Yo peeps....The great one is back....and still shit on guitar!
Yo peeps....The great one is back....and still shit on guitar!
Member since:25.07.2001
Reviews:49
Members who trust:9
You look up from your computer, in amazement, to see that my name is above an opinion on a Rock band. Your thinking to yourself "thats the one who always talks bollocks about rap" and you would be right....well apart from the bollocks part. I'm always preaching on about how great rap is and yet I'm going to do an op on Metallica. You wanna know why? Read on....
In my younger days I was introduced to rock music by my stepdad. He had all the albums at the time and I took a shine to Metallica, this album particularly. I was into other bands at the time, mainly Pantera, Rage, Guns N Roses and many others, but none came close to Metallica. Master Of Puppets was my favourite album at the time and I still listen to it to this day.
Now, Metallica have been going for several years - 20 to be precise and have released many albums. Master Of Puppets was first released in 1986 after Kill em All and Ride The Lightning. Now there was something in these 2 albums that weren’t quite right, its lacking the power of Master Of Puppets. It seems as though James Hadfield (the vocalist) had sorted his voice out for this album. Now this album is often over shadowed by the self-titled 'black' album, which in itself is a crime. None can come close to this album and never will.
Without further bollocks heres the track listing
1. Battery 2.
Master Of Puppets 3. Thing That Should Not Be 4. Welcome Home Sanitarium 5. Disposable Heroes 6. Leper Messiah 7. Orion 8. Damage Inc
Now as there’s not many tracks on the album I way as well review them all (lucky you). I say this but the album still manages to be 55 minutes long and 3 songs are over 8 minutes. The fact that you don’t realize the song is over 8 minutes is credit to Metallica. Righty ho lets get to the reviewing bit.
Battery ======= The album starts with one of the all time fans favorites, but I can’t say it’s that special compared to some of the other tracks. A kind if Spanish guitar solo can be heard playing in the background at the start of the song. This is of course one of Metallicas most aggressive songs and provides us with 4 and a half minutes of madness, including a frantic solo from Kirk Hammet and some great playing by original member Lars Ulrich.
Master Of Puppets ================== The title track is another of the fans favorites and is a song that is over 8 minutes long! its funny that you dont realise it and really is a credit to the song. This is a song about drug addiction and has Metallica at there best. This is a Metallica song that has been imitated so many times by bands and fans alike. The main thing I love about this track is the solo that James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet play together, it’s the thought that not many people could of pulled it off that I love. A real classic song that deserves the recognition it got.
Thing That Should Not Be ========================= This has to be the heaviest of all the tracks on the album. The riffs are almost larger than life and have you amazed at how they do it. Mad distortion can be heard in the verse where James Hetfield sings. A truly heavy song that in all respects is often overlooked by people.
Welcome Home (Sanatarium) ========================= This is perhaps my favorite song on the album and excluding Enter Sandman is my fave Metallica song of all time. This song is a very chilling one but yet brings a great sence of calmness to the listener. The song is based on mental institutions nand how they mistreat their patients. The song is very calm until you reach the chorus, where a climax is built and then the guitars really kick in. You hear Hetfield shouting "Sanatarium, Leave Me Be. Sanatarium, Just leave me alone" what I love about Metallica is they have meaning in their songs and this one is a classic example. One of the Rock classics and one of my faves as well.
Disposible Heroes ================== This is perhaps one of the songs that is not talked about enough within the Metallica fan base. Disposable heroes is another one of their silent classics, which really should have been given more recognition. Another song with great meaning is this one, like all there others. The main subject of this about soldiers who fight in wars from life to death and dont get anything for it, so I'm guessing that’s how the title was inspired. The song kicks of straight away with a powerful and speedy intro but keeps changing the speed, almost keeping the listener in suspense. Another classic song to keep with the collection.
Leper Messiah ============== Perhaps you can tell by the title what this song is going to be about....no...well I'll tell you. For anybody who has the god channel at home you have probably seen the fake preachers that are on every minute asking for your money. Yeah we have all seen them and this is what the song is about. Much meaning, but is it a good song? Well to be honest it could be improved. It’s kind of a mid-tempo kind of song, which I cant explain in all honesty.
Orion ====== This one of the longest songs on the album and doesn’t even have any singing on it! thats right its just an instrumental. This may be the case but its doesn’t stop it being a classic. They throw everything into this song and it’s a song of great musical brilliance. For one they use everything in this song and try many different styles to great effect. One of my faves, but the lack of singing brings it down the pecking order for me.
Damage Inc. =========== The last song on the album, but by far not the least. It almost sends the listener out with a bang, literally! Play this to loud and you will have a headache. I said before that battery was one of the heavier songs but none beat this. It start of with Burton playing a solo with some mad sound effects in the background, but then cuts into a powerful riff. I also noticed that James Hetfields voice seems angry in this song, much more than usual. This song perfectly rounds off the album and leaves me one happy listener. A class song to finish a class album.
Yes I know doesn’t it seem weird me writing that! As I love rap....and still do, don’t go conclusion jumping. I dont claim to be a rock or metal fan so sorry if the song descriptions are a bit vague to the experts in this genre. All I can do is recommend this album strongly to you. The 'black' album, in my opinion, is nothing compared to this one, so go and buy it. It’s still sold at all music shops and is probably fairly cheap.
Only one thing left to say now and that’s thanks for the read.....hope it wasn’t to boring....thanks again.....Andy :)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Good review, apart from the fact you spelt their frontman's name wrong... (Hetfield)
Jacobs_bird 11.11.2002 11:51
I aint too keen on this album i prefere 'black' album and the S&M, but i love the song master of puppets. Great op J_B :D
aliclarkson 29.10.2002 22:20
I wish I hadn't read this op now. This is cos you know when you can't get an annoying tune out of your head - well that's just happened to me after reading 'Welcome Home' - you know that one that's currently on the (very annoying) John Peter's ad - don't know if you get that ad where you are! Obviously it's not the same tune, but it's that word association bit. I'm waffling to see if I can think of something else - Oh - it's still there going round and round and round ...... Ali x
One of the defining albums of thrash metal,Master of Puppetsis arguably Metallica's best ... more
album (as well as their last with bassist Cliff Burton). Focusing on the concept of power and abuses thereof, this is a collection of complex, intelligent music, p...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
One of the defining albums of thrash metal, Master of Puppets is arguably Metallica's best ... more
album (as well as their last with bassist Cliff Burton). Focusing on the concept of power and abuses thereof, this is a collection of complex, intelligent music,...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
One of the defining albums of thrash metal,Master of Puppetsis arguably Metallica's best ... more
album (as well as their last with bassist Cliff Burton). Focusing on the concept of power and abuses thereof, this is a collection of complex, intelligent music, p...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Diverse (for Metallica), all band members at their peak of talent, doesn't sound dated Disadvantages: Won't appeal to everyone; eight tracks may seem too short
Advantages: Flawless Heavy Metal record, technically stunning time signature shifts with occasional classical structuring Disadvantages: 20 year old production job, could do with a re-mastering
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