See Lars Ulrich Discuss How Thrash, Punk Scenes United Against Eighties Glam | Revolver

See Lars Ulrich Discuss How Thrash, Punk Scenes United Against Eighties Glam

Clip featuring Metallica drummer teases new 'The Rise of L.A. Thrash Metal' doc

The rise of Los Angeles' thrash-metal scene is the subject of a new, two-part documentary from Metal Rock Films, aptly titled The Rise of L.A. Thrash Metal (Part One). Out on DVD and streaming services January 19th, the film – which was narrated by Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson – features interviews with members of Metallica, Slayer, Testament, Anthrax, Diamond Head, Suicidal Tendencies and many more.

Nine days before the doc drops, the makers of The Rise of L.A. Thrash Metal have revealed a two-minute clip featuring some insights from Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who offers his thoughts on how punk-rock and metal bands came together in the early-to-mid Eighties in solidarity against glam metal's hairspray-heavy histrionics, transcending genre barriers in the process.

"When you talk about the punk and the outsider metal stuff uniting," Ulrich said, "a lot of times you got to remember that one group and another group can unite because they're against this other group: my enemy's enemy becomes my friend. So there was a common bond against what was going on in Hollywood at that time, with the fakeness and the make-believe of all these glam bands, and the shallowness of all that type of stuff that the punks and the heavier metal dudes could kind of bond against that," he explained.

Ulrich went on to note that, while Metallica and their punkish brethren shared enemies and ideals, they had fundamental differences where overarching influences were concerned "In terms of attitude and a sense of belonging, we felt more kinship with these guys [punks] – but musically, our roots laid in a lot more of traditional metal stuff," he said, citing AC/DC, Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and others as early sources of inspiration. "Sure, [we liked] Ramones and Motörhead – but that was about the attitude."

The Rise of L.A. Thrash Metal is available now for pre-ordering via Amazon. Be on the lookout for part two, due out sometime this March.

Craving more Metallica? Below, watch them tear through "Disposable Heroes" – off 1986's legendary Master of Puppets – at the 2013 Revolver Golden God Awards: