2. Metallica - Orion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzMJhOwBLqw
Find it: Master of Puppets (1986) Crunching riffs? Check. Trippy midsection? Check. Multiple solos? You bet. There's something undeniably iconic about Metallica's 'Orion', with
an acoustic cover by Rodrigo y Gabriela marking its lofty status among instrumentals. This track from the band's landmark third album Master of Puppets is a standout in every sense, careening in as the record's penultimate song and staying in the memory long after it's all over. And yet, admittedly, it may not immediately be clear why that is. At first there's nothing overtly overblown or complicated about the song itself, and its opening verses see James Hetfield and co. calmly go about their business in constructing a series of surging power chords. Impressive, yes, but for the most part it's vintage Metallica. Instead, the song's real significance lies in its title. 'Orion' was named after the well-known constellation as a nod to the spacey quality of its lengthy interlude - a sequence that's seemingly frozen in time, at once gentle, down-tempo, and astonishingly sweet. It's also a standout moment for Cliff Burton, the band's bassist and one of the song's co-writers. His bass playing here is an exercise in restraint between the barrage of guitars around him, and the song serves as a poignant reminder of his talent before his tragic death in a tour bus accident. His lasting legacy is considerable; 'Orion' ranks among Metallica's most progressive pieces of work while retaining all the weight and power of their trademark sound.