Stone Cold Crazy is pretty good, it definitely sounds like Metallica and isn’t gimmicky.

Re Diamond Head, they probably wouldn’t be remembered without Metallica. I’ve seen them mentioned in other contexts, so I think it’s an exaggeration to say they’re only remembered as a band that Metallica covered, but they probably would have have dissapeared without that exposure. They seem like they have a legitmate cult following, but I agree that most people who weren’t into the NWOBHM when it happened (which was a small crowd, aside from a couple bands that had big breakthroughs) probably found them through Metallica. Also, I want to point out that I thought Lightning to the Nations had some classic status, but apparently the original masters for that album were lost for a while and found and given back to the band by Lars, so score another one for Metallica keeping their memory alive.

The original 2,000 copies of Lightning to the Nations were Spinal Tap-esquly released in a blank white sleeve because they were on such a tight budget. Apparently the band made up for it by signing most of those copies.