Metallica - “Master of Puppets”
Tracks:
- Battery
- Master of Puppets
- The Thing That Should Not Be
- Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
- Disposable Heroes
- Leper Messiah
- Orion
- Damage, Inc.
Ah, Metallica. Maybe you wouldn’t have pegged me for a fan. But I am. Sure, it took me a while. I was first introduced to Metallica by my high school buddy, George. He was a real nice guy, and not someone you might think of as a metal-head. But Metallica was some of the more mellow stuff he listened to. He kept giving me this album and “Ride the Lightning” to listen to. About 10-11 years later I borrowed my brother Todd’s copy of this album. I soon decided to buy my own copy. It’s been a favorite every since.
(Starting top left and then clockwise): Cliff Burton (bass), James Hetfield (guitars, vocals), Lars Ulrich (drums), and Kirk Hammett (guitars).
Metallica formed in the early 80’s in Los Angeles, later moving to San Francisco after adding Burton. The original line-up included Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth. Just before the band went to record their first album, they kicked Mustaine out of the band due to his extreme drug use, drinking, and violent behavior. They brought in Kirk Hammett to replace him. “Master of Puppets” was recorded in 1985, and is the band’s third album. Those familiar with the band’s history know that Burton died in a bus crash in Sweden while touring in support of this album, and was replaced by Jason Newsted.
Listening to the album now, it seems rather tame. But at the time, it was crazy heavy. Hetfield would even joke that he never actually sang until recording the song “Unforgiven” almost ten years later. Though a strong case could be made that he actually did sing on “Welcome Home” on this album. It is the song that I like the least, however.
“Battery” starts rather uniquely for a thrash album, using acoustic guitars with a slow melody. That melody is dark though. After the introduction is done, it’s all about metal. Most of the album is full of changes in direction, different melodies, time changes, and the like. I think after so long I started to hear that and realized that there was a respectable method to the madness of the songs.
Like most of the album, “Disposable Heroes” highlights some great guitar work, just three times faster then what we would normally hear from a rock ‘n roll song. It’s message is very blatant, and very anti-war. It tells of how soldiers are molded to do what they are told, and die without consequence. It is funny that the album was titled “Master of Puppets” with the artwork chosen for the album cover, because it seems more to depict this song instead. The title track lyrics tell of the ramifications (so it seems) of cocaine addiction.
The last two songs give two sides of the band that shows their range while still keeping their own sound. “Orion” is a great instrumental song, like others on the album highlighting very good musicianship and arranging abilities. “Damage, Inc.” however is all out thrash, or as much as it was in 1985.
The amazing thing about this album, and the band up to this point, is how many albums they sold. Less then a year after “Master of Puppets” was released, it was certified as a Gold Album, meaning it sold half a million copies in the US. And they did that with no major radio station air play. (I am sure college radio stations were playing it.)
So, yes, I am a Metallica fan. Not a huge fan. But I do occasionally listen to their albums. And this is by far the best. Though most would argue that “… And Justice for All” is. I would agree if it wasn’t for the lousy recording job that was done.
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