Metallica had one good album - Kill 'em All, and Dave Mustaine wrote most of it. Its all downhill from there. Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets are arguable, but even those songs are pointless (wtf is "battery?"), and without Burton they are nothing.

I'm sorry, but with the likes of Sepultura, Slayer, and Pantera, there is no need to listen to Metallica.

I will say they were smart getting Rick Rubin in on the deal, he's produced a shitload of big acts, including Slayer. But still, I haven't bought a CD since '02, and the next one sure as fuck isn't going to be a Metallica album.