Fuel

Gimme fuel, gimme fire! Metallica ignites with "Fuel," their high-octane 1998 single. This explosive Heavy Metal / Hard Rock track burns with raw energy, driving riffs, and lyrics celebrating adrenaline and speed. A Grammy-nominated modern metal classic still blasting today, April 12, 2025.

Released as a single in 1998 from Metallica’s 1997 Reload album, "Fuel" showcased the band's enduring power heading towards the new millennium. This track delivers pure Heavy Metal and Hard Rock intensity, characterized by fast, aggressive guitar riffs from James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich's driving drums, and Hetfield's commanding vocals, capturing their signature powerful sound.

With lyrics centered on the addictive rush of speed and adrenaline ("Gimme that which I desire!"), "Fuel" became synonymous with high-octane energy, famously adopted for NASCAR broadcasts and racing events. Nominated for a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance, the song remains a high-energy fan favorite and a powerful staple in Metallica's live performances worldwide, showcasing their lasting impact.

SONG MEANING: "Fuel" is an intense ode to the addictive, consuming desire for adrenaline, speed, and living life on the edge. The lyrics use powerful metaphors of fuel, fire, and engines ("On I burn," "Quench my thirst with gasoline," "Thrusting like a jaguar") to convey an almost uncontrollable craving for intensity, velocity, and the raw, dangerous energy associated with pushing boundaries to the absolute limit.