from a band’s whole catalog. This one focuses only on the Black Album, the 1991 record produced with Bob Rock that turned Metallica from thrash heroes into a global arena act. The album includes ‘Enter Sandman,’ ‘The Unforgiven,’ ‘Wherever I May Roam,’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters.’
Metallica curated the artist list and let each contributor approach the material freely. There was no rule that covers had to sound heavy. That openness gave the album its identity. You will hear reggaeton, Mongolian throat singing, flamenco-influenced acoustic guitar, synth-pop, outlaw country, and hardcore punk, all built on riffs most rock fans know by heart.
Why the Black Album Was the Right Choice
The Black Album is a strong source for reinterpretation for three practical reasons:
- Strong melodies: Compared with the band’s 1980s thrash records, the songs have tighter structures and more singable hooks. That makes them easier to move into other genres.
- Global recognition: It is among the best-selling albums of the SoundScan era in the United States, so listeners outside metal already know the songs.
- Emotional range: The tracklist runs from menacing (‘Sad But True’) to tender (‘Nothing Else Matters’), so artists had very different moods to work with.
7 Facts Every Fan Should Know About The Metallica Blacklist
1. Fifty-Three Artists, Twelve Songs, Around Four Hours
The scale is the first thing most people notice. With 53 contributors and some songs covered half a dozen times or more, The Metallica Blacklist runs close to four hours, much longer than the original album. The physical edition came as a multi-disc set, and the album was also included in the deluxe remastered Black Album box set. The tracklist follows the original song order, which lets you hear the same composition change from one artist to the next.
2. ‘Nothing Else Matters’ Was Covered About a Dozen Times
The 1991 ballad drew the most interest by far. About a dozen artists took it on, and their interpretations differ widely. Phoebe Bridgers delivered a hushed, folk-leaning version. Country singer Mickey Guyton slowed it into a soulful lament. Chris Stapleton and Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode each brought their own vocal style to it. Hearing these versions in a row shows how flexible the song’s melody is.
3. Miley Cyrus Assembled a Supergroup
The most-discussed track was Miley Cyrus’s ‘Nothing Else Matters.’ She was joined by Elton John on piano, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, producer and guitarist Andrew Watt, and Metallica’s own bassist. Cyrus had already performed the song live, including at Glastonbury in 2019, so the recording followed real stage experience. It received major press coverage and was later performed live with Metallica.
4. Every Download Supported Charity
The charity structure is what separates this project from a standard anniversary release. Net proceeds are split equally between Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and a charity chosen by each artist. As a result, a single purchase funds dozens of causes, including workforce education programs, hunger relief, and mental health and environmental organizations around the world.
5. The Genre Spread Was Intentional
Metallica wanted to show how widely its songs had traveled, and the lineup reflects that. Colombian superstar J Balvin turned ‘Wherever I May Roam’ into a reggaeton track. Mongolian folk-metal band The HU gave ‘Through the Never’ throat singing and traditional instruments. Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela performed instrumental acoustic covers. Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington and post-punk band Idles also took part.
6. Metal Was Still Represented
Longtime fans worried about a lack of heaviness still had plenty to enjoy. Swedish band Ghost delivered a theatrical ‘Enter Sandman.’ Slipknot and Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor tore through ‘Holier Than Thou.’ Danish rockers Volbeat covered ‘Don’t Tread on Me,’ and Royal Blood brought fuzzed-out grit to ‘Sad But True.’ These tracks kept the album connected to its hard rock roots.
7. It Launched Alongside the Remaster
The Metallica Blacklist arrived on September 10, 2021, the same day as the remastered Black Album. That timing gave listeners two ways into the record at once: the original in improved audio quality, and dozens of new interpretations. Pairing the tribute with the remaster also brought casual pop and country fans to the original album, and the reverse.
