Music is a subjective art form, and, for the most part, that’s a quality we like to celebrate. But there are times when we miss that wild fandom, the sort that sees sports supporters brazenly thump their chests as a symbol of their allegiance. So, at times, it’s more fun to remove all subjectivity and affability, and chant the name of your favourite band in the face of rival fans. For Metallica fans, there is a clear identity to buy into, and music of a softer mentality can be appropriately mocked.

Their mosh pits aren’t for the faint of heart, and as their fans exit through the side of the field at a festival, welcoming a more colourful cohort of music lovers in their aftermath, there is perhaps a subtle feeling of superiority that they can go to a more feral place.

But surely, if history has taught us anything, it’s that the musicians who lead these armies of dedicated fans aren’t as one-dimensional. While they may be masters of one specific genre, their skills are cultivated from a varied catalogue of styles.

1. For Metallica, it is no different. Underneath the extravagant riffs and relentless rhythm sections are artists with softer and more rounded sensibilities. Hence, the fearless leader of the band expressed his love for Elton John in a 2004 interview with Rolling Stone, but, more specifically, lauded the melody of one of his most tender ballads. He said, “‘Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting’ was more my style, but few songs can top this melody from ‘Candle in the Wind.