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Dave Mustaine recently claimed that the main riff in Metallica’s iconic track ‘Enter Sandman’ might have been taken from another band. During his appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show, the Megadeth frontman and former Metallica guitarist claimed that the riff closely resembles one from the 1989 song ‘Tapping Into The Emotional Void’ by the crossover thrash band Excel.
Mustaine reportedly pointed out that similarities between the two tracks extend beyond the guitar riff to include the drum build-up at the beginning. He encouraged listeners to compare the two songs themselves, stating that Metallica’s most successful track might not be as original as widely believed.
While discussing his exit from Metallica, Mustaine said he had always made it clear that he was dismissed rather than quitting voluntarily. He also expressed lingering frustration over the band continuing to use music he claimed to have written. He mentioned that although Megadeth may not have reached the same level of commercial success, he believed his creative contributions were foundational to Metallica’s rise.
He further stated that he had a hand in writing several early Metallica tracks, including ‘Ride the Lightning’, ‘The Call of Ktulu’, ‘Phantom Lord’, ‘Metal Militia’, ‘Jump in the Fire’, and ‘The Four Horsemen’. He also alleged that parts of ‘Leper Messiah’ were based on his work, despite not receiving credit.
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Mustaine Rekindles Riff Dispute as Metallica Announces 2026 Tour
Mustaine added that all the guitar solos on Metallica’s debut album were originally his and implied that Kirk Hammett merely replicated them after his departure. He said this caused him significant anger at the time and made forgiveness difficult.
According to Consequence, Mustaine has been making such comparisons for over two decades, and back in 2003, Excel had even considered legal action over the similarities, though it never moved forward.
Meanwhile, Metallica has announced new UK and European tour dates for their ongoing ‘M72’ tour, scheduled for 2026.
