What is the essence of Metallica? Through all their three decades of lineup changes and infighting and (sometimes subtle) changes in sound, at least one thing has stayed constant: James Hetfield’s growls of “yeah!” As “Yeah!” virtuoso David Lee Roth also proved, it’s the ultimate rock gesture.

Let’s just hope the group has developed a good enough sense of humor to keep this compilation, via rock fan Kevin Conklin and Laughing Squid, from getting taken down.