This is the first book and only book to look at the massive impact of Metallica s first four albums on the international metal scene. This book shows the birth and rise of the monster known as Metallica and will link the band and the American metal scene with the famed New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement in the UK and metal originators such as Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. Metallica s early success was built on strong live performances and fierce thrash metal riffs. With the remarkable passion and drive of drummer/founder Lars Ulrich, Metallica became the biggest American metal band in the world and the legacy of those first four albums Kill Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets and ...And Justice For All lives on to this day. American thrash metal produced four major bands Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax dubbed the Big Four, but out of that unholy collective, Metallica were kings. This book tells the story of how that remarkable global triumph started, with interviews with people who were there, saw those early gigs and numerous other eye-witnesses to the incredible story. This is the first book to explore the early years of Metallica, containing exclusive and original interviews with key players and the journalists that brought Metallica to the UK. Plus, in-depth insights into Metallica s groundbreaking first four albums and an exploration of the San Fran Bay Area thrash scene of the 1980s