All Metallica riffs Kirk Hammett wrote

James Hetfield wrote the majority of riffs in Metallica. But not all. The runner-up is Kirk Hammett, who is co-author of 50 Metallica tracks, or ~1/2 the entire catalogue (note that solos never counted in the matter, but riffs and composition).

Only two albums don’t feature Kirk Hammett’s riff contributions – Kill ’em All (‘cause just joined) and Hardwired (‘cause rip iPhone). And his licks from Enter Sandman and Creeping Death have become heavy metal classics.

But we still don’t know most of the riffs behind Kirk Hammett’s name in Metallica’s songwriting credits. Here we collect all of them, with evidence from interviews and documentaries.

The list is updating, so join our MetGang to learn of new Kirk’s riffs we discover! And if you know a missing one, please share the source in the comments (moderated) or contact form.

(The page got too heavy from links and files. So, click on individual songs for the riff info and extra materials.)

FADE TO BLACK – outro

TRAPPED UNDER ICE – main, middle

CREEPING DEATH – breakdown

MASTER OF PUPPETS – pre-chorus (+main?, verse?)

THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE – ?

WELCOME HOME (SANITARIUM) – intro

DISPOSABLE HEROES – fast one

DAMAGE, INC. – bridge

…AND JUSTICE FOR ALL – hammer-on jumper (+else?)

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER – ?

THE FRAYED ENDS OF SANITY – ?

DYERS EVE – ?

ENTER SANDMAN – main

THE UNFORGIVEN – verse

THROUGH THE NEVER – main

OF WOLF AND MAN – main

2X4 – ?

THE HOUSE JACK BUILT – ?

KING NOTHING – ?

HERO OF THE DAY – main

BLEEDING ME – bridge

WASTING MY HATE – ?

THORN WITHIN – ?

FUEL – ?

THE UNFORGIVEN II – ?

SLITHER – ?

CARPE DIEM BABY – ?

BAD SEED – ?

FIXXXER – ?

ST ANGER – chorus

SWEET AMBER – pre-chorus

THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES – intro

MY APOCALYPSE – bridge

REST OF ST. ANGER AND DEATH MAGNETIC – ?