A magnetic head includes a metallic material layer between a lower core layer and an upper shield layer. This metallic material layer extends to the rear of the magnetic head in the height direction to overlap with a first metal layer. The metallic material layer can therefore efficiently dissipate joule heat generated from a write head section to the outside of the magnetic head through the first metal layer. In addition, the metallic material layer can block a fluctuating magnetic field generated from the write head section. Thus, this magnetic head can reduce variations in the magnetic domain structures of upper and lower shield layers to stabilize the read output of a read head section.