Dave Mustaine Reveals Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” Is A Rip-off

Dave Mustaine isn’t done throwing shade at Metallica. In a new episode of The Shawn Ryan Show, the Megadeth frontman opened up once again about his rocky history with his former band—and even took a fresh jab at their most famous song. Mustaine suggested that Metallica’s mega-hit “Enter Sandman” sounds a little too familiar.

“I never say I quit,” Mustaine said when talking about being kicked out of Metallica. “I want people to know I was unfairly dismissed, and I didn’t care.” Then he dropped a bombshell:

“Hell, their biggest song, ‘Enter Sandman’ — go look up the band Excel. Look up their song, I think it’s something ‘Into the Unknown.’ Pretty similar.”

The Riff Controversy: Metallica vs. Excel

Mustaine was pointing to the song “Tapping Into the Emotional Void” by Excel, a lesser-known thrash band from the late ’80s. Their track came out in 1989—two years before Metallica released “Enter Sandman”—and its opening riff does have a noticeable resemblance to the Metallica classic. The drum build also carries a similar feel to Lars Ulrich’s intro.

Excel noticed the similarities too. After Metallica’s track blew up in 1991, fans and critics started revisiting Excel’s earlier work. “You don’t know what to think,” Excel singer Dan Clements told the Los Angeles Times at the time.

No Lawsuit, Just Recognition

Though there were whispers in 2003 about Excel possibly suing Metallica, nothing ever came of it. Instead, the buzz gave Excel’s music a second life. Clements shared that the attention helped boost their album sales, which had only hit about 20,000 copies originally. He said:

“I just want it to be known that it’s time more than 20,000 people recognized that musically Excel has it and is ahead of its time.”

As for Mustaine, this isn’t the first time he’s accused Metallica of borrowing from Excel—and it likely won’t be the last.