The Metallica album sessions James Hetfield described as “being born again”

One of the most surprising chapters in the storied career of Metallica came following the departure of Jason Newsted, whose inclusion sparked allegations of bullying but whose absence had a profound impact on the remaining members. St. Anger might not rank as highly in the grand scheme as the coveted Master of Puppets or The Black Album, but what occurred during the sessions made it even more worthy of note.

The early 2000s marked an incredibly tumultuous chapter for the raging metalheads, whose fame had grown to new heights. Among such successes, however, was the growing itch that something was amiss, something that became increasingly impossible to ignore as time went on. As Newsted grew more interested in exploring his own sonic territories, James Hetfield became more agitated about the different ways the band’s dynamic was changing.

Following an explosive argument and Newsted’s departure, Hetfield walked out and disappeared for what seemed like an indefinite amount of time, leaving the other band members at a loss regarding where they were supposed to be heading. As a result, the sessions for St. Anger ended up being postponed while Hetfield entered rehab and attempted to manage his growing alcohol addiction.

Even when he returned, his schedule had changed immensely, and the dynamic had been ruptured so much that it seemed like they had entered a point of no return. As a result, the band hired Phil Towle, a personal enhancement coach, to support them through their sessions as they collectively worked towards completing the album.

Despite the project being one of the most divisive of Metallica’s discography, the different disputes throughout its recording sessions were not lost on Hetfield, who explained that, while a lot of passion went into the album, there were many different factors that altered its sound. “There’s two years of condensed emotion in this,” he told Blabbermouth. “We’ve gone through a lot of personal changes, struggles, epiphanies, it’s deep. It’s so deep lyrically and musically.”

During Hetfield’s absence, however, things felt more uncertain than they had ever before. “He was away for months and months,” Lars Ulrich explained during VH1’s When Metallica Ruled the World. “And by the time he came back to San Francisco, he was still doing his own thing.” Although many were confused by Hetfield’s lack of communication, his excuse was legitimate. “I had to step up for myself,” the musician explained.

As he attempted to get back on track by remaining sober and looking after his family, it was unclear whether he was going to return to Metallica or if they even still wanted him in the band at all. However, after much consideration, he felt ready to return, and the sessions resumed. “Having the support was amazing,” he said. “It was like being born again.”

Despite the obvious changes to the regime and Hetfield’s newfound sobriety, Metallica’s return soon felt positive again, and the rest of the band swung into action and created music the only way they knew how. They may have continued with one less member and one taking on a completely new demeanour, but the talent within Metallica never faltered, even in the darkness.