Master of Puppets - Song By Song

[Zzzptm]

This is one of those milestone albums in metal. Even over 30 years after its release, it's still an epic, genre-defining album.

I remember back in 1986, my girlfriend had this tape and suggested I give it a go since I was into Black Sabbath and Deep Purple and stuff like that.

And I remember getting totally blown away...

Battery was my introduction to speed/thrash metal and man, was it an awesome ride! Playing it back, I'm still feeling that excitement and energy in the rapid-fire rhythms and jagged guitar riffs. The slowing for the guitar solo part one helps to take it all in before hitting the gas for the solo part two. It's a very simple idea, the song structure, but it totally works. The bludgeoning part transitioning the solo back to the verse is a nice little touch there. It's always fun, revisiting this song.

[Charger]

I can't fully remember when I got this album...I was bit late turning into Metallica...probably because the only song playing on the radio was Enter Sandman and that's not something that automatically goes "Hey check this THRASH METAL band out they're awesome!"

I think I was in high school...a buddy of mine at the time (and still is) was a huge Metallica fan and I think he's the one who told me to check them out and this album in particular...and I went and bought it. I wasn't exactly blown away by it right away...at the time I already was a huge Megadeth fan and honestly their style fitted me better...still does.

But when I got more interested in the music and internet had become a good source of information and I started learning more about the history of Thrash metal and the huge impact this album had I started seeing it bit differently....also the songs started to open up more...even the longer ones...eventhough I still think that thrash is at it's best for songs under 6 minutes.

There is no denying that Master Of Puppets is one of the true landmark albums of Thrash metal...and honestly all things said it's right up there with Reign In Blood, Among The Living and Peace Sells. In fact it's really hard for me now to say which of those I like the best. They are all very different but all very very good.


Then to the songs..

Battery.

The album/song opens rather strangely with a soft acoustic part...never been a big fan of that. It always felt very out of place....but once the riffing starts things get moving. The main riff is simple yet very strong and the galloping drums and bass add such a nice background. James' vocal delivery here is among his finest. Good fast shotgun style vocals. The song does lose some of it's momentum for the first solo part but recaptures is nicely with Kirk's trademark wah wah wah solo...

Without the acoustic intro this song is a fantastic thrash piece and a great opener.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I was always a fan of classic 70s rock and NWBHM stuff, so I ignored the likes of Metallica, Megadeth and so on until much later in their careers. For Metallica I was familiar with the song One but it wasn't until Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters and other singles on the Black Album that my interest in the band was piqued. I've now got all the albums (mind you I still don't like Kill 'Em All) and Master of Puppets is my favourite (but only just from Ride the Lightning).

Battery
I really like this as an opener. Yes it has the gentle accoustic start (they went through a period of occassionally doing those, One is another like that), but I like the way it becomes the heavy riff. Once the song gets going the vocals come fast and uncompromising... much like the music!

[Vyn]

I never bought MoP. A friend of mine picked it up when it came out and and I recall listening to it at his place, gearing up before a bunch of us went to see Ozzy in concert. Metallica was opening for him. I literally have not listened to it since then (1985? 1986?).

For no real reason. I liked it, I like Metallica, but it just slipped through the cracks somehow. Maybe since everyone was rocking it I didn't feel the need - or maybe I was broke - brain damaged? Who knows. Looking back it doesn't make sense to me, but there it is.

So, in honor of this thread, I am going to spin MoP. Given what I stated above, I don't have the same emotional connection to it that I have with Metallica's debut or especially RTL, so my commentary won't be influenced by that. Just straight up 2021 perspective.

Battery:

A good opener that is tight and energetic. I think it could lose the acoustic intro and just get straight to the action; Fight Fire with Fire did it better. Side note: An image of the Energizer Bunny comes to mind, unbidden.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Master of Puppets

8:30-odd of greatness. Love the riff, the vocals and lyrics are great and there's variation in tempo (I particularly like the slow section). It has a certain mennace you don't always get when these bands try to do mennace.

[Zzzptm]

DUN
DUN DUN DUNNNN

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

This is the title track, the reason you bought the album. This is a milestone track in the history of metal, make no mistake. Multiple sections that work very well with each other - the slow section doesn't suck, in other words - and I like KDC's comment about the menace being there. This really is a scary song, not one that tries to scare us but instead makes us chuckle at the effort. The "Master! Master!" chanting part is cold-blooded and the perfect contrast for the guitar shredding to come.

Around 6:30, I was wondering if all the little parts made this a prog metal tune. Thankfully, it got back to the main theme before I had time to think about that some more. I guess the rule should be if one spends more than 20 seconds wondering if this is a prog tune, it's a prog tune. This one isn't.

What makes this song better than an old bottle of wine is that this never runs out or is unaffordable. It's always there to enjoy and to savor.

