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"Master of Puppets" is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986. Here are some interesting facts about the album:
Album Cover Art: The cover art for "Master of Puppets" features an eerie image of hands pulling on strings, controlling marionette corpses. The artwork was created by Don Brautigam, and it has become iconic in the world of heavy metal album covers.
Title Track: The title track, "Master of Puppets," is considered one of Metallica's signature songs. It's over eight minutes long and is known for its complex structure, intricate guitar work, and powerful lyrics. The song is often regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.
Commercial Success: "Master of Puppets" is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time. Although it didn't achieve massive commercial success initially, it has since become a classic and has been certified six times platinum in the United States.
Critical Acclaim: The album received critical acclaim for its musical innovation and technical proficiency. It is often cited as one of the best metal albums ever, and it played a significant role in establishing Metallica as a leading force in the heavy metal genre.
Songwriting Collaboration: The songwriting for "Master of Puppets" was a collaborative effort among all the band members: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Cliff Burton. The album showcased the band's evolving musical maturity and sophistication in their songwriting.
Tragic Loss: "Master of Puppets" was the last Metallica album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who tragically died in a bus accident in Sweden while the band was on tour to promote the album. Jason Newsted joined the band as Burton's replacement after his death.
Song Lengths: The album features longer and more complex songs compared to Metallica's previous releases. Three of the tracks, namely "Battery," "Master of Puppets," and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," each exceed eight minutes in length.
Grammy Nomination: In 1989, the instrumental track "Orion" from the album received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance. Although it didn't win, the nomination further solidified Metallica's standing in the music industry.
"Master of Puppets" remains a landmark album in the history of heavy metal and is often cited as a major influence on subsequent generations of metal bands.