Rina Sawayama’s avant-pop may not be the first thing you think of when you consider the influence of Metallica’s Black Album 30 years on, but listen closer to the flourishes from her and long-time collaborator Clarence Clarity—the guitar blasts in “XS”, their chaotic cover of “Enter Sandman” from the Metallica Blacklist project—and it makes sense. Sawayama and Clarity compiled a playlist celebrating the Black Album’s anniversary and the role the band and others like them played in forging their own music. And while many will proudly attest to the influence of classic-era Metallica albums, Clarity proudly stans for 2003’s relatively polarising St. Anger, represented here by the title track. “The album has a lot of critics, but I personally love the rawness in the production,” he tells Apple Music. “The struggle of how it all came together is in every detail—in the disjointed arrangements, the naked vocal mix right up against your ear. Metal has always explored the darker side of creativity, but this title track in particular captures a different kind of unique ugliness. Massively influential on the heavier moments on SAWAYAMA. And best snare drum ever recorded.” If you hear something you like, add it to your library.