Metallica: Master Of Puppets Songs Ranked

As with their albums prior, the intensity of each track on Master of Puppets is put on pause for an essential instrumental track. With earlier instrumentals like "Anaesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" and "The Call of Ktulu," bassist Cliff Burton was known to steal the show, and this track is no exception.

For the first time on the record, the guitars take a back seat as the bass becomes the predominant instrument throughout the track. The song starts off with thick bass chords before the song turns into your typical Metallica stomp. As the track moves further, the bass introduces a moodier section which is much more downtempo. With the bass providing the main melody, the harmony guitars are brought in to create a depressing whine before playing melodic runs that seem reminiscent of classical music.

By the track's final few minutes, Burton's showcase truly begins as he layers multiple bass parts to create his own personal symphony of bass guitar. The band then closes the song out with another incessant chugging thrash riff. Burton's time with the band was shortlived after this record as he died in a bus accident on the road. As such, "Orion" stands as a fitting epitaph to one of metal's bass legends.