6. Master Of Puppets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnKhsTXoKCI Regularly voted the
Greatest Metal Album of All Time, Metallica's magnum opus third album showcased the band at the apex of their thrash creativity, featuring not only some of Hetfield's most prolific lyrics, Lars' most furious skin-bashing and Hammett's tightest, occasionally experimental solos, but it was the last time Cliff Burton would join them - although his presence is felt throughout. Although instrumental Orion is a crowning achievement for metal composition, there are others that help show exactly why Metallica deserve their place at the top of the pile, with the title track being one of their most experimental both at the time and especially looking back. Which metal band these days would completely change their tempo to have a classical - almost operatic - section in the middle, only to then reintroduce the pace and keep going? It's these little touches that wouldn't have happened without Cliff, but they also make the song what it is, allowing for Kirk to capitalise on Hetfield's vocal yell of "Fix me!" as he starts by playing a repeated pattern that just by itself separates the men from the boys. From then on out it's total insanity on the neck, as a natural harmonic is pulled and strained to the point of sounding like it's trying to break free, only for Kirk to reign it it and bust out a really cool pattern that ascends up the neck. It's one of the fastest-sounding solos he's ever put together, and still wows crowds whenever he pulls it off.