Standout Covers Compared
With 53 tracks, it helps to know where to start. The table below compares notable interpretations by genre, approach, and the type of listener each suits best.
| Original Song | Covering Artist | Genre Approach | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing Else Matters | Miley Cyrus (feat. Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, and others) | Arena rock power ballad | Pop fans and newcomers |
| Nothing Else Matters | Phoebe Bridgers | Intimate indie folk | Quiet, late-night listening |
| Enter Sandman | Ghost | Theatrical hard rock | Metal purists |
| Sad But True | St. Vincent | Art-rock, slinky and dark | Indie and alternative fans |
| Wherever I May Roam | J Balvin | Reggaeton | Latin pop listeners |
| Through the Never | The HU | Mongolian folk-metal | World music explorers |
| Holier Than Thou | Corey Taylor | Aggressive alt-metal | Fans who want heaviness |
| Nothing Else Matters | Chris Stapleton | Southern soul and country | Country and Americana fans |
Strengths and Criticisms
The project drew both praise and criticism. Here is a balanced view.
What Worked
- Charitable impact: The 50/50 model spread money across more than 50 causes, which few tribute albums have done.
- Discovery: Many listeners found new artists through songs they already knew.
- Proof of songwriting: The songs held up in reggaeton, folk, and jazz arrangements, which reflects how well they were written.
What Drew Criticism
- Length: Close to four hours is too long to listen to in one sitting, and some reviewers felt the album lacked editing.
- Repetition: About a dozen versions of one ballad can feel repetitive even when each one is well done.
- Uneven quality: With so many contributors, some covers feel inspired and others feel like routine contributions.
The most practical way to approach The Metallica Blacklist is as a catalog rather than an album. Build a playlist of your top ten covers and return to the rest over time.
How to Listen to The Metallica Blacklist
Because of its length, a plan helps. This listening approach works well:
- Start with the original: Play the remastered Black Album first so the source material is fresh in your mind.
- Pick one song and go deep: Choose a heavily covered track such as ‘Nothing Else Matters’ or ‘Enter Sandman’ and listen to every version back to back. This shows the range of interpretations most clearly.
- Explore by genre: Next, sample covers from genres you rarely listen to, such as reggaeton, jazz, or folk-metal.
- Build a personal edit: Make a 12-track playlist with one favorite cover per song. That gives you your own version of the Black Album.
- Buy if you can: Purchases contribute directly to the charity split, so buying the album has a larger effect than streaming alone.
Why The Metallica Blacklist Still Matters
Years after its release, The Metallica Blacklist is still an example of how a legacy band can celebrate an anniversary in a meaningful way. Other veteran acts tend to mark milestones with reissues and documentaries. Metallica turned the Black Album’s 30th birthday into a large charity effort and a public acknowledgment of its influence on other musicians.
It also shows that heavy music’s influence goes beyond the genre’s fan base. Country stars, Latin hitmakers, indie songwriters, and jazz musicians all signed on because these songs meant something to them. Metallica is often treated only as a metal institution, and this tribute presents the band as a songwriting influence across many styles. The project also reinforced the role of All Within My Hands, the foundation that runs many of Metallica’s community efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions / FAQs
When was The Metallica Blacklist released?
It was released digitally on September 10, 2021, the same day as the remastered Black Album. Physical CD and vinyl formats followed, and the album was also included in the deluxe remaster box set.
How many artists are on The Metallica Blacklist?
There are 53 artists covering the 12 songs from the 1991 Black Album. ‘Nothing Else Matters’ received the most covers, with about a dozen different versions.
Where does the money from The Metallica Blacklist go?
Net proceeds are split equally between Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation and charities selected by each of the participating artists. Each purchase supports both the band’s foundation and the causes the cover artists chose.
Is The Metallica Blacklist worth it for metal fans?
Yes, with the right expectations. Covers by Ghost, Corey Taylor, Volbeat, and Royal Blood keep things heavy. Metal fans who are open to other genres will also find creative reinterpretations that show the songs in new ways.
