Side one
1. "Battery" 5:13
2. "Master of Puppets" 8:35
3. "The Thing That Should Not Be" 6:36
4. "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" 6:27
Side two
1. "Disposable Heroes" 8:17
2. "Leper Messiah" 5:40
3. "Orion" (instrumental) 8:27
4. "Damage, Inc." 5:32
Total length: 54:47
Master of Puppets is Metallica’s 3rd studio album, released in 1986, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal albums of all time. It showcases the band’s technical mastery, intense energy, and complex songwriting, pushing thrash metal to new heights both musically and thematically.
Tracklist of Master of Puppets
1️⃣ Battery
2️⃣ Master of Puppets
3️⃣ The Thing That Should Not Be
4️⃣ Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
5️⃣ Disposable Heroes
6️⃣ Leper Messiah
7️⃣ Orion
8️⃣ Damage, Inc.
Fun Facts & Trivia
⚡ Cliff Burton’s Last Studio Album
This was the last Metallica album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who tragically died later that year in a bus accident.
🎸 Signature Songs
The title track “Master of Puppets” is one of Metallica’s most iconic and frequently performed songs, known for its complex riffs and powerful message about addiction and control.
🔥 Instrumental Epic
“Orion” is a sprawling instrumental tribute to Cliff Burton’s virtuosity and remains a fan favorite.
🎤 Political & Social Themes
Songs like “Disposable Heroes” criticize the futility of war, while the album overall explores themes of manipulation, control, and personal struggle.
🎶 Production Milestone
Produced by Flemming Rasmussen, the album features a clear yet aggressive production that captures the band’s live intensity perfectly.
Cultural Legacy
Master of Puppets is a defining thrash metal album that influenced countless metal bands and continues to be celebrated by fans and critics alike. Its combination of technical skill, lyrical depth, and raw aggression marks a pinnacle in Metallica’s career and the metal genre overall.
Keywords
✅ Metallica Master of Puppets 1986
✅ Master of Puppets tracklist
✅ Cliff Burton Metallica
✅ Thrash metal classics
✅ Metallica iconic albums
Master of Puppets is the 3rd studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986, by Elektra Records. Recorded at Sweet Silence Studios with producer Flemming Rasmussen, it was the band's last album to feature bassist Cliff Burton, who died in a bus accident in Sweden during the album's promotional tour.
The album's artwork, designed by Metallica and Peter Mensch and painted by Don Brautigam, depicts a cemetery field of white crosses tethered to strings, manipulated by a pair of hands in a blood-red sky. Instead of releasing a single or video in advance of the album's release, Metallica embarked on a five-month American tour in support of Ozzy Osbourne. The European leg was canceled after Burton's death in September 1986, and the band returned home to audition a new bassist.
