Master Of Puppets

I'd be hard pressed to find an album I've listened to more in my life. Cliff Burton dying shortly after this was devastating to me. Orion is probable the high point for Metallica songs for me. The live shot of the stadium from behind Lars on the back cover was the 1st time I saw them in concert. Day on the Green 1985. One of the best days of my youth. Of the 400+ albums I've listened to from this project, this might be the best one so far. It's a masterpiece. Fuck it all and fucking no regrets. 5 stars all day.

A classic. Enough has been said about the self-titled track, but I just want to call to attention how brilliant of a piece Orion is. One of only a few Metallica instrumentals, and simply stunning.

My personal favorite Metallica album is still Ride the Lightning, but objectively this is probably their most cohesive work. Both are classics.

Man they really took themselves serious back in the day huh? 8 songs in 54 minutes attests as much. There’s a certain churning pleasure to be found here, and when it gets chunky it gets good. But I don’t know if long and repetitive necessarily equals masterful. And this from a man who actually likes Tool. I’m giving it 3 stars because I gave Black Sabbath the same and I like this better. From henceforth let’s imagine I gave Black Sabbath 2 stars, okay?

The distillation of all the best bits of Metallica across 54 minutes of brutal, aggressive, tight and polished musicianship (though there’s also a lot of subtlety here too). I listened to this a lot when I was a teenager, and many years after my wasted youth this album still can't be rated anything less than a 5.

An easy 5. I don't like all of Metallica's work but this album's hard to argue with. Excellent music.

Thrash metal hits its peak. Growling ginger walrus gargles hate and anger while gurning midget smashes the drums. Solid album. Best Tracks: Battery; Master of Puppets; Orion

i've been eyeing this one, too. fantastic album, and it takes me straight back to the days of bmx bikes and climbing cliffs and hanging out in sketchy attics with sketchy people. damage inc is an awesome way to cap off any album there is, too.

If you'd have asked me even 10 years ago I would have given this an enthusiastic 5 and gushed about it being an enormously influential classic of the genre, which is still is. I'm not in the same place, so I don't enjoy them as much now, but it's still a great album

A very busy weekend which meant I didn't get around to listening to this and, frankly, I'm relieved. I did my time with this and other Metallica albums in my teenage years. I don't need to go back there.

Arguably Metallica's magnum opus. An amazing, inventive, and powerful set of prog-infused thrash metal tracks, full of tasty riffs and fun solos.

Power Rangers music

It's technical but not really enjoyable. After a while it all just sounds like the same screech. Not my cup of tea.

Masterpiece. an album I have listened to more than others.

The GOAT of metal

Classic. Perfect.

THE perfect metal album. To be fair, I am already a really big Metallica fan that has seen them live and enjoys pretty much everything they have released outside of most songs on Load, Reload, and St. Anger. While I would personally take Ride the Lightning or AJFA over Master of Puppets, I cannot deny that this is the masterpiece that made them legends today. The vocals, guitar, bass, and drums are all as strong as can be within the metal genre, but the songwriting and composition make this album insanely hard to beat. I feel that Cliff Burton played a huge part in making this album what it is, and you can tell that this was easily their most mature and sophisticated album up to that point (most would argue they never reached these heights again, but I feel AJFA has amazing moments that prove them wrong). Every song structure here is crafted so tightly that it makes the whole album feel cohesive but unique with a mix of lightning fast and slow paced songs: for every insane track like Damage Inc., you have a somber track like The Thing That Should Not Be that creates a great pace throughout the listening experience. I feel that there is not a dud on this entire record and that every single track has a unique element that makes it stand out from the rest. If I had to choose particular songs, I would say Disposable Heroes and Master of Puppets are my favorites. The anti-war message of the album is most strong through these tracks, but the entirety of the record features pounding aggression and softer moments that really let the lyrics and emotion stand out. This is one of the only hard rock albums I can think of where the songs would work just as well as orchestral versions, especially the instrumental track Orion. For that reason alone, I would say that this album is amazing, but having that aspect combined with top notch performance from every single member makes this flawless. 5/5.

The goat

Orion

Really not as great as I thought it was. Pretty bland.

