Re:Visiting: Metallica – Master Of Puppets (1986)

Enjoy Horror Fiction !?👇

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

On March 3rd 1986, Metallica released an album that many consider to be their masterpiece. A pure masterclass of a record which dropped at the very peak of the American Thrash Metal movement. Master Of Puppets is a landmark release in the genre, and showed that at the time Metallica were in a class of their own. They produced a seminal Heavy Metal album, whilst showcasing a progressive maturity in their songwriting that would help propel the rising trajectory of their career.

Following the success of their first two records Kill Em All (1983) and Ride The Lightning (1984), along with a relentless and impressive touring schedule, Metallica signed a lucrative deal with Elektra Records. Writing for their third album began in the summer of 1985, and the band were motivated to take their time in creating something special, something that would see them continue to innovate and push the boundaries of the Thrash Metal sound they had helped create.

With the majority of song ideas for the record fully cooked, they returned to Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen to work with Danish producer Flemming Rasmussen in the autumn of 1985. The master tapes were then sent to Michael Wagener (Accept) for mixing in January 1986. Tragically, Master Of Puppets would be the final record to feature bassist Cliff Burton (RIP). Burton would be killed when the band’s tour bus crashed on September 26th in Stockholm, Sweden; while they were in the middle of a run of European shows with Anthrax.

As with their previous record, Master Of Puppets opens with a lush classical acoustic intro. The instrumental builds before the distorted buzzsaw riff of ‘Battery’ drops like a sledgehammer. This is a song that has remained a staple of Metallica’s live shows ever since. Speaking of which, the title track then follows; and this is a song that is absolutely in the conversation for being one the band’s finest. It is pure, vintage Metallica. A technically complex journey over eight minutes long, which features a succession of intoxicating riffs and fist pumping vocals.

‘The Thing That Should Not Be’ introduces a slower, stomping rhythm with an absolute beast of a main riff. Lyrically it explores H.P Lovecraft’s Cthulhu mythology, and is one of the more experimental Metallica cuts from the era. ‘Welcome Home (Sanitarium)’ is slower yet again, with a simple yet effective melodic guitar hook. A gorgeous, textured electric lead builds to a heavier chorus, before the song progresses towards an intense conclusion.

Next comes one of Metallica’s finest underrated compositions; ‘Disposable Heroes.’ Another epic eight minute song with an incredible bass-heavy rhythm in the verse. An anti-war song with a highly sophisticated and intricate arrangement, featuring the unforgettable lyric; “You will die, when I say you will die … back to the front!” ‘Leper Messiah’ follows and is another slower, sludgy number which wouldn’t sound out of place on their 1991 Black album.

The album’s final section starts with ‘Orion,’ an instrumental composition which begins with a dark and ominous bassline from Burton. The intro builds with the percussion of Lars Ulrich before an intoxicating riff drops. The song matches Metallica’s previous instrumental opus ‘The Call Of Ktulu’ from Ride The Lightning. ‘Orion’ is a slow burning progressive journey which eventually breaks with a lush melodic bassline and soaring leads guitars! ‘Damage, Inc’ rounds Master Of Puppets off with a final flurry, and phrenetic blast of punk infused Thrash Metal.

Master Of Puppets is a near perfect record. Metallica showed a heightened maturity in their songwriting that really started to set them apart from their contemporaries at the time. Producing songs with intricate arrangements and deep textured instrumental layers. James Hetfield’s voice had never sounded better, while the lead guitar work from Kirk Hammet was far slicker and a level above what we had heard from him before; while the rhythm section of Cliff Burton and Lars Ulrich was on absolute fire throughout.

Following the death of Burton it was the end of an era for Metallica. However they would regroup with Hetfield and Ulrich insisting it is what their friend and bandmate would have wanted. They added Flotsam & Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted to their ranks, and would go on to achieve an unrivalled level of success over the proceeding years. But 40 years on from its initial release, it is unquestionably Master Of Puppets which very much still remains the jewel in the crown of their illustrious recording career. KZ

Words by Abstrakt_Soul

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Enjoy short Horror Fiction !?

‘The Curious Dark (Vol. 1)’

👇

‘The Curious Dark (Vol.1)’ – By Mark T. Bates