Why Do Metallica Hate 'Escape' So Much?

Why do Metallica, and James Hetfield particularly, hate the Trip the Lightning tune “Escape” a lot?

The tune seems sixth on the metallic giants’ sophomore 1984 album, sandwiched between the deep reduce/Facet B opener “Trapped Beneath Ice” and the favored “Creeping Dying.”

Whereas it is not one of many band’s most panned songs, it is one Metallica simply downright detest, and there is a purpose why.

Let’s get into it!

How Was “Escape” Written?

On Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All, they got here into the recording periods with their materials already written. That modified on the followup although, because the group was tasked with writing within the studio for the primary time.

Concerning “Escape,” in 2017, Hetfield recollected, “[Ride the Lightning] was the primary time we wrote a tune within the studio. I keep in mind we had all of the songs and Lars [Ulrich] stated, ‘They need us to file yet one more, they want yet one more for the album. I used to be like, ‘You did not inform me that…’ So we needed to write and it was actually last-minute. So ‘Escape’ was a kind of songs that was written within the studio.”

It has an clearly extra industrial sound and construction than any of the band’s materials on the time and plenty of have gone on to accuse Metallica of getting radio-friendly intentions with the monitor. Regardless of these qualities, “Escape” was by no means launched as a single.

Hetfield, Ulrich and Kirk Hammett are credited with writing the tune.

Metallica, “Escape”

Has “Escape” Ever Been Performed Stay?

Simply as soon as on June 23, 2012 at Metallica’s personal Orion Music + Extra Pageant the place they performed your complete Trip the Lightning album.

Introducing the tune, Hetfield instructed the group, “That is groundbreaking proper right here. That is historic for these of you who would possibly know what’s developing subsequent. The tune that we by no means needed to play reside ever is now on the setlist. We’re not afraid, we simply hope it’s good. And we’ll do our greatest. You possibly can sing alongside in order for you, all proper? Which may assist.”

READ MORE: The Most + Least Performed Music Stay Off Every Metallica Album (And Ones That Have been By no means Carried out Stay)

What Have the Metallica’s Different Members Mentioned About “Escape?”

As not too long ago as spring of 2023, Metallica reaffirmed their contempt for the tune, responding to a fan’s query on TikTok which requested, “Is Metallica’s ‘Escape’ higher than I keep in mind it?”

A reply from Metallica learn, “No, it is not.”

After we performed ‘Escape’ on the Orion Fest, we collectively agreed why we by no means play that tune: It’s probably not a fantastic tune to play reside,” Hammett as soon as instructed Rolling Stone, explaining, “It’s in the important thing of “A,” like “The Name of Ktulu” and “Steel Militia,” however the important thing of “A” doesn’t actually work properly for us for some purpose or one other. Taking part in that tune was extra of a novelty than anything, however we beloved enjoying all the opposite songs.”

Ulrich, usually the contrarian amongst the group, knowledgeable Steel Hammer, “It’s turn into this folklore that I hate ‘Escape.’ It’s not true! It was the final tune that was written for the Trip The Lightning periods, and it was purposely stored a little bit shorter than the opposite songs. We considered it within the spirit of Iron Maiden’s ‘Run To the Hills’ or Judas Priest’s ‘Dwelling After Midnight’ – dare I take advantage of the phrases ‘radio songs’? So as a substitute of turning it into an eight minute ‘Search And Destroy’ kind of factor, we stored it on the quick facet. Then it received a foul rap, and I don’t know why. I don’t have a selected downside with it, however it by no means grew to become a reside staple like the opposite songs on the file. It simply goes to indicate that you simply’re higher off not making an attempt to do issues on objective.”