Metallica - Through the Never (2013)

As a member of thrash metal's heralded "big four," Metallica helped to bring heavy metal from the underground into the mainstream, becoming one of the most influential and successful metal bands of all time in the process. And while the band's output after the breakout success of the Black Album in 1991 has been less than stellar, one need only take a listen to Through the Never, the band's IMAX film, to remember the driving brilliance the band once delivered. Packed with classic tracks like "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "And Justice for All," and "Master of Puppets," the film intercuts the surreal narrative about a roadie named Trip with live footage of the band, creating an intense interplay between the visuals and the music as the bandanna-wearing protagonist sets out on wild adventure. While certainly not Metallica's strongest work, it's a fine callback to their early strength that offers something more stimulating than the same old concert films everyone else does.

by Gregory Heaney, allmusic