7. Metallica - Master of Puppets (1986)Not to complain, but reviewing these classic albums is becoming a rather tedious task. I tend to see this album as rather straightforward and therefore not privy to the same kind of multifaceted analysis that, say, prog rock albums are. Nonetheless, as Metallica’s legendary thrashterpiece “Master of Puppets” is indeed on my top 50 list, I will try my best to do justice, in my own limited way, to one of the most celebrated metal albums of all time. I’ll try a track-by-track approach this time.
“Battery”: Not only is this song a expertly crafted piece of musicianship from the flamenco intro to the sonic assault that constitutes the rest of the song, but its lyrics also mirror the music in philosophizing on the predilection of people to fall into dangerous and abusive habits. The “battery” in the lyrics could either refer to an electrical battery which stores up negative emotions and then violently discharges them, or to an unstoppable wall of force obliterating all in its path. These speculations aside, “Battery” is undoubtedly one of the best (and most famous) thrash songs ever written. As the first track, it sets the mood for the rest of the album and keeps the listener on edge waiting for what’s to come.
Title track: This is metal’s anthem. Just as much a classic track as “Smoke on the Water” or “Stairway to Heaven,” “Master of Puppets” features one of the most recognizable riffs and choruses in all of metaldom. This is the song that every metalhead worth their salt can sing along to or even air guitar/air drum along to. The intricacy of the song’s composition and the fact a song so popular could be 8.5 minutes long are testaments to Metallica’s ability to not only display their technical prowess, but also to captivate the listener with the overall cohesiveness and recognizability of the music. (At least these observations held sway for pre-Black Album Metallica.) As for the lyrics, MoP is a thematic continuation of “Battery.” It speaks of the loss of rationality and control over one’s life at the hands of drugs, alcohol, or whatever addictive force/Edenic serpent may be exerting its influence over oneself. Overall, this piece is an unforgettable thrill-ride and is one Metallica’s finest moments.
“The Thing That Should Not Be”: An underrated masterpiece, this song plunges the listener into the depths of Hades. It is a heavy, dark behemoth that is certainly one of Metallica’s most intense and downright creepy songs. From the menacing riffs to the tortured solo, this song qualifies as a stunning example of what I like to call “horror metal.” The twisted, Lovecraftian lyrics reflect the demonic music. While those familiar with the Cthulhu mythos can readily perceive the lyrical references to Lovecraft’s work, these lyrics also represent a continuation of the same themes of the previous songs. At this stage, the person has been completely consumed by the dark forces within him/herself and is responsible for breeding an evil monster of unimaginable terror. Thus, Cthulhu, both in this song and in the original literature, symbolizes humanity’s inner dark side and potential for destruction. Both lyrically and musically, this is an absolute beast of a song that is certainly one of my all time favorites from the band.
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”: Having ascended from the depths of hell and regaining some measure of dominance over his/her personal demons, “Sanitarium” represents the stage of Purgatory. The unnamed protagonist has resolved to strive for a better life but is torn by self-doubt. Fully self-conscious, the protagonist finally conquers his/her internal foes through some sort of violent act(s). This is not violence in the physical sense, but rather in the metaphorical sense of erasing one’s past life and starting afresh. And so ends the mini story arc that constitutes the first four songs of the album. Musically speaking, “Sanitarium” follows the same dynamic that the songs “One” and “Fade to Black” do. It starts off with a beautiful clean intro and then morphs into a display of headbangable technicality. It may not quite rival those two other songs, but it is certainly one of my all-time favorite “metal ballads.”
“Disposable Heroes”: Here we have Metallica’s war-themed masterpiece. It’s chock full of tasty riffs, and has that aggressive tone that me and other Metallica fans love so much about the band’s old stuff. I can’t say much else about this song other than talk about the brilliant lyrics which speak of young, innocent men being sent off to war and experiencing the horrors therein. It very much reminds me of All Quiet On the Western Front and World War I in general.
“Leper Messiah”: This is the song that took the most time for me to really appreciate and though I still think it’s the weakest track on the album, it’s still quite good. While the previous song addressed the corrosive effects of nationalism and war on the human spirit, this song aims its sights at corruption in the Church (or organized religion in general) and denounces blind adherence to dogma. Despite the considerably weakened position of the Catholic Church since the Reformation and Enlightenment, the message of this song still remains relevant as evidenced by the proliferation of both New Age and Christian cults in recent years. Just last year we had the failed prediction of Harold Camping and the financial ruin of many of his followers who had invested their life savings into his ad campaign. Clearly, Camping and his ilk are perfect examples of “leper messiahs” or, simply put, con-men who manipulate religion for personal gain. While this song is far from my top-tier of Metallica songs, it makes a very important and compelling statement as a cautionary tale.
“Orion”: Well, there’s not too much to say here other than the fact that this is my favorite metal instrumental. It is perfectly crafted from start to finish and features some of late bassist Cliff Burton’s best work. In fact, the whole band is firing on all cylinders in this song and it is definitely one that should be played more often.
“Damage Inc.”: Rounding out the album is another thrashterpiece. Like “Battery,” this song is one of the finest thrash songs ever made and is also one of Metallica’s most intense musical adventures. The lyrics speak of standing up for one’s beliefs and refusing to conform to society’s standards. Besides that, all I can say is that this is a perfect closer to a spectacular album and is sure to leave the listener with a feeling that Metallica have created something legendary with this album and created a lasting musical legacy.