Metallica - Frantic

What this video is

Released in 2003 as the second single from Metallica's polarizing eighth album St. Anger, 'Frantic' arrived during a pivotal and turbulent chapter in the band's history—following Jason Newsted's departure, James Hetfield's rehabilitation for alcoholism, and the recruitment of new bassist Robert Trujillo. The album and its singles openly processed addiction, mortality, and existential urgency, mirroring a broader…

Why it matters

A defining artifact of the early-2000s heavy metal identity crisis, 'Frantic' and its video represent Metallica's deliberate rejection of polished arena-rock production in favor of raw, aggressive minimalism. The hyper-edited video style—with 800 cuts over ~5 minutes—visually encodes the song's…

The director

Wayne Isham (born December 2, 1958, Vinita, Oklahoma) is an American film and music video director. A UC Santa Barbara alumnus, he has directed over 150 music videos since the 1980s. He won a Latin Grammy (2001), the MVPA Lifetime Achievement Award (2007),…