Battery (song)

Metallica song

"Battery"

Song by Metallica
from the album  Master of Puppets
Released| March 3, 1986
Recorded| 1985
Studio| Sweet Silence Studios Copenhagen
Genre| Thrash metal
Length| 5:13
Label| Elektra
Composer(s)|

* James Hetfield
* Lars Ulrich[1]

Lyricist(s)| James Hetfield
Producer(s)|

* Metallica
* Flemming Rasmussen

"Battery" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica, and serves as the opening track to the band's third studio album, Master of Puppets.

## Background and composition

[edit]

The song is composed in the key of E minor.[2] It has a similar structure to the opening track of Ride the Lightning ("Fight Fire with Fire") and ...And Justice for All ("Blackened").[3] The song begins with an acoustic guitar introduction before drums and bass guitar come in with distorted guitars playing a more melodic sequence. Then the song cuts into a very fast thrash metal riff which is the base for the rest of the song.

James Hetfield improvised the main riff to the song while relaxing in London.[4]

## Lyrical meaning

[edit]

The lyrics discuss control of anger over one's behavior. However, the theme of the song is based around the San Francisco thrash scene in the 1980s. The most prominent club played by Metallica was the Old Waldorf at 444 Battery Street in downtown San Francisco.[5] The lyric "Cannot kill the family, Battery is found in me" is a statement that society does not understand the scene and that those within it ("the family") will defend it as a show of solidarity against the glam metal scene that was popular in the Los Angeles area.[6] The tone of the song is of familial ties and the positive release of energy through interest in metal.

## Reception

[edit]

AllMusic's Steve Huey called the songs "Battery" and "Damage, Inc." "two slices of thrash mayhem".[7]

A readers' poll in Rolling Stone placed "Battery" at number 9 on its 10 Best Metallica Songs list.[8]

Kerrang! ranked the song number 5 on its 20 Greatest Metallica Songs Ranked list, commenting, "Echoing Ride The Lightning's superb Fight Fire With Fire in its medieval-tinged acoustic opening before bombing headlong into a masterclass in lean, taut thrash metal, Battery was the fine-tuned statement of intent from a band ready to make their serrated sound a platinum success."[9]

Revolver magazine hosted a fan poll and "Battery" was ranked number 4 out of "Top 5 Metallica Songs".[10]

Loudwire ranked "Battery" at number 7 in its "Best Metallica Songs" list.[11]

Billboard ranked the song at number 4 on its "Top Ten Greatest Metallica Songs" list.[12]

## Performances

[edit]

The song was first played live on March 27, 1986, along with the songs "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" and "Damage, Inc".[13]

"Battery" used to be a constant part of the band's live set list, frequently as either the opening or closing song. In some cases, it was used as a song before the intermission in concerts. Since 2008, the song shares its spot with other album openers such as "Blackened" or "Fight Fire with Fire", usually near the end of the main set or even in the encore, due to regular setlists rotation.[14] When played live, the song may stop before the interlude and James Hetfield asks the crowd, "Are you alive?... How does it feel to be alive?" (This can be heard on the live album S&M.)[6]

"Battery" has been played live 1000 times up to April 2025.[15]

## Cover versions

[edit]

