She was challenged to ‘name 3 Metallica songs’, her response melted faces

Heavy metal has long been a male-dominated space, with legendary bands like Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath shaping the genre. Over time, artists like Evanescence’s Amy Lee have helped change the scene, but women in metal still face skepticism from gatekeepers who question their credibility. That was exactly what happened to Zaria Zoyner—known as @zariasmusic on TikTok—when she posted a video wearing a Metallica shirt. Instead of praise, she was bombarded with condescending comments challenging her knowledge of the band. But her response? Absolutely legendary.

After Zaria posted a TikTok in December 2020 featuring her Ride the Lightning T-shirt, one commenter, @paytonnsmith, tried to call her bluff, writing, “Name 3 Metallica songs.” Others joined in, accusing her of wearing the shirt just for show. Instead of getting discouraged, Zaria took the challenge head-on.

"So my response to you guys is, like really? Only three? Only three songs? How ’bout I play ’em on guitar for you?"

— @zariasmusic

She fired back in a follow-up video, then, with effortless skill, shredded through three of Metallica’s most famous tracks— Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman, and the guitar lead from One.

A lifelong love for Metallica

Zaria, a North Carolina-based musician, told The Daily Dot that she felt compelled to respond because Metallica had been such a huge part of her musical journey. “I’ve been a Metallica fan for such a long time, but I’d never shown that side of me on TikTok,” she explained. “I’ve been a self-taught guitarist since 15, and Metallica was the band that influenced me to pick it up and inspired my journey with music.”

Her love for the band started even earlier. She told Bored Panda, “The first time I heard Metallica, I was sitting in my 5th-grade classroom when my teacher played Enter Sandman. I was like, ‘This is the best song I’ve ever heard,’ and I asked her who the band was. She told me it was Metallica, and a few years later when I got my first guitar, the first riff I learned was Enter Sandman.”

Metallica themselves took notice

While her video shut down the haters, the best response came from Metallica themselves. After Zaria posted another clip of herself playing The Unforgiven, the band’s official Instagram account left a comment—and even followed her.

"Haters trying to hate, and look what happened—Metallica now knows who Zaria is."

— @InstagramUser

Fans rallied around her, celebrating the well-earned recognition. “Great response, I can bet most of these misogynists can’t play one Metallica song. Keep on playing and rock on!” one supporter commented. Another wrote, “Haters trying to hate, and look what happened—Metallica now knows who Zaria is, and thanks to social media, I discovered her page. Happy for you!”

For Zaria, the moment was surreal. She shared a post with screenshots of Metallica’s comment, writing, “It was simply one of the most special moments of my life. It meant the world to me, and I didn’t care if anyone else realized the magnitude of what had happened.”

She added, “Not only did they leave a very nice comment on my last post, but they followed me back on Instagram, which was surreal and incredibly overwhelming in the best way possible.”

The takeaway: women belong in metal

This viral moment wasn’t just about proving one person wrong—it was a statement against the outdated notion that women in metal have to “prove” themselves to be accepted. Zaria’s story is just one of many where female fans and musicians are questioned simply for existing in a space they love. But, as she so powerfully demonstrated, the best way to respond isn’t with words—it’s with undeniable talent.

And if there’s a lesson to be learned? It’s Zaria’s own words:

"Don’t take criticism from someone who is not in the arena."

— @zariasmusic