Metallica Advent Calendar, Day 6: 'Master of Puppets' (1986)

Metallica Albums — Credit: Gudellaphoto – stock.adobe.com

We know when you think of holiday cheer, Metallica is the first thing that comes to mind, so we’re doing a Metallica-themed Advent calendar to help put a little metal up your ass as we make our way to Christmas.

Here it is: the greatest metal album of all time.

Now, just a couple days ago I did profess my love and personal preference for Ride the Lightning, but I can recognize that Metallica’s third studio album Master of Puppets is widely known as the pinnacle of the genre, which came at the height of the band’s “Alcoholica” party days.

And if you don’t believe me on the influence of Master of Puppets, this six-times-platinum album became the first metal recording selected to the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for its cultural significance.

So yeah, it’s pretty good.

This was also the last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who tragically died in a bus crash while on tour, but left a lasting impact on how the band approached its writing. Having spent the first two albums thrashing their way to finding a voice, Master of Puppets is where Metallica fully realized its potential.

The year 1986 sure was a hell of a time to be a metal fan. Not only did you get Master of Puppets, but you also got Megadeth’s Peace Sells… but Who’s Buying? and Slayer’s Reign in Blood.

Reign in Blood is often considered a true rival as the best thrash metal album of all time. But the thing about Metallica is that it has always felt more accessible without relinquishing its ferocity, especially on their earlier albums. I love Megadeth and Slayer, but it has to be something I’m ready for; I have to be ready to be absolutely bashed over the head. And, of course, sometimes I am.

But Metallica has always managed to expertly straddle the worlds of heavy metal, rock, and, honestly, pop music. They figured out how you can operate in the best of both worlds, and it’s produced some of the best metal the world has ever heard.

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