Metallica: Master Of Puppets Songs Ranked

For as much as people rag on metal for talking about nothing but Satan, Metallica never really focused on demonic lyrics to a great extent. When they wanted to offer something truly terrifying, most of it was taken from either real life or literature.

In that case, "The Thing That Should Not Be" is an ode to the work of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, as they paint the picture of the almighty monster Cthulu as he rampages from underneath the sea. The track starts off with an ominous riff before exploding into a heavy section which sets up the scene for this monstrous beast.

As the band plays on, the song shifts into quiet uneasiness for the verses, as if to ease you in before clubbing you over the head. The band continues on as the chorus builds, with Cthulu being described as if he is rising from the depths of Hell before your eyes.

This song is one of the slower tracks on the album, but the plodding tempo is more than made up for in the broad lyrical scope and the gigantic sound of the riffs. With this single track, Metallica packed the ultimate amount of menace into just 6 minutes.