J Balvin, Mon Laferte, Juanes, & More Featured On All-Star Metallica Tribute Album

Lead Photo: Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla
Art by Stephany Torres for Remezcla

Some of the biggest names in pop, indie rock, country, and more have come together to cover Metallica’s 1991 eponymous album — better known as “The Black Album” — for its 30th anniversary. The lineup of the reissue, titled The Metallica Blacklist, has to be one of the most surprising moments in music for 2021 as it features heavy Latinx talent that will surely raise some eyebrows among rock purists.

J. Balvin, Mon Laferte, Juanes, Mexican Institute of Sound ft. La Perla and Gera Mx, Ha*Ash, José Madero, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and The Warning are among the talent found in the 53-track record. Other non-Latinx names include Miley Cyrus and Elton John, St. Vincent, Mac DeMarco, Rina Sawayama, Alessia Cara, Weezer, The Neptunes, and more — who will be covering the 12 tracks from the landmark album, which is notably the highest selling from the Soundscan Era.

But some of the Latinx names featured are not as surprising as you might think. Juanes first made a musical impact with Ekhymosis, one of Colombia’s most prominent metal bands — even declaring “Metallica changed my life forever” — while Balvin has made it no secret that he’s a big fan of the thrash metal pioneers. Laferte fronted Mexican metal band Mystica Girls for a bit. Additionally, both The Warning and Rodrigo y Gabriela first drew attention by covering Metallica, with the latter even recording with bassist Robert Trujillo. However, even the most cynical among us have to admit that seeing pop sister act Ha*Ash and the frontman of Mexico’s premier pop emo act Pxndx on the tracklist is quite the shock.

The album’s video trailer reveals that the covers will present a range of interpretations of The Black Album across different genres. Through the snippets, we can hear Mon Laferte and Ha*Ash tackle “Nothing Else Matter” and “The Unforgiven” in Spanish, while Balvin transforms “Wherever I May Roam” into a trap en español banger. The Warning collaborates with Cara for a pop-rock take on “Enter Sandman,” while IMS gives “Sad But True” an electronic cumbia/hip-hop makeover. 

The Metallica Blacklist is set to release on September 10. Profits from sales will go to 52 different charities chosen by the contributing artists.

Watch the official trailer below: