Metallica is the most influential metal band of all time.

1. Counter Argument

1.1. Other bands are more influential

1.1.1. Metallica wrote some of the most popular and inspiring songs of the 80s and 90s

2. Other bands influenced by Metallica

2.1. Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, etc.

2.2. Former lead guitarist went on to form Megadeth (another very popular metal band)

3. History

3.1. Formation

3.1.1. Inspired by acts such as Motorhead, Black Sabbath, etc.

3.2. Kill 'Em All

3.2.1. First album

3.2.2. Changed the scene of Thrash Metal

3.3. Ride The Lightning

3.4. Master of Puppets

3.5. Death of Cliff Burton

3.6. ...And Justice For All

3.6.1. First music video, featured on MTV

3.7. Black Album

3.7.1. Rise in popularity

3.7.1.1. Became more mainstream

3.8. Load/Reload

3.8.1. Slight step away from thrash metal (More variety in music)

3.8.1.1. Started decrease in popularity

3.9. St. Anger

3.10. Death Magnetic

3.11. Through The Never

3.11.1. Concert movie

3.12. Hardwired... To Self-Destruct

3.12.1. Newest album

3.12.1.1. Set to release in November

3.12.1.2. Followup to Death Magnetic

4. Relevance in the metal community

4.1. Simply ask any metalhead, they know about Metallica to some degree

5. Pioneering in heavy metal

5.1. Ballads

5.2. Variety in song types