1986 Album Ranked as ‘One of the Greatest Albums of All Time'
A 1986 album released by one of the most successful and famous bands in music history still holds up as a masterpiece today. Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' stands out thanks to its iconic songs and fierce energy, which explains why it keeps earning spots on lists of the best albums ever released.
Who Named Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' One of the 'Greatest Albums of All Time'
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In 2023, Rolling Stone published its updated list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and included Metallica's 'Master of Puppets.' The outlet praised it for its lyrics focusing on manipulation and having "really loud guitars, played fast, with no regard for the hair metal that was then dominating the airwaves." NME also named it on its own greatest albums list.
In 2010, Time's critics included it on its all-time 100 albums list and praised it for "reinforcing everything good about heavy metal," citing "the velocity of the playing and the emotional release of the vocals." Apple Music's 100 Best Albums list called it "a breakthrough that brought thrash metal from the fringes into the mainstream." Those are only a small handful of the many times 'Master of Puppets' has appeared on lists, both old and new, of the best albums ever released.
Why This 1986 Album Still Ranks Among the Greatest
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'Masters of Puppets' consists of just eight tracks, so each needed to deliver. Thankfully, it includes some of Metallica's most recognizable songs, including 'Master of Puppets,' 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium),' and 'Battery.' Additionally, its lesser-known tracks like 'Damage Inc.,' and 'Disposable Heroes' have passed the test of time. It even features something extremely rare, an instrumental song that fans never grow tired of, 'Orion.' Ultimately, its greatest strength is that it succeeded by having zero weak spots.
The album balances pure aggression with real emotional depth and lyrics that evoke deeper thought, leading many to argue that 'Master of Puppets' is a metal masterpiece. That strength likely helped it be selected for preservation in the U.S. Library of Congress National Recording Registry in 2016. It is also remembered for being the last album that Cliff Burton recorded before his tragic and untimely death. Although Jason Newsted and Robert Trujillo are brilliant musicians who stepped in brilliantly, Burton's place in music history should never be forgotten.
Like millions of others, I still vividly remember blasting 'Master of Puppets' as a teenager in my bedroom and while driving late at night, feeling completely energized. As long as new fans keep discovering the thrill of cranking it up and belting out every lyric with James Hetfield, the legacy of 'Master of Puppets' will live on.