This was released in 1986, and it has withstood the test of time. I think that it can be agreed that this CD was released in a time that has been very influential on the metal music of today. At the time that "Master of Puppets" was released it was groundbreaking. People had never heard anything like it before, and it was brand new. The guitar riffs, solos, and fast paced tempos of the songs were inventive. The metal music of today has taken these attributions and applied them to them to the music today, but have developed them more.
"Master of Puppets" was a CD that was very original. This was when Metallica started to gain a lot of popularity, and began to be recognized as an important band. Metallica really defied the norms of the time with this CD. They were able to show that a metal band was able to write melodic songs, but still allow them to have a heavy edge to them.
The CD starts out with a track called "Battery." It starts off with a clean guitar part, but slowly builds. Other clean guitars are layered on top of the original, and then eventually distorted guitars and drums kick in. The opening continues to build and sets up for a very epic beginning of a song. It goes from this into a fast thrash metal style, but the change flows. Every track on the CD is 5-8 minutes long, but every one is unique and develops into something interesting.
Metallica really accomplished something with this album. They were able to put shredding leads, intricate melodies, and fast thrashing parts together in one package. If you listen to this CD, you would be able to see how bands have developed the ideas of Metallica in their music. This CD is one that will eventually be recognized for the creation of modern metal music.
Key Tracks: "Battery," "Master of Puppets," "Leper Messiah," and "Orion."
