First of all let me tell you that this is an album I hold very close to my heart. Metallica (and Megadeth) were exceptions in the eighties. The decade of hair spray and make-up metal was fake... Kinda like all this nu-metal stuff.. And then I heard Battery on my local radio one day, and there was hope.
Metallica have been around for two decades and while disappointing many people in the later half of the nineties, I still love them (yes, even after the 'What a LOAD of cr@p ALBUMS!' I think they're back on the right track with S+M. Anyway here's my rundown of the tracks and some memories of the first time I heard it.

--MASTER OF PUPPETS--
We breath in after Battery. I remember thinking to myself 'If all the songs are this good the albums gonna rock. I as wrong. It gets better. From the opening of this song I knew it was going to be epic. The tune turns into a riff.... Then Hetfield starts and punches us in the face. You scream Master! Master! THIS IS AN ANTHEM!Hammet rips it up on a wild, reckless solo. 'Come crawling faster obey your master. Your life burns faster . Obey your Master.' Then the pace slows down and and the instruments set upon it. Hammet rules the field for nearly 4 minutes. I almost hum along with the guitar. Then it rages towards a climax. Hetfield pleas, shouts, screams, barks out the words. Then the best solo in the song blasts out. It prepares you for one more chorus . Try and stop yourself singing.
SCORE: 10/10

--WELCOME HOME ( SANITARIUM)--
Which is exactly what this song is about. How badly the
insane are treated. The music makes you think of dark corridors and padded cell. And Hetfield does a brilliant job on this. You almost feel inside the madman's head. A nice haunting song. The lyrics on this are the best on the album. It seems like they feel very strongly about this topic.
SCORE;10/10

--LEPER MESSIAH--
No this isn't a satanic song. There is two theories on the lyrics. Some people think that its about the crooked, money grabbing televangelists, and some think its about the belief that money can get you everything and everywhere in life. The lyrics are subtle, and I think you should take whatever meaning you want from it. But the music is brilliant, the singing amazing, and the drums and bass powerful. Another brilliant song. This would be a highlight on anyother album, but this isn't just any album.
SCORE; 9/10
--ORION--
An instrumental. My favorite Metallica instrumental. It would take me hours to describe every twist and turn on this song. Lets just say it is a piece of art. Your mum would like this, and is a brilliant break to absorb all the words, lyrics, poetry that you have heared. And then there is silence.
--DAMAGE INC.--
And it's time for one final blast.Its stars soft and reluctant and then hits us like a juggernaut. This song really isn't about much, and is a very easy going powerhouse of a song which is nice alongside all the thought provoking songs on this album.I love this song especially the bass. God we miss you Cliff. But is there was any album to finish on, it had to be this.
Time to sing along!!! Hetfield barks 'Blood will follow blood, dying time is here!!!!!' And then the whisper of 'damage incorporated' rolls along. Brilliant finish to a brilliant album.
SCORE; 9.99/10 (i'm deducting one hundreth of a point off this score because this song signals the end of this masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Thanks for reading my first Ciao opinion. I hope I've helped you decide. feel free to leave comments, they'd be most appreciated.