Metallica--Master of Puppets (1986)
Rating--9.6
Disposable Heroes--RealAudio Damage, Inc.--RealAudio
Somehow, some way, Metallica found a way to improve upon the amazing 'Ride The Lightning' with this
1986 classic. Simply put, any list of the all-time greatest metal albums that does not include 'Master of Puppets' should
be immediately discounted. The guitars are fast and intricate, with most songs having underlying riffs and melodies to go
along with the main ones; the drums are non-stop; the bass work is excellent. All-in-all, this is one of the most complete,
stunning achievements in the history of rock music.
'Master' is a bit more consistent than the previous, and exhibits non-stop power, with the minor exception of the somewhat
plodding "The Thing That Should Not Be." This song is undoubtedly a cruncher, but a bit too slow when mixed in with the
energy of the rest of the album.
Virtually every other track is a classic---case closed. The album grabs you by the throat with the brutal speed of
"Battery," reminiscent of earlier Metallica smokers like
"Fight Fire With Fire" and "Whiplash." After that, the band wastes no time in serving up their magnum opus, the legendary
title track. The crushing riffs and off-time beats leave an indelible impression, and Hetfield is at his best - he sounds
menacing, angry, brutal, and melodic, often in the same line. The dark, crunching chant at the 5:20 mark leads into an
absolutely blistering solo before the main theme brings it home after eight and a half minutes of brilliance.
The anticipation builds on "Sanitarium," with the payoff coming in the second half: pounding thrashy bass and
screaming solos. "Disposable Heroes" is a non-stop speed metal feast, with trademark angry vocals and some of the
finest guitar work to be found anywhere "Leper Messiah" changes things up with a bass-heavy headbanging mid-tempo
groove, the instrumental "Orion" showcases the bands' musicianship well, and the ultra-fast and heavy brutality of
"Damage, Inc." brings things to an abrupt end, leaving the listener begging for more. If you don't have a copy of
this album, the only appropriate comment is "Why the hell not?"
HOT CHOPS: Check out Lars Ulrich's drum work during "Disposable Heroes". Man! Is that for real?
Especially listen for that stop-action and high hat work during the second verse following the first chorus. Ooooohh.
TRACK LIST: Battery/Master of Puppets/The Thing That Should Not Be/Welcome Home (Sanitarium)/
Disposable Heroes/Leper Messiah/Orion/Damage, Inc.
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