Classic

Hell yeah. Love me some 80s Metallica. I'm a sucker for thrash anyways.

I have loved this album for decades and have no issues listening to it again. It stands the test of time and for me is probably Metallica's best album (or neck-in-neck with And Justice For All). Also the tracks really follow well if you listen in order. Note too that I saw Metallica play half these songs live and it was probably the most high-quality, fan-oriented live show I've seen.

This one is a classic for me. One of my favorites from Metallica

Solid album... not even my favorite from them, but I can't go lower than 5.

I can't say that I've ever been a fan of the members of Metallica as people, but goddamn their early work is just stellar. Intense and loud while still remaining incredibly melodic and intricate, this may be their best album. I just wish that they could have gone the Slayer route more and just stick to their metal roots rather than following the course of popular rock 'n roll. At their peak, Metallica may have been the greatest metal band of all time, bar none. 4/5 (but very close to 5)

Reaction when this one popped up was “not now.” Reaction after listening was “not ever!” Now that we’ve listened to multiple Metallica albums I can say this is not their best and that is a very low bar.

Their best album. A true metal masterpiece. They never topped this. Just a force of sonic intensity that never lets up. RIP Cliff Burton.

An absolute classic

#3 Metallica after Justice and Lightning. Brilliant.

I guess this is technically impressive but the style leaves me cold, and it all sounds a bit silly and pretty fucking irritating. The band seem like dickheads, to make it even less attractive

🤟

Was planning to re-listen to this today anyways and what do you know it pops up here. The lord works in mysterious ways amen

Essential metal. The gateway to shredsville!

The best Metallica. Metal.

Best metal album ever

Master of Puppets... Where do I even begin? Obviously, Metallica is one of the most influential metal bands of all time. They've gotten a lot of people interested in the genre over the years. But I've definitely seen people call them overrated as well. Their popularity can't be ignored, but some people don't think they deserve to be in the running for "greatest metal band of all time." However, while I have seen people say that, I don't think I've seen a single person hate on Master of Puppets, their third album. And quite frankly, why should they? This album's awesome! A big complaint regarding Metallica that I've seen is largely regarding their later albums, many of which aim for a more "commercial sound," including the Black Album (which I actually really love as well). That is not an issue for Master of Puppets. This album is pure, unadulterated thrash metal at its absolute peak. Everything just works here. From James Hetfield's intense vocals and guitar rhythms, to Kirk Hammett's amazing guitar riffs and solos, to Lars Ulrich's speedy drumming, to THE thing that makes Metallica's first three albums so special in their discography, Cliff Burton's bass playing. It's a bit subdued in this album, but when you hear it, it's fantastic. The writing and theming on this album is also excellent. Themes like corruption, power, and pain permeate the album's songs in a way that really appeals to me. I love it. And of course, the songs themselves are all great. I'll say something positive about all of them right now! "Battery" is a phenomenal opener. The acoustic start followed by just how aggressive and fast everything else is really works for me. I adore this song. "Master of Puppets" is insanely iconic for a good reason. The distinct sections of this song come together to form a truly revolutionary song by 1986 standards, though that's not to say that the song doesn't hold up today. It's still a masterpiece. If I had to describe "The Thing That Should Not Be" in one word, it would be foreboding. The song may be slower, but it's just as intense as the rest of the album. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" is simply excellent. This song is a perfect representation of how metal doesn't always have to be super fast and angry to have emotion to it. Of course, they can be super fast and angry if they want to. Case in point, "Disposable Heroes," which is another awesome song about war with some amazing writing. It's great. I love the guitar riffs on "Leper Messiah." This song is super cool. "Orion" is the album's only instrumental track and its inclusion is absolutely warranted. If you want to hear what makes Cliff Burton such a legendary bass player, this song is what you need to listen to. Finally, "Damage, Inc." is a strong closer to the album. I do like "Battery" as an opener more, but this song is still great. I like the solo near the end. I think I've said enough at this point. Master of Puppets is an album that speaks for itself. With its revolutionary style, intense writing, and perfect pacing, Master of Puppets has left a legacy that very few other metal albums have. Not only is this one of the best albums of the metal genre, but it has also become one of my favorite albums of the project. 5/5.

