Metallica: Master Of Puppets Songs Ranked
5. Disposable Heroes
Coming after what could be considered the album's slowjam, "Disposable Heroes" breaks down the door with a punishing opening riff before dropping you into the battlefield. This track is practically a showcase for James Hetfield, whose militant rhythm guitar goes from heavy metal palm mutes to hardcore punk thrashiness on a dime.
The lyrics offer a grim tale of one soldier's journey through war and the subsequent breaking of his psyche. The song fluctuates from the soldier's point of view and the world leaders who see him as nothing more than another body on the battle grounds. As the breakdown riff begins, the gang vocals as they shout "Back to the Front!" are some of the album's most adrenaline-pumping moments.
About midway through, Kirk Hammett's guitar solo seems to simulate the insane terror of gunfire happening around our protagonist. Once Hetfield sings "I was born for dying," all bets are off and the accompanying riff takes your head off. Across the track's 8 minutes, Metallica deliver the aural equivalent of being in a warzone with incessant intensity. More war-themed headbangers were to follow on later releases.