NonDisposable Heroes. Review on Master of Puppets - Metallica

Search the whole web for most influential, defining Rock - Metal of all time. No wonder if you find one name in common, i.e. Metallica.

Through series of names and lineup changes the legendary metal quartet finally released their debut album ’Kill ‘Em All’ in 1983. Since then it has been a dream journey for both them and their fans. Before release of ’Kill ‘Em All’, Guitarist Dave Mustain was fired from the band for unacceptable, intolerable behavior. So the Great and my guitar idol Kirk Hammet joined the band. Dave Mustaine went on to form his metal band Megadeth. It is a different matter that Magadeth gave some good music with added melodies and intricate riffs, seldom heard.

So the lineup had ,

James Hetfield ( Vocals; Rhythm Guitar )

Kirk Hammet ( Lead Guitar )

Lars Ulrich ( Drums )

Cliff Burton (Bass )

Mater of Puppets was released in 1986 following their second release Ride The Lightning. The Album has 8 tracks timing 54.48 minutes. The title suggests 2 interpretations. The cover artwork reflects how government controls its soldiers like puppets controlled by its Master. This interpretation seems less logical to me than the other one, which tells about the drug addiction, and it’s aftereffect. Actually the first interpretation fits to a song titled Disposable Heroes saying the same thing, about government sending soldiers on the frontline to die whenever they need. That is to say, they use & dispose ‘em when they need. Whatever may be the lyrical structure the whole album is masterfully orchestrated with some best ever guitar soloing.

Battery

CD starts of with a speedy thrash metal song. First 30 seconds are with soft acoustic notes. Rest part is non-melodic fast riffing and heavy vocals. Subject matter is pretty lame. James Hetfieldonce said that a battery has a positive as well as a negative side. And they were good at negative. Funny isn’t it? These metal musicians have to be negative, satanic and bad. The good word just doesn’t fit in their dictionary.

Rating: 8/10

Mater Of Puppets

This song is rated 51st in top 100 greatest guitar solos in 1998 issue of Guitar World magazine. This ranking can also be found on https://guitar.about.com(I have mentioned in my previous review). The overall subject matter is concentrated in this track only. It’s a big song, about 8 minutes in length. The praiseworthy thing about the song is Kirk’s solo. Please check out the Encyclopedia Metallica website for detailed explanation of what Metallica has to say about their songs. Song is solely about drug abuse and it’s consequences.

Line’s,

I'm your source of self-destruction….

Your life burns faster, Obey your master

Reflects how drug controls our life when addicted to.

Rating: 10/10

The Thing That Shouldn’t Be

This is rather a slow, chugging song. Core fans may not agree with this kind of Metallica. But to me this song gives a hint of the directional change Metallica were heading, not revealed until Load. I know lots of Bands breaking up when it comes to changing their musical style with time. For instance take an example of Guns N’ Roses. Axl Rose – Lead Singer wanted to expand their sound in order to keep up with new age music. While Slash – Guitarist wanted to pursue with the traditional hard rock style. Soon ego, difference of opinion started to creep in and as a result Slash left the band. Finally what we have is loss of good music, and whole music thing is suffered. I don’t want to provide a solution to unsolvable problem, since it depends upon the understanding between band members and their decision making as together. In case of Metallica, they were unanimous with their decisions and carried on to produce some good music in spite of criticism from Hardcore Metal fans for being commercial and dropping their original style.

Rating: 9/10

Welcome to (Sanitarium)

Sanitarium or Sanatorium is a mental institution or resort for the treatment of chronic diseases or for improvement or maintenance of health. The Sanitarium can be left on dwellers own will. So the song is about an inmate of the Sanitarium. Not a heavy metal subject. Bravo! Metallica.

Rating: 10/10

Disposable Heroes

The song is one of the best song on this Cd. The song's long chorus is orchestrated very well. The trademark solo by Kirk is simply outstanding. You know sometime I ask myself how the music would sound without guitarists like Kirk?

Rating: 10/10

Leper Messiah

Not a good song but not bad either. It feels to be a CD filler track. Somehow the riffs don’t sound convincing. The song is about TV evangelists or televangelist and their frauds.

Rating: 8/10

Orion

My favorite song on the CD. If I’m to rate top 10 guitar instrumental songs of all time, then this one has to be there. The song is dedicated to Cliff Burton who died soon after the release while touring abroad. The track is really haunting. It literally gives me the feel of the Orion constellation. I don’t know their purpose. The song has many phases. It is very melodies, slow and pleasing.

Rating: 10/10

Damage Inc.

Promises to be a great ballad but shifts in to a throttle. Nice way to end the CD.

The song is about Metallica going against the hype of popular music.(?????)

Anyway a nice fast thrash song to perfect the ending.

Rating: 9/10

Suffering from the loss of Cliff Burton, Metallica came out well on …. And Justice For All with Jason Newstead on Bass. Creativity, Musical Mastery, Lyrics are some of the qualities that make this album a great experience to listen.

Metallica are (/were) gifted musicians.