Master of Puppets

I mean.... yeah it's probably Metallica's best album, but I found it lacking in a few ways. It definitely popularized thrash and pioneered a lot of themes so I'm scoring it highly, but I think there is better music from far-lesser known bands.

Savatage put out some really great albums before their guitarist sadly passed away in the early 90s (his bro was in the band too and they became Tran-Siberian Orchestra)

These guys take themselves too seriously. None of these long-ass songs have long song vibes. It is fire though

Not my favorite era of Metallica

I mean come on. This was the first metal album I ever heard and even to this day it stands as one of my favourites. Great riffs here as you'd expect from a thrash album but it's the song structures and songwriting that sets this apart from other albums within the genre. A lot of these song are very lengthy and progressive with a lot of extended instrumental sections that are really well crafted. Lyrically this album touches on a lot of things, whether that be drug addiction, mental illness, war and, of course, Cthulu. Despite the varying topics of all of these songs, none of them feel out of place and are all well written and respectful to the subjects they relate to. There's also not a bad song on here either. With only 8 tracks they couldn't really afford to miss so they went all out on every single one. Even my least favourite song here could probably stand as the best track if you were to put it on any other album. I can't really say enough good things about this honestly. Some of the best, most replayable metal music you're ever likely to hear and one of my favourite albums of all time regardless of genre.

Fav Songs: All of them but specifically Master Of Puppets, Disposable Heroes, Battery and Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

Least Fav: none but if I had to pick, probably The Thing That Should Not Be

9.7/10

I expect it’s the best if you like this sort of thing.

A true metal classic. The songs are long and tell you a little story every time and yet never too boring (sometimes it's a bit too much yeah). It's also really energyzing.

Favorite Songs: Master of Puppets ; Welcome Home ; Leper Messiah ; Orion

I liked this more than the Black Album, but not by much.

I’m not a huge metal fan but this album is pretty great. This and Ride the Lightning are the Metallica albums I enjoy a lot and would listen to on my own

One of the joys of the last six months for me has been getting into Metallica, who I’d previously thought were beyond me. They have taken me from feeling slightly detached toward Metal to straightforwardly loving it.

Going backwards from the black album (I know, I know) I’m enjoying even more hearing them in this genre defining mode. It’s no less atmospheric than them making pop music, but there is a definite edge to the relentless crunching, pummelling and chanting. In both modes it stands out to me how focused the band are on making sure a bright melody is never too far away from poking through the mix.

It’s a fantastic mixture of fuzzy, crunchy and bubbly. I’m a fan!

The perfect blend on raw thrash pummelling and epic neo-classical bombast, each balancing the other, giving a bit of pompous ambition that elevates the hard charging riffs and plenty of gritty energy that keeps the grandiose stuff from veering too far into prog wank - you can feel that they're itching to get back to some headbanging, shredding, and chugging even as they stretch out into harmonized leads and sweeping melodic passages.

I just don't get Metallica, or metal in general.

Chugging distorted guitar - Check
Angry lyrics screamed into the mic - Check
Drummer smashing the kit up - Check

This seems a good example of this genre I suspect, it may even be a great example of it. But I just can't stand it. Turned off after 2 songs

2 - and that's generous

Will be easy 5 today, metal masterpiece easily

Is this our first Metallica? Maybe so. Well, they belong on here, no doubt. The genre "thrash metal" is a bad omen*. Also the album cover. The songs are very long. I don't like the genre, but it seems fine for what it is. Is that a 2 or a 3? I don't know!!

Highlight: 'Leper Messiah'

* Is 'Orion' space thrash metal?

40 years after its release this record remains the gold standard for flawlessly tight metal composition and execution. Conceptually and aesthetically it is Metallica’s greatest triumph and the defining statement of the metal genre.

One of the most influential albums of all time on my life. Controlled aggression and anger, with moments of beauty and interspersed melody peeking through. Simply one of the greatest moments in metal history. Metallica have been one of my favorite bands for many years and have provided me so much enjoyment. While the entire record has dips in quality, it is undeniable how much power songs like "Battery," the title track, and "Orion" have and will always have for me.

That being said, how in the hell is Ride the Lightning also included on this list. That's clearly the superior record between the two lmao

This album has been a favorite of mine for well over 30 years. Without Orion, this album would still be five stars. With Orion? Five more.

There's not a single note here that's anything less than perfect.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ok 3/5

I only knew the first two tracks on here beforehand, which in-context make for an awesome, explosive opening. Love it!

My main problem with Metallica is that their weaker songs tend to blur together and sound almost formulaic. On this one, the whole middle stretch (particularly Disposable Heroes) sounds indistinguishable in composition from numerous songs in their catalog. It's never *bad*, just kind of forgettable.

Even then, their godly guitar shreds are fully on display the whole time, and the album picks right back up on Leper Messiah. Orion might genuinely be a new highlight for me in their discography, and Damage, Inc. is a pretty sick closer.

All in all I can't deny it's a classic!

Standouts: Battery • Master of Puppets • Leper Messiah • Orion • Damage, Inc.

Nothing really to say that hasn't been said already. It's just really, really, REALLY fucking good.

I find that the lesser talked about songs - like Damage Inc., Disposable Heroes, and Leper Messiah - are the best ones. Everything else is still phenomenal, but these are my standouts, and some of my favourite thrash metal songs as a whole.

Orion is the only one that doesn't hit as hard for me. It's definitely better than I remember it being though. Maybe it's just beginning to click.

Still not their best album. AJFA rules supreme.

The production on this album is unbelievable. You can feel this was meant to be played on a stage in front of THOUSANDS