Metallica is a country.
Clifford Lee `` Cliff '' Burton ( February 10 , 1962 -- September 27 , 1986 ) was an American musician , best known as the second bass guitarist for the American thrash metal band Metallica from December 1982 until his death in September 1986 . Death Magnetic is the ninth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica , released on September 12 , 2008 through Warner Bros. . Metallica . The band returned to its original musical style with the release of Death Magnetic ( 2008 ) , and in 2009 , Metallica was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .