Metallica was always good in the early days...
They started getting crappy about the same time that Lars Ulrich started constantly whining like a bitch.
For the most part, I think that was coincidental. However, he wasn't busy making music, so had more time to complain about shit.
Myself, I notice that having money is different from making money... when I'm "making money," I'm not busy running around whining about the internet. Or Metallica.