It isn’t sad, but it's certainly true that Metallica have amassed one of the best collections of riffs in metal history. Join us as we count down our picks for the 10 Greatest Metallica Riffs!

As a collective, Metallica have a staggering number of riff lords in the band’s history. Fans constantly argue Kirk Hammett vs. Dave Mustaine when it comes to Metallica’s greatest guitarist, but what about James Hetfield? The dude has written so many of ‘Tallica’s hall-of-fame riffs! You’ll see plenty of Hetfield-penned leads on this list, including the classic “Seek & Destroy” and epic “Battery.”

Let’s also give some credit to late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. The four-stringer shares writing credits on legendary cuts like ‘Master of Puppets” and boasts the sole writing credit for “(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth.” Burton’s masterpiece, however, may be “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Along with being one of Metallica’s most memorable riffs, Burton brought his bass to the forefront of an iconic song, leading the powerhouse track with his haunting tone and unapologetic distortion.

As for Mustaine and Hammett, you’ll hear plenty from them. Mustaine’s massive riff on “The Four Horsemen” is included, as is Metallica’s most recognizable riff — “Enter Sandman” — which was fleshed out on Kirk Hammett’s fretboard.

Check out our picks for the 10 Greatest Metallica Riffs in the Loud List above!

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