The Vinyl Frontier – A Thrash Masterpiece From Metallica

Today’s pick from my collection is the perfect way to kick off the month of MAY’Tallica. I’m constantly searching for vintage 80s metal. Seems to be the hardest genre to find on vinyl. Yeah, I could go the reissue route, but what fun is that?

My cameraman, Will, caught the moment I held this copy of Master of Puppets in my hands. This album is considered by many – myself included – to be one of the greatest metal albums of all time. It’s not in pristine shape, but it’s original and it rocks!

By the way, the entire month of May I’m featuring my favorite MAY’Tallica songs. Check out my page daily for these picks.

The Vinyl Frontier is brought to you each week by Dearborn Music.

-Meltdown-

Listener's Choice: The Top 15 Metallica Songs

• Fade To Black

  This one off 1984’s Ride The Lightning is considered Metallica’s first ballad.

• For Whom the Bell Tolls

  Another listener favorite off 1984’s Ride the Lightning.

• Welcome Home.. Sanitarium

  Metallica’s second ever ballad off 1986’s Master of Puppets.

• Battery

  1986’s Master of Puppets had a lot of your favorites!

• Disposable Heroes

  Another great from 1986’s Master of Puppets.

• Seek & Destroy

  This one still holds up after 39 years! “Seek & Destroy” off 1983’s Kill ‘Em All  was on a lot of people’s top song list.

• One

  At a time when most bands on MTV had videos featuring scantily clad women, Metallica opt for a somber and dark video. This song off 1988’s …And Justice for All  hooked a lot of new fans for Metallica.

• Master of Puppets

  The title track from 1986’s Master of Puppets is an instant headbanger. Definitely up there on a lot of people’s lists.

   

• Enter Sandman

  This is THE song that introduced a whole new audience to Metallica. “Enter Sandman” off 1991’s Metallica also known as “The Black Album” put them on the metal map.

• Sad But True

  This one also off 1991’s Metallica album has been sampled, copied, and loved by you. It gets you from its instantly recognizable first chords and keeps your interest.

• Four Horsemen

  Another blistering track off 1983’s Kill ‘Em All. This one is closely connected to Dave Mustaine. “The Four Horsemen” was originally written by Dave in his former band Panic entitled “The Mechanix”. The song was reworked by Lars and James after Dave’s departure and became the version we know it today. Dave however record the song in it’s original version and released it under the original name “The Mechanix” on Megadeth’s Killing is My Business…And Business is Good. 

• Leper Messiah

  1986’s Master of Puppets definitely takes the top spot for most loved Metallica album. At least according to my unscientific survey! So many of your favorites off this album. “Leper Messiah” definitely deserves a spot on the favorite song list.

• Blackened

  How many times did you blast your ears with this one! “Blackened” starts with a fade in of guitar then kicks into high gear with Lars’ ear busting beats.

• Hit the Lights

  This is the first song off 1983’s Kill ‘Em All and the first song Metallica ever wrote! This is the one that started it all appropriately named “Hit the Lights”.

• Orion

  “Orion” is the a very special song for Metallica. It’s the 7th track off Master of Puppets, and a complex instrumental. The highlight of this song is the bass solo by the late Cliff Burton. The guys still play this song to honor Burton and have also named their festival the “Orion Festival’ as a nod to their late bassist and “his’ song.