Metallica's Reviews
Master Of Puppets (Average Rating: 9.62 out of 10)
"Hunter of the Shadows is Rising!!!" (Rated this album with 10 out of 10)
Reviewed by
daniel knouse
from vancouver, washington United States
Okay, let me just reiterate: This is a landmark album! This is essential Thrash! Yes, yes, most Metallica fans agree with those two statements. The only disagreement arises when discussing which album is their best. Some prefer the outstanding energy issued forth on their previous album, "Ride the Lightning." While others prefer their more Progressive Metal from "...And Justice for All." Many others think their "Black Album" is the pinnacle of their output. But I think "Master of Puppets" takes the best elements from those albums and in one fantastic Thrash fantasy it all comes together seemlessly. This album has nearly the same energy level from "Ride the Lighting," has the band venturing into Progressive Metal with spectacular results a la "...And Justice for All," and while none of their albums ever reached the superb production value of the "Black Album," "Master of Puppets" comes very close. All four band members are playing at an inspired level on "Master of Puppets." James Hetfield churns out some excellent riffs and offers up some genuine intensity with his vocal performance; Kirk Hammett comes up with some of the best lead guitar work of his heralded career; Lars Ulrich is an infectious Drum God here, affecting every headbanger in listening range into a fit of unbridled air-drumming; while Cliff Burton(R.I.P.) drives every riff home with his masterful playing. The chemistry these four show on every song here is magnificent! The one under-appreciated facet of these songs are the lyrics. Every song here has memorable lyrics, except "Orion," which is, of course, an instrumental. Here are some examples:BATTERY: Smashing through the boundaries/Lunacy has found me/
Cannot stop the Battery MASTER OF PUPPETS: Master of Puppets I'm pulling your strings/
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE: Not dead which eternal lie/
Strangers eons Death may die WELCOME HOME(SANITARIUM): Whisper things into my brain/
Assuring me that I'm insane DISPOSABLE HEROES: Soldier boy, made of clay, now an empty shell/
Twenty-one, only son, but he served us well LEPER MESSIAH: Witchery, weakening/Sees the sheep are gathering/
Set the trap, hypnotize/Now you follow DAMAGE, INC.: Living on your knees, conformity/
Or dying on your feet for honesty I especially love the lyrical referrences to H.P. Lovecraft on the song "The Thing That Should Not Be." Referrences to "Crawling Chaos" and the "Old Ones" are highlights for me; as is the above lyric. There are many Heavy Metal bands influenced by the Gothic Horror stories of H.P. Lovecraft. Even the cover of Iron Maiden's album "Live After Death" has a Lovecraft quote on the headstone. If you are at all interested in his writings, "The Best of H.P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre" is an excellent place to start. But there I go flying off on a tangent... "Master of Puppets" is an excellent album filled with memorable songcraft, excellent production, and fine performances from the entire band. Thank you for reading my review.
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