|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
View the MP3 Album.
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One of the defining albums of thrash metal, Master of Puppets is arguably Metallica's best album (as well as their last with bassist Cliff Burton). Focusing on the concept of power and abuses thereof, this is a collection of complex, intelligent music, played at about a hundred miles an hour. Not that these are short songs; this eight-song album clocks in at over an hour, which makes it all the more impressive that not one moment on this recording is boring. In tackling various approaches to their subject, Metallica is insightful lyrically as well as musically: "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" is from the point of view of an institutionalized inmate and "Disposable Heroes" is the perspective of a soldier. If all you've heard of Metallica is what's been on the radio recently, check this one out. You're in for a surprise. --Genevieve Williams
Product Description
Original 8 track CD. Light marks on disc will not affect play. SM.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
192 of 212 people found the following review helpful
By Ilker Yucel
Format:Audio CD
THIS is one of the finest albums every produced, not just in the genre of thrash metal. Metallica rocked with their first two albums, but this is the album that I listen to most out of all of them. There is not a single dull moment on this masterpiece of puppetry. All the songs are played with lightning fast precision, and glorious heavy metal power. And yet, 1) The songs clock in mostly between 5-12 minutes long, and 2) Amidst the mayhem of wailing guitars and pounding drums is the sound of melody and classically influenced arrangments and composition. This is largely in part to bassist Cliff Burton, the most classically trained member of the band. Sadly this would be his final album, but if he had to give a final farewell before his sudden and unfortunate death, this album screams with a power that engraves into the listeners' minds, "Cliff was here!"
-"Battery": great acoustic intro leading into a maniacal barage of Hetfield's harsh vocals and Ulrich's pounding drums that literally batter their way through your ears.
-"Master of Puppets": a classic in the truest sense of the word. Like "Battery," this song is fast, hard, and it beckons with energy the question of who is truly the puppet and who is the puppeteer.
-"The Thing that Should Not Be": again, a great acoustic intro that leads into a hardcore thrash rhythm.
-"Welcome Home (Sanitarium)": the lyrics are the real gem here, telling the story of a mental patient from inside the patient's mind. The music is great, but the lyrics can haunt you if you're not careful.
-"Disposable Heroes": while I may like their later song "One" better in terms of the lyrical device of the soldier's point of view, I still give this one credit since it came first, and let's face it...everything on this album kicks serious arse, including this one.
-"Leper Messiah": I could say again that this song is fierce in its brutal greatness, but I've been saying that about every other song, so...let's just say this is still yet another great song on this great album.
-"Orion": great instrumental, with a militaristic march that echoes the gradeur of Wagner, but without being oppressive. This is something for the Metal Militia to use as a warcry.
-"Damage Inc.": the intro to this song is absolutely incredible. It is my favorite part of the song, and thus that makes it my favorite song on the album. As a closer...it is amazing, and it has to be one of the best songs Metallica ever recorded.
Top-notch production, speed-licks only Hammett and Hetfield could dish out to give Eddie Van Halen a run for his money, and let's face it...like I said, it is a sad, but glorious and powerful farewell to Cliff Burton. He left us too soon. Behold his legacy! DANCE PUPPETS! DANCE!
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Metallica truly shows their maximum talent in this amazing album. This 24k gold CD holds beautiful sound quality that will blow any fan away. This spectacular CD is defenitely worth the purchase, especially if you are a die hard fan...10 times better than regular "puppets" album.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl|Amazon Verified Purchase
I own the CD of MoP and in comparison to the CD, I'd say the 1/2 speed mastered vinyl release, done by the originators of "audiophile" vinyl in the late 70s into the 80s, Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs, breathes a different kind of life into the album.
Comparing this vinyl release to the CD, I have to say the CD does a very nice job in recreating the original sound and feel of the recording. If you're looking for a "WOW" factor from vinyl, then I don't believe the Metallica vinyl are the LPs for you to invest in.
However, if you're looking for audiophile quality vinyl recordings, knowing that what you're hearing is as close to being in the studio as you can get, you can't find better than this! MoP was done using a 1/2 speed mastering system from the original analog recordings. What this means is that the master vinyl created is given more time to accurately form the audio, pulling every tiny detail from the analog source. To facilitate a cleaner sound, it is then etched on virgin 180g vinyl. The heavier vinyl, less noise (hiss) is heard from the record itself. Playback is set at 45 RPM, allowing for more of the vinyl per song, which means better playback from your turntable. Mo-Fi Sound Labs really has this down to a science.
Why re-release on vinyl? Because this is the format "audiophiles" supposedly prefer, given the original recording is unmolested with dynamic range compression or cut off at the knees by the 44khz sampling rate. Vinyl makes an album sound closer to the music as it was played (on a good system).
