The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited  by Metallica

After the death of Cliff Burton in September 1986, Metallica had to find their footing again. Instead of rushing to release new material, they chose to do what they knew best: play their favorite songs loudly. It's the summer of 1987. Metallica is no longer just an underground band, but the "beast" that has just shaken the world with Master of Puppets. However, the glow of success is overshadowed by the heavy mourning of Cliff Burton's loss. At this crossroads, between grief and the need to survive, The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited is born.

The title of the EP was an honest attempt by the band to protect their fans. Fearing that record stores would overcharge the mini-album as a regular LP, they printed the price $5.98 directly on the cover. In fact, they included a note saying: "If they try to charge you more, don’t buy it!"

The Garage Days was not just a time-filler. It changed the game for what an EP could be: It was the first time fans heard Jason Newsted. Although his bass was (intentionally?) low in the mix, his energy showed that the band had a future. Bands like Diamond Head and Budgie saw their careers rejuvenated thanks to Metallica's covers. At a time when metal was becoming more polished (glam metal), Metallica returned to street aesthetics. The sound was raw, the vocals were uncorrected, and the energy was authentic.