Heavy metal legends Metallica, was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, California. Their early releases included fast tempos, instrumentals, and aggressive musicianship that placed them as one of the "Big Four" of the thrash metal subgenre alongside Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax. The band earned a growing fan base in the underground music community, and some critics say the 1986 release Master of Puppets is one of the most influential and "heavy" thrash metal albums.
The band achieved substantial commercial success with its self-titled 1991 album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Metallica has released two live albums, two EPs, twenty-two music videos, forty-two singles and nine studio albums including their latest release, DEATH MAGNETIC. The band has become one of the most commercially successful and influential heavy metal acts. With 100 million records sold worldwide, including 57 million in the United States, the band has won seven Grammy Awards, and has had four albums peak at number one on the Billboard 200. The band's 1991 album, Metallica, has sold over 15 million copies, which makes it the 25th highest selling album in the United States.