|
Review
Master of puppets … Well well well,
where do you start. Probably a lot of peoples favourite album, this one
seems to combine all the greatness of early Metallica on an album. Heavy
duty crushing riffs, an in your face attitude, and it is technically
brilliant and the song writing on it is superb. The poster at the time
said, over 50 minutes of music from the masters of Metal… and I cannot
believe anyone would have been disappointed. There’s 8 tracks as on
RTL but they are all pretty long, they follow the same structure as RTL
the classic order of….1) fast one, 2) title track, 3) slow heavy one,
4) heavy Ballard, 5) all rounder, 6) all rounder, 7/8) instrumental/
fast one.
So lets start from the top,
Battery…Starts with a classical intro
and then soon throws you into a heavy beat then bang into the fucking
fast riff to destroy everything…the second that kicks in you just
wanna go mental, which is what the song is about so lets say the music
fits. The whole song Whips you into a fury and just gives you energy you
thought you didn’t have. Maybe the best thrash song ever
written…maybe… The solo is superb the drums relentless whilst being
very dynamic. My fav bit is the end of the solo going into this down
strummed crushing fast riff that makes me see Jason Newsted windmill
moshing to it every time I hear it (Note: he wasn’t on this album but
has obviously played it live plenty). If you want to see what I mean
watch Battery played in the ’89 Seattle show off live shit…Great.
There’s a cymbal fade out then Bang
straight into Puppets.. This song has everything, speed, energy, menace,
slow bits, melody chunky bits and brilliant lyrics. The dynamics of the
song are like two halves the first half is the Meat of the song riff
wise and the second half is a build up from a break down then back into
the main riffing. This is done through melody followed by a bludgeoning
heavy riff section. The solo is again classic, and the drums and bass
tight, dirty and with attitude. Hey we have ourselves here a 20th
century classic.
The thing that should not be……….
Fuck probably the heaviest song written by the band… maybe ever... and
lets face it I don’t think any of us could say with 100% conviction
that they haven’t at least tried to damage their necks to the point of
spinal abrasion upon listening to the sweet sounds of the thing… Here
there’s a chilling tale of horror told. A dark evil heavy song…the
lyrics add weight to the song that takes the straight forward crushing
riffs to a new level. My favourite line quotes HP Lovecraft “Not dead
which eternal lie, stranger eons death may die”…..and so he
might…and so he might. Love this one people love it like a grandson.
Welcome Home and if that home be a
sanitarium … so be it.. This is another classic song and is a live
favourite.. Follows the same kinda arrangement as Fade and later on with
the soft verse heavy chorus soft heavy then going fast/heavy all the
rest of the way. It peaks just before the fast/heavy end half of the
song where James screams Sanitarium just leave me alone (live it’s
leave me the fuck alone…nice one James). Nuts drumming bass going
crazy and solo’s making your ears implode. The song ends in a drum
guitar ensemble then a crazy fill to polish off an expert piece of song
writing. This is such a good song and Hectors fav Metallica piece…mmm..
last time I saw him anyway.
Disposable hero’s is considered album
filler to the ignorant, however this is a huge slab of metal that reigns
upon the like a counterweight made of lead about to snap from some
faulty tensile wire. The intro is chunky and means business and this is
all out riffing all the way. Played live very few times but a classic
album song…I was born for dying…
Bow to …Leper Messiah…. This one
about the corrupt state of churches and evangelists in the US is
probably the grooviest song on the album, however this is a sick groove
and the lyrics are biting. Very menacing. The riff work is very tight
and very clinical, which applies to most of the album. One of my long
lasting favourites.
Orion….Words not necessary….listen
to this song cos words are futile. Lets just say it was Cliffs Epitaph
and knowing the greatness of Cliff … A master piece.
Damage inc.. This is another all out
fast song but in a more menacing way to say battery. Very fast… The
drumming here is littered with astonishing licks and fills, very
creative. The solo on this song is my favourite off the album, very fast
and in your face. If this song wasn’t played with clinical precision
it wouldn’t work…….but it works alright more than that it makes
you realise the futility of the thrash movement after 1986.
Over all 10/10 100% the killer, the
slaughter, the badger.
Ace Star 2004 |
