Master of Puppets, The Black Album and Death Magnetic are good entry points (one from each era).
Make up your own mind as to what the good songs are.
They did edit the music. The songs were jammed out in hour(s) long sessions, then they used what they liked. You might say they over edited them and just made them way too repetitive.
The only drum on Lars' kit that sounded like a tin can was the snare, and that's because it was disconnected. He didn't use quarters on the bass pedals for St Anger, but he did for Justice.
His drumming on St Anger is actually really good.
As for the Loads, I disagree with pretty much all of you. They're inconsistent sure but they have some of Metallicas best material. Period.
Bleeding Me, Outlaw Torn, Fixxxer (<those three are Epic), Low Man's Lyric, Where The Wild Things Are, Carpe Diem Baby, Until It Sleeps, The House Jack Built, Mama Said. Great songs. Who gives a f*** if they're not thrash?
Honestly, it's music. At least they have the balls to go with their gut and try something new.
The riff at 01:00 + the verse riff =