Now, most of you know I'm a fan of art, and some of you may (or may not) know I like Metallica as well. They decided to marry the two together and had a gallery opening on January 20th of artistic responses to their songs. Perhaps this was a brainchild of Lars, since he likes art. A wide variety of responses were contributed, see below!

Feature:

Obey Your Master Art Tribute to Metallica

Art is timeless when it inspires other art.

Whether it's a piece by Jackson Pollock, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Beatles,Led Zeppelin, or Martin Scorsese, an artist's work is measured by the volume of the symphony of its resonances. Well, there's no symphony of resonances louder than Metallica.

They're irrefutably the greatest metal band ever, and their impact reverberates through everything from films like Hesher through seminal musical acts ranging from Alice in Chains to Tool. Last night, the group's music came to life vividly at the opening of Exhibit A's Obey Your Master Art Tribute to Metallica. A myriad of artists such as Shepard Fairey and musicians like Slipknot's M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan and My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way each chose a classic Metallica tune and crafted a piece of art influenced by the song. The opening event saw the band, artists, and more in attendance. The result is one of the most innovative, invigorating, and impactful art shows that Los Angeles has ever hosted.

Walking through Exhibit A was like entering the ultimate rock 'n' roll fantasy. Black Veil Brides singer Andy Biersack's "Creeping Death" depicted Cliff Burton with blood streaming from his eyes, a haunting and hypnotic tribute to Metallica's legendary bassist. Dan Harding's "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" boasts a gorgeously detailed demon with his claws literally in a sad, sorry victim's skin. His use of grays makes for an ornate exploration of a breakdown.

The band's logo stood emblazoned at the corner of Jon Chase's "The Four Horsemen" juxtaposed against four strained dying faces. Touting his now iconic "Obey" persona, Shepard Fairey's "Disposable Heroes" could be the ultimate anti-war poster with the solemn James Hetfield lyrics "He served us well" practically screaming off of the canvas. "Master of Puppets" as interpreted by Richard Villa III is as beautiful as it is brutal with a hooded naked woman pulling the entrails of her victims as strings. The song's classic crescendo blares from the colors and intricacies of the painting.

Gail Potocki took "Through the Never" and crafted an intriguing twisted fairy tale scene around it as a raven-haired gothic beauty bleeds from her hand into birds below. Cleverly, Kim Saigh gave an unexpected and unique version of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" that's so subtle it's searing. "Dyers Eve" is a psychedelic tribute to life and love with a dove in the middle of flowers and skulls.

Standing in the center of Exhibit A stood M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan's "Damage Inc." sculpture. Two horned skeletons sat atop the vestiges of a soldier with a bullet belt slung over his half torn uniform. Below, buckets stood filled with baby dolls limbs. The piece watched over the entire gallery with an ominous glare befitting of the Master of Puppetsfinale from which it came. It's a fitting homage to Metallica from a true 21st century dark visionary.

Gerard Way's land mines made the tale at the center of "One" a reality. Each mine bore the scars of war, and Way's deft craftsmanship proved marvelous and magnificent. For "The God That Failed", Per Haagensen was hellishly intense as demons stare at an entrancing sky. The there was "Nothing Else Matters" from Chris Peters which depicted to skeletons holding each other in a sparse embracing mirroring the immortal tune.

Obey Your Master…don't miss this gallery and crank Metallica all the way there. You may just go home and create your own piece inspired by the band.