Metallica - Master of Puppets (Review: Alex)

I've never listened to an entire Metallica album before, so I have no frame of reference. I've never liked the few Metallica songs which I've heard over the years, and was therefore quite sceptical about this album. Saying this, I was hoping to be proven wrong. The reality is, that this album was everything I expected it to be: pure thrash metal.

This isn't to say I didn't enjoy it though. I know I'm contradicting everything I have just said, but there are aspects of this album which I very much enjoy. There is a lot of power behind it, which is to be expected from a band with such credibility in the metal genre, and I think this works well on all levels. This album isn't proving anything, and it doesn't need to; it's thrash at its best, and Metallica know exactly what they're doing. The harmonised guitar solos work wonders as a contrast to the anger which drives the album.

One thing I don't like is, somewhat controversially, Ulrich's drumming. Throughout the album I can't help but think he's just being plain lazy. Moments in 'Welcome Home' and 'Disposable Heroes' tell me that he is a great drummer, but this isn't consistent enough for me. Similarly, and I echo Dan's sentiment here when I say, Hetfield's vocals often do nothing other than to get on my nerves.

Possibly a reflection upon my general dislike for thrash metal, the best aspects for me are when the band breaks down into some slow, melodic, often harmonised guitar lines, heard midway through 'The Thing That Should Not Be' and in 'Orion'. It shows to me that Metallica are far more than the average thrash band. I genuinely believe that it is this which Metallica can trace their immense global success to.

I do quite like this album. It's no nonsense, which is undoubtedly its strength. It has put Metallica slightly up in my expectations, and warrants I think, a 3/5.