Top 5 album pick. Each song on this album is pure metal.

This album might be most representative, iconic and mind blowing in the history of heavy metal. One of the masterminds behind Master of Puppets was Cliff, the bass player at that time who died when their tour bus crashed while touring. Such a tragedy and turning point for the band. It completely shaped the genre and everyone who got into it. This album was definitely a gateway for me and many of my friends during our teen years!

I dont think I've air drummed and air guitared so much in my life. Front to back this is thrasher's paradise. What can I say? It grabs you and doesnt let go, so much guitar distortion and same-ish at some points but never annoying. Prime Metallica.

Just a killer metal album. Probably the best Metallica album we’ve gotten on this list. Loved Battery, Master of Puppets, ok pretty much all the tracks. It does get a little samey by the end but by then you have a pounding headache from head banging so who gives a shit

Of Metallica's great 3 (MoP, RtL, and IJfA), this is without question my favorite. No contest. While the other two are great albums, Master Of Puppets takes the cake for me with cohesion, concept, and production. I've heard this album countless times and have never once tired of the experience. Battery leads us off with a quick feint of Spanish-sounding acoustic guitar before opening and firing on all pistons in the unrelenting thrash that follows. Lars sounds like he's just trying to keep up as the bass and guitar speed along. Really everything about this song is fantastic. Then we dive into the title track. Can never not crank the volume up a few levels as soon as I hear that opening interplay. Listening to this a bit more closely, I wish they gave the bass a higher level in the mix. It is *extremely* low and demented sounding, but it is so buried relative to the dominating and wonderful heavy guitar riffs and punchy drum work. The Thing That Should Not Be is probably the most forgettable on the album, but I love the change of pace relative to thrash of the two openers. Hell of a trudging riff. Welcome Home continues the slow section of the album. Love the progression on this song. Starts out as a slow and ruminous power ballad that slowly escalates into the insanity of the lyrics. Disposable Heroes is low-key probably my favorite track on this album. One of several Metallica songs about the wastes of war (One being another that comes to mind). Drawn out intro sets the stage for how the rest of the song is going to play with tempo -- rhythmic vocal sections interleaved with pedal to the floor thrash and a catchy chorus made for crowd work. I've run out of steam, but my love for this album has not. Great listen every time and damned near perfect in my eyes. 5 / 5.

I'm giving this a 5 stars because this album is definitely iconic and Metallica is fucking awesome. I really like the album but for me personally it definitely needs to be the right mood to listen to it. Listening to it in my quiet work was funny.

Listened to this while working and also on a run and it fucked hard in both settings. Just totally badass.

Very easy 5. Early Metallica is just so goddamn good. Needed this one on a Friday after a tough week.

I fell asleep listening to this album last night, it’s so comforting. Welcome back, old friend…

The magnificent energy, the delirious chugging guitar, the instantly recognizable vocals... Metallica are legends for a reason. I love this album and I love absolutely rocking out to it.

YEEEEEES! Once this album appeared, I knew, it will be a good day! 🤩

An old favorite, pleased to see it recommended. The last song Damage, inc was a treat

One of the greatest albums of all time. What else needs to be said?

Terrific!

Turned 15 again. And I loved it.

This is probably a 4.5 star album. It's amazing. I imagine some days I will think it's a 5. Heavy and experimental. Maybe a little long.

100/10. Oh, HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL YEAH!!!!! When one thinks of a metal band, they likely think about Metallica. When one thinks of a Metallica album, they likely think about "Master of Puppets". This album is undoubtedly one of the most important albums in metal music. This album features a plethora of incredible guitar work, bass work, drumming, vocals, and lyricism. It has been a source of inspiration for both those who love metal music, and for those who don't. While I personally prefer Metallica's album "Ride the Lightning", I believe that "Master of Puppets" is the better album, in objective terms. The music could make one want simultaneously bang their heads while being in awe of the sheer musicianship. The lyrics explore various topics, and James Hetfield sung them a really raw manner. In my opinion, most notable aspect of this album is Cliff Burton's bass-playing. Sadly, this was the last Metallica album to feature Cliff Burton, for he passed away in a tour bus accident only a few albums after this album's release.

