Metallica is.. imho.. one of the most overrated bands in history. Music wise. However, as a fan of music I can’t deny their influence. When the black album came out, it was the most “metal” music you could hear on MTV, the radio, etc. And because of them, the mainstream began to accept metal as a whole. So the genre owes them a huge debt of gratitude. Their music is just kinda mediocre. But this is also true for all of the most influential bands in history. Death, Kraftwerk, N.W.A., etc. None of them would be considered “great” by today’s standards. But their importance to music as a whole is undeniable.