[Charger]

Master Of Puppets is something of Metallica's War Pigs...it's a great song but it has suffered a major inflation due to being so insanely overplayed.

With Enter Sandman this is their THE most often played song on the radio which has become tiresome.

But the song itself is great though. Good catchy main riff, nice delivery of vocals and the tempo change in the middle is a nice touch. For a song that is over 8 minutes long this carries the length pretty well and it's not overly repetetive.

The lyrics are bit on the "huh?" and "meh" side but it's about drugs so...The chorus with the "Master...MASTER!" line is great though and the chorus is among Metallica's best choruses.

James' vocals are also among his finest..and Cliff's bass...that's over the top.


This was voted THE best rock/metal song in the world by the listeners of Radio Rock few years ago...can't agree with that...not even close. I don't think it's even Metallica's best song.

Few years ago when this came on in the radio it got me nodding my head to the music...now if comes on though I tend to tune it out. 2.6 gazillion times is bit too many listens even for a great song like this...so when I listen to this album now I always skip this one.

[Zzzptm]

I suppose this is one of the blessings of living in a less-metally part of the world, in that Master of Puppets NEVER comes on the radio here. Everything is classic rock oldies or pop music. Metal is on "underground" stations and every act has to share time on those shows. So I'm not dealing with it being overplayed, the way "Welcome to the Jungle" and everything else G'n'R did for a few years got run into the ground.

[Charger]

I suppose this is one of the blessings of living in a less-metally part of the world, in that Master of Puppets NEVER comes on the radio here. Everything is classic rock oldies or pop music. Metal is on "underground" stations and every act has to share time on those shows. So I'm not dealing with it being overplayed, the way "Welcome to the Jungle" and everything else G'n'R did for a few years got run into the ground.

Well I only listen to Radio Rock...and only when I'm working...night time...and there was a time when Master Of Puppets was on EVERY SINGLE night.

[Zzzptm]

I suppose this is one of the blessings of living in a less-metally part of the world, in that Master of Puppets NEVER comes on the radio here. Everything is classic rock oldies or pop music. Metal is on "underground" stations and every act has to share time on those shows. So I'm not dealing with it being overplayed, the way "Welcome to the Jungle" and everything else G'n'R did for a few years got run into the ground.

Well I only listen to Radio Rock...and only when I'm working...night time...and there was a time when Master Of Puppets was on EVERY SINGLE night.

True. And Finland is about 800% more metal than the USA. Here, you would have been sick of "Paradise City", instead.

[Charger]

I suppose this is one of the blessings of living in a less-metally part of the world, in that Master of Puppets NEVER comes on the radio here. Everything is classic rock oldies or pop music. Metal is on "underground" stations and every act has to share time on those shows. So I'm not dealing with it being overplayed, the way "Welcome to the Jungle" and everything else G'n'R did for a few years got run into the ground.

Well I only listen to Radio Rock...and only when I'm working...night time...and there was a time when Master Of Puppets was on EVERY SINGLE night.

True. And Finland is about 800% more metal than the USA. Here, you would have been sick of "Paradise City", instead.

Oh I'm sick of that too!

[Zzzptm]

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The Thing That Should Not Be

A slower song now but still heavy. It's got a slightly wierd solo to it, but I quite like the chugging riff. The vocals are solid and although I'm all for Lovecraftian imagery, the lyrics don't really work here. Overall a good solid effort, but not the best on the album.

[Charger]

The Thing That Should Not Be is my favourite from the album...and very high on my all time favourite Metallica tunes.

The very haunting opening gives a nice premise to a horror themed song. And when the heavy almost slightly doomy opening riff starts the song immediately comes alive. Then it slows down again to a doomier verse. There's a lot going on in this song. It's not a simple track by any means. Even Lars' drumming is bit more complex...for his standards anyways.

The lyrics are the weak point of the song, but Metallica has never been a band of strong lyrics anyways. But I love Lovecraft so that gets a special pass for me.

Kirk goes to town again with his wah wah wah on the solo. But it's a very short one thankfully....and in this case the wah actually works well adding a bit of sense of insanity fitting for Lovecraft.

This might not be the thrashiest Metallica song ever but it is without a doubt one of their finest.

[Zzzptm]

The riff is awesome and more metal bands need to do more songs about Cthulhu and stuff. Because "cyclopean" is how a lot of metal songs should be. I'll tip my hat in Wo Fat's direction for having Crawling Chaos and cool stuff like that in a bunch of their tunes.

Lyrics are totally cool if you're somewhat checked out and not really caring about how canonical they are. It's more like they're snippets of good stuff from various stories. In later days, they'd be creepy voice outtakes from old movies, or just sound like that kind of thing. Either way is fine with me.

It's a great mood-setter to have stripped-back instrumentals at the start of each verse and then punch in with the riff for a dramatic sting.

I like it, it's a solid tune, dudes.