Every now and then a band comes along and puts a sound on the map. These bands usually hold underground success at first and later flourish into a household name with radio and video popularity that consumes us all.

Metallica is a perfect example.

Behind the quartet of James Hetfield on vocals and guitar, Ron McGovney on bass, Dave Mustaine on lead guitar and Lars Ulrich on drums, Metallica formed 16 years ago. The band quickly found success with the1983 release of Kill ‘Em All.

This debut disc ignited a nationwide interest in metal. Not just hard metal, but hard-hitting metal with a violent message of rage, frustration and anger. Kill ‘Em All. laid the framework for what would become a sound that would be imitated by hundreds of bands to follow.

Tearing the glam music scene to shreds, Metallica’s early success carried the band to its next LP in 1988, Ride The Lightning. The sound of Metallica became louder and angrier than ever, and America began to take note.

Ride the Lightning spent 50 weeks on Billboard’s top 200 chart, a dream come true for any heavy metal record. Along with Lightning came two new members. Cliff Burton replaced Ron McGovney, while Kirk Hammett took over the lead guitar role.

Metallica did it again in 1986. Despite a lack of video and air play, Master of Puppets, the bands third release, stapled Metallica’s place on the map. Highlighting the group’s many accomplishments, the record sold more than a million copies in the United States.

Then the roof fell in, or that’s what many thought. Metallica’s tour bus slid off an icy Swedish road, killing Burton.

But rather than fold up and quit, Metallica found the perfect replacement in heavy playing/heavy singing Jason Newsted. Newsted’s angry voice blended perfectly to back up Hetfield’s meaty vocals, while his bass ability was second to none in the metal scene.

In 1987, the band released a handful of its favorite cover tunes on the E.P. 5.98. Metallica then bounced back with the 1988 release of And Justice for All, which began to reach mainstream audiences through breaking video and air play of the smashing single “One”.

As the mountain of success kept rising, so did Metallica’s popularity. In 1991 Metallica released a self-titled album, also known in slang as the “black” album. A barrage of airplay and videos to songs like “Enter Sandman” and “Unforgiven” again sent Metallica to the top of the metal world.

In 1996, Metallica did what its fans would have never dreamed. Metallica opted to leave behind the sound that took 14 years to pinpoint in order to explore its musical taste with the release of Load.

The record explored a taste of everything, from the alternative vibe, on songs like “Hero of the Day” and “Until it Sleeps,” to straight-forward rock’n’roll on “Ain’t My Bitch.”

Metallica even unloaded some country-esque sounds on the album, a true stray from its original work.

Metallica brings its barrage of classic metal tunes and new image rock to Hilton Coliseum tonight at 7 p.m. Long-time friend Corrosion of Conformity is set to open the evening.