* Eric Knudtsen (Flotsam & Jetsam), Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Mike Clark (Suicidal Tendencies) and Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies), 2000, on the tribute album Metallic Assault: A Tribute to Metallica. Lombardo played the song with Metallica on stage when Lars Ulrich missed the 2004 Download Festival, and Trujillo became a member of Metallica in 2003.
* Lagwagon borrows the line "smashing through the boundaries/lunacy has found me" on the song "Raise A Family" on their 2000 album Let's Talk About Leftovers.
* Die Krupps, 2002, on the tribute album A Tribute to the Four Horsemen.
* Dream Theater, 2002, along with the entire Master of Puppets album, as part of its world tour in 2002, which has been released as an official bootleg recording.[16]
* Prototype, 2002, on Phantom Lords - A Tribute to Metallica, released by Dwell Records.
* Sum 41, 2003, during the MTV Icon of Metallica, and randomly through the 2009–2010 tour dates.
* Ensiferum, 2004, on the compilation album EvIL Ultimate Metal Covers #55 and their single Tale of Revenge.
* Machine Head, 2006, on the compilation album Remastered: Metallica's Master Of Puppets Revisited, and is also included as a bonus track on some versions of the band's album The Blackening.[17]
* Van Canto, an a cappella metal band, on its 2006 debut album A Storm to Come.[18]
* Harptallica, a harp tribute duo, covered the song's introduction on the 2007 album Harptallica: A Tribute.
* Deftones, 2009, on the second night of the band's One Love For Chi concerts, with accompaniment from Dave Lombardo (Slayer) on drums, Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom) on guitar, Robert Trujillo (Metallica) on bass guitar, Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian (System of a Down) on guitar and bass guitar respectively, and Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan) on vocals.[citation needed]
* Beatallica, a mash-up band that combines Metallica and The Beatles, combined "Battery" with "The Ballad of John and Yoko" to create "The Battery Of Jaymz And Yoko" on the 2009 Masterful Mystery Tour album.
* Animetal, 2012, on the album Animetal Rebirth Heroes, the riff of "Battery" appears throughout the song "Touch".

## In popular culture

[edit]

* The song appears as one of playable tracks in Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero: Metallica and Fortnite Festival.
* The song appears in the 2011 indie film Hesher.[19]
* The song appears in the 2012 film Project X.
* The song appears in the 2013 film Metallica: Through The Never.

## Controversy

[edit]

Main article: Watts family murders

On August 13, 2018, a man named Chris Watts murdered his family.[20] A report on the situation included how Watts Googled lyrics to Metallica's "Battery"[21] after he had disposed of the bodies of his pregnant wife and children.[22] It stirred up controversy in the media, some reports trying to link the song to the murder.[23][24]

## Personnel

[edit]

Credits are adapted from the Master of Puppets's liner notes.[25]

Metallica

* James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar
* Lars Ulrich – drums, percussion
* Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
* Cliff Burton – bass

Production

* Metallica – production
* Flemming Rasmussen – production, engineering
* Andy Wroblewski – assistant engineer
* Michael Wagener – mixing
* Mark Wilzcak – assistant mixing engineer
* George Marino – mastering, remastering on 1995 re-release
* Howie Weinberg, Gentry Studer – 2017 remastering

|
|

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[26] | Gold  | 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[27] | Gold  | 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Metallica Song Catalog: Battery | Metallica.com". www.metallica.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
2. ^ Song Key of Battery (Metallica), archived from the original on September 26, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022
3. ^ Downey, Ryan J. DowneyRyan J. (March 3, 2022). "10 Reasons Why Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' Is So Damn Good!". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
4. ^ Bowcott, Nick (January 2006). "Master Class". Guitar World: 120–128\. ISSN 1045-6295.
5. ^ Multiple sources:
* "The 20 greatest Metallica songs – ranked". Kerrang!. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
* Songfacts. "Battery by Metallica". Songfacts. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
* "25 things you might not know about Metallica's 'Master Of Puppets'". Hauraki. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
* Zukowski, Zenae (March 9, 2016). "Metallica's Master of Puppets Still Superior 30 Years Later". Cryptic Rock. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
* "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Metallica Songs". Rolling Stone. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
6. ^ a b "Metallica - Battery". Rock Heroes. August 24, 2022. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
7. ^ "Metallica - Master of Puppets", AllMusic, archived from the original on September 26, 2022, retrieved September 26, 2022
8. ^ "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Metallica Songs". Rolling Stone. May 14, 2014. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
9. ^ "The 20 greatest Metallica songs – ranked". Kerrang!. May 7, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
10. ^ "Fan Poll: Top 5 Metallica Songs". Revolver. November 4, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
11. ^ Armstrong, Chuck (October 8, 2012). "10 Best Metallica Songs". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
12. ^ Teitelman, Bram (October 16, 2016). "Metallica's Top 10 Greatest Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
13. ^ "The United States Of Metallica: The story of metal's biggest band,…". Kerrang!. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
14. ^ "Battery performed by Metallica". Setlist.fm. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
15. ^ "Metallica Tour Statistics". Setlist.fm. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
16. ^ "Master of Puppets - Live in Barcelona 2002". Dream Theater. July 23, 2021. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
17. ^ "Various Artists (Metal) - Kerrang Remastered: Master of Puppets..." Sputnikmusic. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
18. ^ "German 'A Capella Metal Band' VAN CANTO Covers METALLICA's 'Battery'; Video Available". Blabbermouth. May 16, 2008. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
19. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin (April 7, 2011). "Watch: New 'Hesher' Trailer Powered By Metallica's 'Battery'". IndieWire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- "Hesher". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
20. ^ "Man arrested for killing his pregnant wife and daughters, days after pleading for their return". News24. August 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 17, 2019. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- Lynch, Benjamin (August 10, 2022). "Twisted killer Chris Watt's murder confession and how he 'killed kids twice'". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- "Chris Watts described murdering his children 'more than once' in harrowing letters from behind bars". Tyla. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
21. ^ Sharp, Tyler (November 24, 2018). "Man Murders Family, Media Attempts to Implicate Metallica". Loudwire. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- "Chris Watts Looked Up Metallica Song With Lyrics 'Cannot Kill The Family' After Killing Family". Oxygen. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
22. ^ "Dad Murders His Wife & Kids Then Googles Lyrics to a Metallica Song: 'Lunacy Has Found Me'". People. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
23. ^ "Media Tries To Link METALLICA Song To Man's Gruesome Murder of Family". Metal Injection. November 23, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- "Media Blames Metallica for Man's Murder of Entire Family". MetalSucks. November 26, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
\- Lifton, Dave (November 24, 2018). "Metallica Lyrics Googled Shortly After Murder". Ultimate Classic Rock. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
24. ^ "Chris Watts Reveals Big Metallica Back Tattoo When Taken in For Killing Family". Inked. December 7, 2018. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
25. ^ Master of Puppets (CD liner notes). Metallica. Elektra Records. 1986. 9-60439-2.`{{cite AV media notes}}`: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
26. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
27. ^ "American single certifications – Metallica". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 28, 2025.

* v
* t
* e

Metallica songs

* Discography
* Songs recorded

Kill 'Em All|

* "The Four Horsemen"
* "Jump in the Fire
* "(Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth"
* "Whiplash"
* "Seek & Destroy"

Ride the Lightning|

* "For Whom the Bell Tolls"
* "Fade to Black"
* "Creeping Death"

Master of Puppets|

* "Battery"
* "Master of Puppets"
* "Disposable Heroes"
* "Orion"

...And Justice for All|

* "Blackened"
* "...And Justice for All"
* "Eye of the Beholder"
* "One"
* "Harvester of Sorrow"

Metallica|

* "Enter Sandman"
* "Sad but True"
* "The Unforgiven"
* "Wherever I May Roam"
* "Don't Tread on Me"
* "Nothing Else Matters"
* "The God That Failed"

Load|

* "Ain't My Bitch"
* "Until It Sleeps"
* "King Nothing"
* "Hero of the Day"
* "Bleeding Me"
* "Mama Said"

Reload|

* "Fuel"
* "The Memory Remains"
* "The Unforgiven II"
* "Better Than You"

St. Anger|

* "Frantic"
* "St. Anger"
* "Some Kind of Monster"
* "The Unnamed Feeling"

Death Magnetic|

* "Broken, Beat & Scarred"
* "The Day That Never Comes"
* "All Nightmare Long"
* "Cyanide"
* "The Unforgiven III"
* "The Judas Kiss"
* "My Apocalypse"

Hardwired... to Self-Destruct|

* "Hardwired"
* "Atlas, Rise!"
* "Now That We're Dead"
* "Moth into Flame"
* "Spit Out the Bone"

72 Seasons|

* "72 Seasons"
* "Screaming Suicide"
* "Lux Æterna"
* "If Darkness Had a Son"
* "Inamorata"

Covers|

* "Am I Evil?"
* "Breadfan"
* "Last Caress/Green Hell"
* "Stone Cold Crazy"
* "Turn the Page"
* "Whiskey in the Jar"
* "Die, Die My Darling"

Other songs|

* "No Leaf Clover"
* "I Disappear"
* "The View"

* Category

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