The group’s emblem looks down on users, hovering above everyday life. The Metallica logo alludes to the legendary band. The sign is full of sharpness, sharpness, and metal. It perfectly reflects the musical direction of the band.
Metallica: Brand overview
Founded: | 1981–present |
Founder: | James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich |
Headquarters: |
Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Website: | metallica.com |
Meaning and History
Although the legendary group had four versions of the logo, they always echoed the original. In 2008 the logo was slightly corrected and again became the main brand name. Monochrome was sometimes diluted with red, which accurately conveyed a passion for music at the peak of emotional stress. It was also complemented by electric blue curved discharges (lightning) reflecting heavy metal legends’ character.
What is Metallica?
Metallica is a legendary American heavy metal band that has had a tremendous impact on the global music industry. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles but later moved to San Francisco. Its founders are James Hetfield (guitarist) and Lars Ulrich (drummer).
1983 – 1996
The well-known variant with letters elongated at the ends in the word “Metallica” was created by one of the band members – James Hetfield. Inscription debuted on the cover of Kill ‘Em All and has accompanied the band for over a decade, remaining an excellent personal visualization tool. It consisted of sinuous elongated legs “M,” and “A” exactly echoed high-grade music style.
The logo also had a 3D version that appeared on the covers of Ride The Lightning, Master of Puppets, and Metallica. Now it is used along with the 2008 logo and acts as an additional symbolism.
1996 – 2003
In 1996, a revised version was introduced, proposed for modernity and minimalism. Lightning and curved lines have disappeared, so the word has acquired severity and lightness. Now it looks fit, restrained, compressed. This variation was used in 1996’s Load for the CD single (I Disappear). The stylized ending “M” and “A” give the lettering uniqueness: their legs are slightly beveled and cut diagonally.
2003 – 2008
This emblem was used during the St. Anger, but it didn’t appear on the album cover. At the same time, it is considered the richest development of all existing ones. The black lettering is in bold sans serif letters, surrounded by a light raw outline and uneven flame-like shadow. The first and last letters in the word are traditionally elongated, which creates a form of sharp framing emphasizing courage, daring, and strength.
2008 – today
The current logo is the version from Turner Duckworth’s design studio. She first appeared on the cover of Death Magnetic in 2008. Outwardly it echoes the iconic emblem of 1983-1996, which James Hetfield designed but differed from it in a more modern look. She also has a Glitch variation in 2016 Hardwired … To Self-Destruct.
The current Metallica logo is black lettering in bold upper case letters. Elements elongated at an angle – legs “M” and “A” turned into sharp vertical lines on both sides. Embodying the cult group’s character, this symbolism accurately conveys the idea of musical compositions and makes the emblem well-recognized throughout the world.
Font and Colors
The edgy, hooked, and sinuous mark of Metallica has become a shining synonym for rock music today. He belongs to the category of the most successful visualizations of musical metal bands. Although its creator is believed to be a songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist James Hetfield, in reality, the musician only proposed a concept, and professional designers embodied it.
The group’s logo has always looked the same: the name is in the form of a single word, a symbiosis of text and graphic parts. It is minimalistic with geometric shapes, straight, precise lines, and sharp zippers.
The way the word is written in the group’s name has been given primary attention because there are no graphic elements in the logo. Earlier versions used ExtraBold, later ones – JNL. The letters are predominantly smooth, sans serif.
The logo palette is the same – a classic combination of black and white. This combination emphasizes the contrast of emotions and the peak state of experiences reflected in the musical compositions.
Metallica color codes
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |