MASTER OF PUPPETS

Metallica

Prog Related

4.13 | 854 ratings

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Alitare

Obey...

After listening to this many many times, I have all but redefined my enjoyment of Master of Puppets. Aside from certain aspects, I actually love it. The acoustic introduction to Battery is pretty, and those wailing guitars...mmmm. But I digress (or do I?) The music here is absolutely phenomenal. I could care less for the abysmal lyrics in Battery, but the rest of the album has rather high quality verses. The guitars thrash as you'd expect, but Hammett seems more inspired than normal, which is saying something, as Metallica has usually had very nice guitar segments.

Again, the weakest link is Hetfield, but his vocals fit well enough, and show a standard for prototype technical metal. The title track is submissive, and equal part violently intriguing. There is that tailgunner riffing evident alongside bleak lyrical values, then there is the melancholy break at the halfway point, tying the story down until the attempted escape (which is an unholy solo) continuing onward for the depressing ending in re-asserted submission and powerless dominion.

Each song is at its very least, something enjoyable. Sanitarium, the "power Ballad" is depraved in the thematic scope, and stirring on numerous levels. Metallica did indeed carve fine ground on MOP, and I congratulate them. Orion is cosmic, and Damage Inc. thrashes your mother. Lyrically, there is better, and vocally, definitely, there is better to be found, but for what it is, Master of Puppets is crushing and grand. Equally violent and stirringly melancholy, lethargy and hate all wrapped in nicely to an ongoing theme of realistic submissive powerlessness. Metallica's finest.

Best Song - Master of Puppets

Worst Song - Possibly Disposable Heroes, but it's a difficult choice.

***** Stars

Alitare | 5/5 | 2009-3-26

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