10 Best Metallica Songs
7. Orion - Master Of Puppets (1986)
Metallica have produced a number of great instrumentals over the years (including the fantastic closing track on Ride the Lightning – ‘The Call of Ktulu’). Yet their best effort is definitely ‘Orion’.
Though Hetfield and Ulrich are the principle songwriters of the band, Burton played a significant role in the writing of this track. It was even played at his funeral following his tragic death only six months after the release of Master of Puppets.
Perhaps the most surprising element of ‘Orion’ is how catchy it is despite the absence of a vocal melody. The bass, guitars, and drums build to create a wonderful hook that gets instantly stuck in your head.
However, the most impressive part of the song would have to be the stripped back section in the middle. It’s here that Burton’s understanding of classical composition shines through to create something truly unique. Indeed, this section is one of the best moments on Master of Puppets.