This month's landmark edition of Q Magazine sees the volume cranked up to an ear-bleeding 11, as rock monsters, Metallica tell their own incredible story.

Like all the best stories, Metallica's is one that would, were it produced as a work of fiction, invite incredulous snorts of derision. The band's long, astronomically successful career (their Black album alone has sold more than 14 million copies in the US) is one that manages to incorporate a tragic death, at least one breakdown, Herculean excess, a flirtation with professional tennis, a remarkable sex addiction, as well as the intervention of a controversial therapist just to keep the whole big, barmy beast intact.

The band themselves have never told their whole story before.

They do so for the first time, exclusively in this month's Q.

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