“Metal Guru” was the band’s fourth (and final) number one in the UK when it topped the singles chart for four weeks from May–June, 1972.

Bolan described the song’s apparent religious references as this:

“Is a festival of life song. I relate ‘Metal Guru’ to all Gods around. I believe in a God, but I have no religion. With ‘Metal Guru’, it’s like someone special, it must be a Godhead. I thought how God would be, he’d be all alone without a telephone. I don’t answer the phone any more. I have codes where people ring me at certain times.”

It is said that The Smiths based their song “Panic” on “Metal Guru” as musically, the song is based around a rotation between the G and E minor chords that mimic the song.