Tim's Records: Master of Puppets (Metallica, 1986)
Tim Vuotto ~ 11/25/2025
Metallica is one of the best selling bands of all time for a reason. They dominated the heavy metal scene in the 80s. Starting with Kill Em all in 1982, Ride the lightning in 1984 and then this absolute masterpiece Master of Puppets in 1986. I get the majority of my music taste from my dad and it's by no mistake that this is one of my favorites. I can remember sitting in the back seat, my dad listening to 99.3 WMMR, and the title track coming on and just being in awe, even as young as I was at how impressive the song is. Later on in middle school I was given the record for Christmas, it's still one of my favorites in my collection to this day. There's a lot to break down, let's get into it.
Overall summary
The album was released March 3rd 1986 , with a total of 8 tracks with about an hour of run time. It still boasted the same all star lineup in their primes, James Hetfield on vocals/ Rhythm Guitar , Kirk Hammet shredding on Lead guitar, Lars Ulrich on drums and the greatest metal bass player of all time Cliff Burton (RIP). For me, this is the album when they all grew into not just being a niche subgenre of rock n roll and really truly brought metal into the limelight. James in particular shines on this entire album , in my opinion not just as a terrific guitar player but really a terrific vocalist. The song writing too is on point , some of their greatest work is on display. The only true downside is this is the last album that we got with Cliff Burton on it, releasing only a few months prior to his untimely passing later that same year.
Theme/song summary
There isn't a specific story behind this album although the themes of corruption and control are consistently present within each track. Mainly on the tracks Master of puppets which is about being controlled by addiction , Welcome home (sanitarium) which is about being a patient in a corrupt mental institution, Disposable heroes corruption in the military, Leper messiah corruption and control within religion. All in all , genius song writing. Personally, this is what always set metallica apart from other metal bands of the same era. It's not just about melting your face off with guitars for 5 minutes , their songs are lyrically sound and have a lot of substance to it, especially on their later works.
Track List/Song Rankings (!!!= must listen, !!= Good listen, != Skippable)
Battery (!!)
Master of puppets (!!!)
The thing that should not be (!!!)
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (!!!)
Disposable Heroes (!!!)
Leper Messiah (!!!)
Orion (!!!)
Damage Inc. (!!)
Tim’s 3 Picks
Master of puppets- At first listen it tells the story of a Puppeteer pulling the strings , controlling his victims every move. If you dive into the lyrics you find the “Master of puppets” is substance abuse of any kind. “Taste me you will see, more is all you need. Dedicated to, how I'm killing you!”. Substances like alcohol or drugs are filled with empty promises of pleasure and well-being , only to be killing you slowly. “Master, Master, Where's the dreams that I've been after? Master, Master, you promised only lies.” Half way through the song it slows down and we get this beautiful melody which builds up in a face melting solo. One of their best songs , an instant heavy metal classic.
Welcome Home (sanitarium) - Imagine being thrown in a mental institution when you’re completely sane but are being fucked with to make you believe that you’re insane. “Whisper things into my brain, assuring me that I'm insane” The entire song is a slow build up into a chaotic finish which is something Metallica does so well. The song culminates when all hell breaks loose and the inmates mutiny against the corrupt institution. The highlight for me is the intricate guitar work found on this track, it’s some of my favorites in their discography.
Disposable Heroes- A song about a lowly soldier being controlled by generals and a corrupt government that has no regard for its soldiers lives and only cares for the overall success of the operation. “Soldier boy made of clay, now an empty shell. Twenty one, only son but he served us well. Bred to kill, not to care, do just as we say”. The entire song just chugs along with a heavy consistent riff that is laid down. Definitely a highlight listen on the album
* Tim’s Hidden Gem
Orion - How is this song still underrated? I feel like I never hear anyone talking about this song but it might be my favorite song on the album. It’s a beautiful instrumental on an otherwise hardcore album which seems out of place but it's actually a fantastic change of pace. This piece of music is Cliff Burton’s parting gift to the world. I've heard it said his soul resides in this song, when you listen to it you can’t help but feel it. I read an interesting article on metallica saying that none of them knew much of anything on actual musical theory, as they were all self taught musicians. Then Cliff came along who was the only genuine musician in the band , took lessons as a kid , studied theory and classical pieces and whatnot. Without Cliff Burton I genuinely don't know if Metallica makes it out of the underground. Because of Cliff's admiration of classical composers such as Bach and Tchaikovsky they were able to blend traditional metal music with intricate classical composition structures which led to beautiful pieces of instrumental music like Orion. The song features two bass solos in which Cliff really shows his talent. As well as beautiful sustained guitar technique in the middle. Overall the most beautiful metal song of all time. Go listen.
Charting
Master of puppets debuted at #29 on the billboard 200 upon its release in 1986. It’s gone on to sell 8 million copies in the US (8x platinum) and approximately 10 million copies world wide.
Master of Puppets' title track never hit the charts originally in 1986. However due to its appearance in 2022's Netflix series “stranger things” it climbed to #40 on the billboard 100, 36 years after its release.
Conclusion
In the end, Master of Puppets stands as far more than just another entry in Metallica’s catalog. It's a defining moment in heavy metal history and a deeply personal experience for anyone who connects with it. The album blends technical brilliance, lyrical depth, and raw emotion in a way few bands have ever matched, proving exactly why Metallica rose from the underground to become one of the most influential metal bands of all time. From the lightning fast riff of “Battery” to the haunting beauty of “Orion,” every track showcases a band operating at its creative peak, fueled in part by the unmatched talent of Cliff Burton. Its continued relevance shows that this record isn’t just important to metal, it’s simply timeless.