On a decent audio system the music is allowed a better dynamic range that really shines. On the same system the CD also sounds really good.
As far as the album itself, more than likely you've heard all of the tracks considered true classics in the metal scene. Master of Puppets, Battery, The Thing That Should Not Be and Welcome Home (Sanitarium) aren't just Metallica classics, they are metal classics that stand the test of time. What of the other tracks then? They are classics that most non-fans don't know. Orion stands as a marvelous sounding, well written and perfectly executed musical and on this album there are nuances you hear, such as more accurately reproduced cymbals and snare that actually gives the vinyl an edge over the CD (if you have a good sound system).
So should you invest in Metallica on vinyl? The answer to that question is... it depends. If you have a moderately priced audio system and a good turn table, I'd say you would do worse than picking this album up. If all you have is tiny surround speakers connected to a budget priced surround system, purchasing this album won't sound better than the CD.
Comparing this vinyl release to the CD, I have to say the CD does a very nice job in recreating the original sound and feel of the recording. If you're looking for a "WOW" factor from vinyl, then I don't believe the Metallica vinyl are the LPs for you to invest in.
However, if you're looking for audiophile quality vinyl recordings, knowing that what you're hearing is as close to being in the studio as you can get, you can't find better than this! MoP was done using a 1/2 speed mastering system from the original analog recordings. What this means is that the master vinyl created is given more time to accurately form the audio, pulling every tiny detail from the analog source. To facilitate a cleaner sound, it is then etched on virgin 180g vinyl. The heavier vinyl, less noise (hiss) is heard from the record itself. Playback is set at 45 RPM, allowing for more of the vinyl per song, which means better playback from your turntable. Mo-Fi Sound Labs really has this down to a science.
Why re-release on vinyl? Because this is the format "audiophiles" supposedly prefer, given the original recording is unmolested with dynamic range compression or cut off at the knees by the 44khz sampling rate. Vinyl makes an album sound closer to the music as it was played (on a good system).
On a decent audio system the music is allowed a better dynamic range that really shines. On the same system the CD also sounds really good.
As far as the album itself, more than likely you've heard all of the tracks considered true classics in the metal scene. Master of Puppets, Battery, The Thing That Should Not Be and Welcome Home (Sanitarium) aren't just Metallica classics, they are metal classics that stand the test of time. What of the other tracks then? They are classics that most non-fans don't know. Orion stands as a marvelous sounding, well written and perfectly executed musical and on this album there are nuances you hear, such as more accurately reproduced cymbals and snare that actually gives the vinyl an edge over the CD (if you have a good sound system).
So should you invest in Metallica on vinyl? The answer to that question is... it depends. If you have a moderately priced audio system and a good turn table, I'd say you would do worse than picking this album up. If all you have is tiny surround speakers connected to a budget priced surround system, purchasing this album won't sound better than the CD.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
metallica
thanks i don't like doing homework so stop making me and thanks for the cd its just the way i remember it
Published 3 days ago by Misti D. Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Title
It just doesn't get much better than this. This is when Metallica was in their prime. All these songs are great.
Published 19 days ago by Jeremy Barnes
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thrash Metal Masterpiece
A must have CD for your Heavy Metal Collection. Great sound quality. Its Metallicas finest works enough said. Buy it
Published 1 month ago by johnv
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
Master of Puppets is one of Metallica's greatest albums. Fast, heavy and loud. A must have for all heavy metal fans.
Published 1 month ago by mike
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great album
I don't know why they need so many review words for an album. It's just great, amazing and you love it. that's all.
Published 1 month ago by Bui Vinh Thang
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still one of the best albums ever!
I think I was 14 years old when I bought this new on cassette. Over the years, there's never been a time when it wasn't one of my top 5 favorite and most listened to albums. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. White
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ruler of this world ?
It has a good mix of heavy , thrash , and speed metal music genres. Catchy tunes to make you headbang along with Lar"s upbeat drumming accompanied by James and Kirk"s quick... Read more
Published 2 months ago by 808TREX50
5.0 out of 5 stars
MASTER OF METAL!!!!!!!!!
MASTER OF PUPPETS is one of the greatest METAL albums EVER, and with REIGN IN BLOOD are the 2 best THRASH METAL albums OF ALL TIME!!!! Read more
Published 2 months ago by FLUMINENSE
5.0 out of 5 stars
one of the best metal albums of all time .
master of puppets is up thare with purple haze in the top 100 guitar solos of all time , but the whole album rocks this is a true classic . Read more
Published 2 months ago by Michael Salamone
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of the Best
Metallica's first five albums are the absolute pinnacle of metal and this release is the best of the best. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Trey Hollen
Listmania!
So You'd Like to...
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
|