One of the best albums of all time for sure. They were at their prime here. Every track is killer, it flows well, just amazing.

Hvis jeg havde startet mit Metalica bekendtskab her, istedet for St. Anger, så havde jeg været fan den dag idag. Dinusauer gateway metal.

Tope

From what I know a big deal album for metal.

Favorite Track: The Thing That Should Not Be At the intersection of metal, punk, and hardcore, there's thrash. Some of these tracks sprawl past the 8min mark, with many movements and complex arrangements. It's refreshing to see an album with only a few well-fleshed-out songs. With 8 tracks and a total runtime of 54:52, this is not a record designed to do well on streaming. Slick licks, tight production, and lots of classical inspiration giving more than one would hope for in a "close reading" of the album, I don't see anything not to like.

Hell yea 😎 I remember listening to this for the first time and giving it a 3/5. What the hell was I on?? It's still not my favorite Metallica album, but its a damn close second. There are no skips on this album. Seriously one of the most consistent albums I've ver heard, every song is as good as the last. Makes it really difficult to pick a favorite from this album. Favorite track: Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 4.5/5

The best Metallica album, stone classic!

Master of Puppets is their best album and they've written some real bangers.

When it comes to the heavy metal I listened to in my teenage years, very little holds up. Some is downright embarrassing and I can't figure out what I saw in it in the first place. Not this album. Damn, this is still very good. What is it that made them so much more interesting than their peers? There's much more melody here than, say, Anthrax or Slayer. And Orion... I don't think I properly appreciated it at the time, but Orion is the highlight of the whole album for me now.

This is Metallica from before my era, and I wasn't a huge fan of it when I heard it as a teen in the 90s. I was, however, a huge fan of metal and hardcore in general. At the time, this just sounded like last generation's metal (even though it was only a few years difference). Now, I can appreciate it without trying to one-up the slightly older metalheads, and it's really good. I probably should have liked it back in the day as well.

For sure one of the greatest metal albums of all time. The only thrash album that can compete is Rust in Peace

fairly new to metallica but this is the first metal album i have listened to where i actually see why people call this one a classic. every song on this is full of thrashy goodness and the musicianship is really great. the highlight for me was the title track, which is thrashy and has a lot of great "change-up" moments.

5 star album. Fast, skilful and still ahead of its time. Battery’s intro mimics the acoustic intro to Ride the Lighting but instead of just have to sections, the guitars work their way into the song. Damage inc and Disposable Heroes are melt your face fast. Sanitarium follows fade to blacks nuances but adds a creepier, heavier dose minus the solo. The thing that should not be and leper messiah are amazing. Orion is the best instrumental they’ve done. Cliffs bass skills are on show but so is his composing talent. Ride the lighting and this album have a symphonic quality to them which is lost now. For me this quality helped to cover bad production and Lars’ rudimentary drumming but to be fair, lars is still fast af at this stage. Hatfield’s vocals are still piercing and Kirk shredding placed in high standings at the time of release. 1986 wasn’t ready for this.

I feel like I should've been listening to this while doing something useful like working out and not...working. But whatever, it was a kickass album. I feel like the only moments of chill were like the first 30 seconds or so of Battery before things go beserk. Master of Puppets is probably my favorite track (prob a boring take), but I also really love the instrumentals of Orion. Metallica is just the GOATed thrash metal whatever you want to brand them as rock band. Like everyone else...easy 5/5.

Metal in ya face! I feel like I have only listened to this album in its entirety a time or two in my life. It definitely rocks out. Damage Inc was a great way to end it. Hard to find any reason to go below a 5 here.

A top album for me in my life and could quite possibly be my favorite Metallica album. Always switches between this, Ride the Lightning, and Justice. Just absolute face melt shredding the entire time. Metallica has to be some of the best song structure creating band of all time. Sanitarium is such an intense song how it goes from slow to fast. And Orion may be one of the best instrumental songs I've ever heard Slam dunk 5 all day every day.

Let's face this, this is pretty much a masterpiece by any metric. There's not going to be an easy way for anyone who's even vaguely into the rock/metal scene to go into this album objectively as a first-time listener, and considering I have listened to this album enough to learn to play most of the songs front-to-back means you shouldn't come to me for an outsider's view :P Punchy, amped-up, with crunchy guitars and growling vocals, but not so overblown that it becomes unnecessarily wanky, there's a reason that millions of people still wear this album cover on t-shirts the world over.

