1. Battery
(Hetfield/Ulrich/Hammet) [5:10] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
| Trying to move away from being
known merely as a speed metal act, Ulich once hesitantly referred to Battery as
"thrashy." Battery is obviously about battery, beating oneanother up.
Before Metallica (the album) came out, this hit was the opener to every gig. |
|
2. Master Of Puppets
(Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton/Hammett) [8:38] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
This epic song is one of the best
known Metallica songs. Its probably about drug addiction.
Since its release, Master Of Puppets has been played at every live gig,
and its every time a huge succes, its solo even reached the 51st place in the "100
Best Solos Ever Reader's Choice" in the september 1998 issue of Guitar World. James: "I think we wanted to write another song like
"Creeping Death" - with open chords carried by the vocals and a real catchy
chorus. On "Master of Puppets" [album] we started getting into the longer, more
orchestrated songs. It was more of a challenge to write a long song that didn't seem long.
The riff for that song was pretty messy - constantly moving it works good live; people
love to scream "Master!" a couple of times." |
|
3. The
Thing That Should Not Be (Hetfield/Ulrich) [6:32] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
| Another song based on horror
author H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and his classic short story "The Sadow Over
Innsmouth." The weird lyrics (hybrid children watch the sea) can be explained if you
read the novel. Its been played live frequently. |
|
4. Welcome
Home (Sanitarium)(Hetfield/Ulrich/Hammett) [6:28] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
The song which this
website is named after! James intended to sing it higher then it appeared on the album but
he said he couldn't do it. The sanitarium (a mental institution) can also be interpreted
as the (often wicked) society. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) is inspired by the movie
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest".
Kirk: The beginning of the first solo is an arpeggiated ninth chord
figure, where I basically mirror what James is playing. The secong guitar figure had some
harmonies. I used a wha-wha pedal on the third solo, which was pretty straight ahead. The
fourth solo comes out of harmonized guitars; the very last lick was based on something
really cool I saw Cliff play on guitar in the hotel one night that I knew would work
in that spot. |
|
5. Disposable Heroes
(Hetfield/Ulrich/Hammett) [8:14] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
| Disposable Heroes, the
band's acclaimed anti-war song that details the struggle of individualism against
authourity. The cover of the Master Of Puppets album probably reflects this song. |
|
6. Leper
Messiah (Hetfield/Ulrich) [5:38] |
[
-- Lyrics
-- ] |
| Leper Messiah is about so
called messiahs who make a good profit on other people's faith. Metallica's ex-guitarist,
Dave Mustaine, claimed he wrote the song's main riff and was not given credit. The matter
was settled quietly. |
|
7. Orion (Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton) [8:12]
|
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
| A favorite of the late bassist
Cliff Burton, this instrumental song that displayed his talents was played at his memorial
service in San Francisco on October 7th 1986. |
|
8. Damage, Inc.
(Hetfield/Ulrich/Burton/Hammett) [5:08] |
[ -- Lyrics -- ] |
| The last song on the albums, this
thrashy, fight song spawned a variety of t-shirts, named a few street gangs, and became
the title of a comic book. |
|
