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Even though Master of Puppets didn't take as gigantic a leap forward as Ride the Lightning, it was the band's greatest achievement, hailed as a masterpiece by critics far outside heavy metal's core audience. It was also a substantial hit, reaching the Top 30 and selling three million copies despite absolutely nonexistent airplay. Instead of a radical reinvention, Master of Puppets is a refinement of past innovations. In fact, it's possible to compare Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets song for song and note striking similarities between corresponding track positions on each record (although Lightning's closing instrumental has been bumped up to next-to-last in Master's running order). That hint of conservatism is really the only conceivable flaw here. Though it isn't as startling as Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets feels more unified, both thematically and musically. Everything about it feels blown up to epic proportions (indeed, the songs are much longer on average), and the band feels more in control of its direction. You'd never know it by the lyrics, though -- in one way or another, nearly every song on Master of Puppets deals with the fear of powerlessness. Sometimes they're about hypocritical authority (military and religious leaders), sometimes primal, uncontrollable human urges (drugs, insanity, rage), and, in true H.P. Lovecraft fashion, sometimes monsters. Yet by bookending the album with two slices of thrash mayhem ("Battery" and "Damage, Inc."), the band reigns triumphant through sheer force -- of sound, of will, of malice. The arrangements are thick and muscular, and the material varies enough in texture and tempo to hold interest through all its twists and turns. Some critics have called Master of Puppets the best heavy metal album ever recorded; if it isn't, it certainly comes close. [In 2017 the band released a massive expanded edition of the album with a variety of physical package options, the most ambitious of which was an exhaustive box set that included a hardcover book, outtakes and previously unreleased interviews, three LPs, ten CDs, a cassette, two DVDs, a lithograph, a folder with handwritten lyrics, and a set of six buttons.]
© Steve Huey /TiVo
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Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Howie Weinberg, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Wilczak, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Wagener, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Lindsay Chase, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Producer, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Producer, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Producer, Drums, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Metallica, MainArtist - Gentry Studer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
DISC 2
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Greg Fidelman, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Greg Fidelman, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Greg Fidelman, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
James Hetfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Flemming Rasmussen, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Fidelman, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Tom Flynn, ComposerLyricist - Flemming Rasmussen, Producer - Greg Fidelman, Mixer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Wilson , ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Flemming Rasmussen, Producer - Greg Fidelman, Mixer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tal Miller, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Sean Harris, ComposerLyricist - Brian Tatler, ComposerLyricist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
DISC 3
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - John Marshall, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Dave Mustaine, ComposerLyricist - Cliff Burton, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Newsted, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Newsted, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Newsted, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Dave Mustaine, ComposerLyricist - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jason Newsted, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - John Marshall, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Sean Harris, ComposerLyricist - Brian Tatler, ComposerLyricist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Chris Bellman, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cliff Burton, Bass Guitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - James Hetfield, Guitar, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kirk Hammett, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lars Ulrich, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Reuben Cohen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Metallica, MainArtist - Kent Matcke, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
Album review
Even though Master of Puppets didn't take as gigantic a leap forward as Ride the Lightning, it was the band's greatest achievement, hailed as a masterpiece by critics far outside heavy metal's core audience. It was also a substantial hit, reaching the Top 30 and selling three million copies despite absolutely nonexistent airplay. Instead of a radical reinvention, Master of Puppets is a refinement of past innovations. In fact, it's possible to compare Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets song for song and note striking similarities between corresponding track positions on each record (although Lightning's closing instrumental has been bumped up to next-to-last in Master's running order). That hint of conservatism is really the only conceivable flaw here. Though it isn't as startling as Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets feels more unified, both thematically and musically. Everything about it feels blown up to epic proportions (indeed, the songs are much longer on average), and the band feels more in control of its direction. You'd never know it by the lyrics, though -- in one way or another, nearly every song on Master of Puppets deals with the fear of powerlessness. Sometimes they're about hypocritical authority (military and religious leaders), sometimes primal, uncontrollable human urges (drugs, insanity, rage), and, in true H.P. Lovecraft fashion, sometimes monsters. Yet by bookending the album with two slices of thrash mayhem ("Battery" and "Damage, Inc."), the band reigns triumphant through sheer force -- of sound, of will, of malice. The arrangements are thick and muscular, and the material varies enough in texture and tempo to hold interest through all its twists and turns. Some critics have called Master of Puppets the best heavy metal album ever recorded; if it isn't, it certainly comes close. [In 2017 the band released a massive expanded edition of the album with a variety of physical package options, the most ambitious of which was an exhaustive box set that included a hardcover book, outtakes and previously unreleased interviews, three LPs, ten CDs, a cassette, two DVDs, a lithograph, a folder with handwritten lyrics, and a set of six buttons.]
© Steve Huey /TiVo
About the album
- 3 disc(s) - 32 track(s)
- Total length: 03:03:50
- Main artists: Metallica
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Blackened Recordings - Universal Music
- Genre: Metal
© 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc. ℗ 2017 Blackened Recordings Inc.
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