Metallica helped define the Thrash sound of the early 80s, along with bands like Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax among others, but it was the one that literally invented the genre. They are considered one of the "Big Four", (Megadeth, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax) although excellent groups like Testament, Exodus, Sodom are left out ... who failed to belong to that elite of thrash founders, for a reason or for other. Personally, I consider Testament equal or superior to Anthrax. Records like "The ritual" of Testament should have had the exposure, notoriety and recognition that a work of art like that deserves.
The sound of Metallica, at least until 1986, the year in which "Master of Puppets" was published, was essentially Thrash metal, with murderous guitar rides, brilliant solos executed by Hammett, aggressive, scraped, Venom voices, as opposed to the glam scene of the time, not to forget the enormous weight it had. Bands like Bon Jovi, Skid Row, Poison, among others, were the most popular in the United States in those years, so the sound not only of Metallica but of the "Big Four" became a breath of fresh air, A kick in the face live. Metallica distilled rebellion unlike Glam makeup. Metallica played jeans and shirt, wild hair, no shake. There was no makeup, it was pure rawness, pure aggressiveness, authenticity and transgression. Perhaps that authenticity and attitude, added to the excellent music of the first 5 albums, gave them the worldwide fame and recognition they knew they had. With the incredible instrumental "Orion" or the murderer riff of "Master of Puppets" among others, the album was destined to stay forever. A disc that has no waste, from beginning to end.
Despite the brilliance of the album, this album evokes a sad story, the death of Cliff Burton at the beginning of the album presentation tour.
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