A classic

Is there anything more to say than “Hell yeah!”? This is arguably Metallica’s last good record. Almost entirely straight thrash with only a little of the weird boring melodic bullshit that they leaned on heavily in later years. The title track on this album is objectively one of the best songs they ever recorded. “Welcome Home(Sanitarium)” is the only weak track. Everything else on this record fucking rips, and while it doesn’t catch the lightning in a bottle like “Kill ‘Em All” did, it’s still pretty great. If the band called it quits after releasing this one, I think they’d be up there as one of my favourite thrash metal bands ever. Fun to revisit this album, it’s been a while since I listened to it front to back. 4.5*.

That this is only 4 years removed from the primitive banging and flailing on that Venom album is remarkable. This is lightyears more interesting, more complex, and just all-around better. “Master of Puppets” and “Orion” are the standout tracks for me - both are beautiful, long songs with distinct sections so clearly demarcated as to feel orchestral. Throughout the album, there is an orchestral quality to the way the instruments are layered and the use of melodic motifs, but it especially shines on these two tracks. “Disposable Heroes” is really strong lyrically. I enjoy hearing metal lyrics that are neither all about satanic themes/imagery or an apparent exercise in how many big, sad words can be put in one bar. I really enjoyed this album, the blisteringly fast, angry sections as much as the softer melodic ones. The way they are used together across the album really works for me. I find it very impressive from that standpoint in terms of composition, and of course, the super high level of technical skill required to actually play this album as well. Will definitely listen again. 9/10

I’m familiar with this album first hearing it in high school. I still think it is their best ‘speed metal’ album although not nearly as popular as the black album a few years later because it is much less radio friendly. It brings an energy that would be hard to produce later in their career. Master of puppets I took as about drug use has always been one of my favorites songs from them. The album is high energy and requires an hour of adrenaline to be available. The guitars on disposable heroes is fantastic FYI From Spotify about the band Metallica formed in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist and vocalist James Hetfield and has become one of the most influential and commercially successful rock bands in history, having sold 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on literally all seven continents. Metallica has also garnered numerous awards and accolades, including nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, and multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009. In December 2013, Metallica made history when they performed a rare concert in Antarctica, becoming the first act to ever play all seven continents all within a year, and earning themselves a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Metallica’s twelfth studio album 72 Seasons was released on April 14, 2023

The best metallica album and I'm not sure it's close. Sanitarium, Master, etc all great. Battery is probably the best metallica song. Orion is great. Damage Inc good Great album. I think its a 5

No bad tracks

Another rock and metal heavy hitter for day 4! This album kicks ass straight from the get go and is handily Metallica’s best and most consistent release rivalled only by the higher highs but lower lows of Ride The Lightning. This album is the definition of all killer no filler, no second is wasted on this album and it remains one of the most influential and important metal releases of all time. Battery is the best opener to a Metallica album full stop and maybe the best thrash metal opener of all time. Not a lot to be said about the individual tracks that hasn’t be said a thousand times, Master of Puppets being the stand out closely followed by Battery and then the rest. The thing that stands out to me about this record is the level of consistency achieved throughout even on the instrumental track Orion. Another thing that should be noted is the production and mixing on this album, which is maybe uncharacteristically great with everything slotting into place perfectly creating a menacing, unforgiving and sometimes evil sound that Metallica rarely found again after this release.

Perfect! The band that made thrash popular, perfecting the sub-genre! Made even better by the lesser than music they released starting with their self titled album.

The album that made Metallica and, by extension, made people consider heavy metal (and speed metal) to be more than a momentary diversion? Yeah, that’s a five star rating. I still can’t play Battery on Rock Band.

