Metallica: Master Of Puppets Songs Ranked
4. Battery
The album's start is not so much a bang as it is a build. "Battery" begins with subtle guitar passages before slamming into the signature James Hetfield harmony guitars. Once the initial grooves are in place, the song launches itself with a riff that was unlike anything else any thrash band had done up until that time.
As the band enters, Cliff Burton's bass part keeps the groove going while playing freely with the main riff. James' vocal passages are the closest thing to a "sing-song" vocal delivery on a Metallica record, with staccato breaks and chant-like melodic structure. Lars Ulrich's performance behind the kit adds a drive to the track's intensity, with each hit of his kick drum hitting you right in the middle of your chest.
Kirk's solo is also one for the record books. Having taken guitar lessons with Joe Satriani, Hammett's phrasing and melodic embellishments make the solo a sonic statement rather than a mindless shred-fest.
The opening of this record blows the door down with a frenetic pace that encapsulates everything that is great about thrash metal. The perfect blend of metal and punk melded into a beautifully concentrated 5 minutes.