Evolution: Metallica (1980s)

In the 1980s, Metallica took adrenaline-soaked thrash metal to places of genuine and brilliant artistic achievement. On albums like 1984’s “Ride the Lightning” and its followup, 1986’s best-of-genre “Master of Puppets,” the quartet proved how heavy-metal elements like speed and volume and virtuosity could be used to convey real emotional depth. Ditto their use of song form, which could be shockingly complex without ever feeling less than compelling — prog-rock with a punk edge and without the geeky pretensions. Some of the most stunning developments in rock ’n’ roll history can be found here. (Photo: Fin Costello/Redferns)