When I saw this album pop up, I couldn’t help but celebrate—it’s a personal favorite, so I’m not approaching this one as a fresh listener. Metallica has been a staple of my music rotation for a long time, and this album is a key reason why. The rhythm guitar work of James Hetfield is the standout for me. It’s incredibly precise, powerful, and drives the album with relentless energy. The songwriting is impeccable, blending aggression with technical brilliance, and it still sounds as fresh as ever. Metallica sits firmly at the top of my “bands to see live” bucket list, so my bias here is undeniable, but I honestly think this is one of the greatest metal albums ever made. Standout Song: Master of Puppets Score: 5/5

This is an album that I've heard many times before taking on this challenge, and it's for good reason. It's one of the best metal albums that has been made, at least in my opinion. Songs like "Battery" and "Master of Puppets" are still essential metal songs to this day, and just in general, I think this is a great gateway album for people trying to get into metal. Overall, amazing album. High 9

The best, most enduring, of metal albums. Back in the day, we called this \"thrash metal\" while Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden did everyday \"metal\". Now a days, Metalica doesn't sound as edgy, especially in comparison with other kinds of metal. Still, I love these songs, I love this level of rock perfection, I love how this album works, embodying the best of metal rhythm and of rock melody. 4.5/5

I'm glad I was able to listen to most of this album on some good speakers, it begs to be played loud. The title track is my favorite, but the rest of the album is pretty good as well. The guitar riffs are iconic and there isn't a whole lot of music with more of the (now-retro) metal energy than this. I think this one earns its five stars.

Spineless from the start Sucked into the part Circus comes to town You play the lead clown Please, please, spreading his disease Living by his story Knees, knees, falling to your knees Suffer for his glory You will Time for lust, time for lie Time to kiss your life goodbye Send me money, send me green, heaven you will meet Make a contribution and you'll get a better seat Bow to Leper Messiah Absolute classic and deserves to be on this list in every way. 5/5

Listening this time, I found myself liking the first half of the album more but there's no doubt about its status in the development of modern metal.

Easy 5. Absolute classic.

One of the best thrash albums of all time. Love every song.

Classic metal album from a rock classic band can’t go wrong with the basics

Honestly, Metallica just rules. They are an insanely good thrash metal band. I'm also impressed with their lyrics. Disposable Heroes is the stand-out for me, in that regard. The instrumental song helps break up the album quite a bit, tbh. And there's a decent amount of variety in songs/style, which is usually an issue for me with Metallica. Favorite Song(s): Master of Puppets, Disposable Heroes

Been listening to this since I was fourteen. It never gets old. I still remember the exact moment I first heard Metallica as if it were yesterday. Master of Puppets. Truly undeniable. One of modern music's greatest achievements, across all genres, and as far as greatest metal albums are concerned, only Slayer's Reign in Blood even comes close to this true masterpiece. There isn't a high enough number. Rest in power Cliff Burton.

One of my all-time favorites

phenomenal work

The rough edges of Metallica were starting to to get smoothed off with Master. Metallica were always at their best with either ballads or full on thrash. This has gems throughout.

Metallica at their best

Probably the best metal album of all time. Orion deserves more respect.

James Hetfield isn't the reason I play guitar, but he is the reason I play rhythm guitar - his playing on Disposable Heroes and Leper Messiah is some of the best rhythm playing ever laid down. Great album.

One of the best albums of Metallica (depending on the mood I'll switch between this one, Ride the Lightning and ...And justice for all). Every song on this album is fantastic. Sadly this was also the last album to feature Cliff Burton. This was Metallica at its peak.

I have to say I was not surprised this album made the list. I sort of spoiled it for myself when I went to the wikipedia entry for this list and saw "Trash Metal" as one of the featured genres. I immediately knew Master of Puppets was on the list. When I think of "albums that defined a genre", this is the first that comes to mind, and it's arguably the best the genre ever produced. This album will be, almost w/o a doubt, the Number 1 album on this list for me. That is, if Ride The Lightning or AJFA are not included. MoP is one of my top 5 albums. It's probably the one that I've listened to the most times back to back in my life. It's really special to me. More often that not, it transports me back to being 12-13 y/o and discovering my love for this sort of music.

The masterpiece that elevated the thrash metal from a simple 'get-fast-and-get-loud' type of music to practically an art. Carefully crafted, with lyrics that went beyond the 'rock and roll lifestyle' that was so common among their peers, full of classical influences and references, both musically and lyrically, and technically flawless