METALLICA Master of Puppets ~ Old Composer Reaction ~The Decomposer Lounge Heavy Metal Reactions 

👉👉👉LOL!! I so suck at remembering names. I see the faces in my head but seem to not get the names aligned - yea, ugg, old man pass, please? 👴 Stoked you're digg'n the vid though..... AWWWRIGHT!!

For reference, James Hetfield (vocals, rhythm guitar) takes the first lead solo in the middle, then Kirk Hammett (lead guitar) takes the second, faster solo. Also, you mentioned about instrumentals near the end of the video. On this same album, there's an instrumental track called "Orion" that is an absolute must listen. Entire album is incredible, considered Metallica's best by many.

Now that we’re onto the Master of Puppets record, you absolutely have to listen to “Orion” - it’s a bass masterpiece.

"Push the bass!" Can't wait for him to listen to the Justice record hahah

From this point on, Metallica’s singer will be known as Curt Hammond. I don’t care, I love it. Keep the videos coming Geebz.

You MUST listen to ORION. It’s simply one of the greatest pieces of music ever recorded and the greatest bass performance as well.

This was the song that “forced” me to start playing guitar as a kid. 20+ years later, it still gives me goosebumps.

Addiction is the whole theme of the song, even how the song is arranged is symbolic of how the "drug" works - build up to the high, the high itself, the come down and then the need to have the high again. Thank you for doing this sir, I've been looking forward to this for a long time, and may I recommend (anesthesia) pulling teeth... Cliff doing a 1 take bass solo, and it is mind-blowing, I promise you wont be disappointed :)

Cliff Burton was a musical genius I say push the bass every time I hear a song from their first three albums.

At the time Master came out they were young guys then. To churn out a stunning masterpiece like this is a triumph of epic proportions. My favourite-Disposable Heroes!

Kurt Hammond the lead singer haha? :D I'm not sure James Hetfield is considered as an underrated rhythm guitar player. To the contrary, he is considered by many as one of the best rhythm guitar players in metal. Easily top 3 in my book.

After all these years, this is still the greatest metal album ever.

Yeah, there's a 16th note missing where you noticed. It's just the way they felt it, certainly not deliberate. When Michael Kamen broke it down so he could add the orchestral score for the S&M session with the San Francisco S.O., James Hetfield kind of did a spit take when he heard how many time signature changes there are actually are in the song.

James Hetfield is singer, Kirk Hammett is lead guitar. Thank you as always Brother! Awwwright!!🤙

Mater of Puppets lyrics is a major reference to the horrors of drug abuse. Hence the verse - "Needlework the way, never you betray, Life of death becoming clearer, Pain monopoly, ritual misery, Chop your breakfast on a mirror"

One of the unsung gems on this album is "The Thing That Should Not Be"

This song still gives me goosebumps after 35 years. This was the first LP I ever bought, as a 12 year old kid

The whole album is a masterpiece. My favourite is Welcome Home (Sanitarium).

Metallica is in a league of their own. I’ve been a metal head (& all around music lover) all my life, but Metallica is special. Definitely my favorite band of all time

This entire album is a masterpiece. There's a REASON every metal band's best album, if it's good enough, is referred to as their "Master of Puppets".

As a composer and a bass lover you should definitely listen to "Orion" (it`s on the same album). My favorite song from them.

Metallica is notorious for having the bass way back in the mix. It could have been so much powerful even back then.

Your comment about the calm passage in the song feeling like a dose of coffee was really interesting because the song is essentially about addiction, it feels like it was structured as story of getting those cravings, drug is the master and demands to get a dose, then the calm passage is like getting high, the scream "master! master!.. master..." fades away because you don't feel the cravings anymore and have a minutes of calm. And then the need is gradually kicking in, demanding for more. I don't know if they intentionally designed it to be this symbolic or is just me imagining things but it turned out great.

The vocalist is James Hetfield. Kirk Hammett is the other guitar player :)

Master was my first metal song I've ever heard and I fell in love with Metallica and whole genre so this is one of the most important songs for me, and obviously one of my favourites

PUSH THE BASS!!!! (Awesome reaction as always though, this was a pleasant surprise, thought you'd just skip this 😂 love your vids, especially your breakdowns and that little background to the technical stuff that you give to the music you react to! Keep up the good work 😎)

This was the first metal song I heard as a young kid. Changed my world and shaped what my musical tastes would be for the rest of my life. Still here!

The song is in reference to addiction. The “drug” or “addiction” is the master. The first solo is the puppet getting the “fix” and the second is the puppet needing another fix. Shocking to most people it’s pretty much an anti drug song.

As a composer, you should absolutely listen to the 2001 live version with the San Fran Symphony Orchestra. Arguably the best live performance of any song ever.

There’s a remaster out there with the bass punched up that makes a world of difference.

1986 was such a great year for thrash. Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood and Peace Sells... But Whose Buying? All released that year.

Pretty wild how you caught the "count drop" (whatever you want to call it) out of the gate! The feel is better than the rules!!!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻 AWWWRIGHT

We all think the bass should be cranked more on every Metallica album

It never gets old seeing people hear this for the first time after listening to probably a thousand times since I was 10. I'm 28 now and the song is still the pinnacle, never gets old man.

Your visceral, whole body reactions to those ‘off grid’ hits in the first section were classic. As a drummer, I also found it jarring for my first few hundred listens but it’s comforting now. A very effective musical device.

Please do Metallica Orion. An absolute masterpiece of instrumental metal.

I've had the pleasure of seeing this tour waaaay back in 86, shortly after Cliff Burton (bass) died.. I rank this as the best concert I've EVER seen, and I've seen a LOT of concerts..

You need to do Orion (from the same album) It's Cliff Burton's masterpiece!

Only thing better than listening to cliff play bass is watching him he was amazing

just found your channel, really enjoyed the video! im gonna say i like to think of myself as one of the biggest Metallica fans ever, I know almost everything there is to know about them, even all the little fun facts and stories, what can i say they are my favorite band of all time haha. for reference, James Hetfield plays rhythm guitar and sings, he played the slow solo in the middle section, Kirk Hammett plays lead, obviously played the crazy solo, Lars Ulrich plays drums, and now Rob Trujillo plays bass, original bassist was Ron McGovny until Cliff Burton joined, he was on the first 3 albums until he died in a tour bus accident on tour for Master of Puppets. After Cliff was Jason Newsted then he left the band in 2000, then Bob Rock filled in until 2002-03 when Rob joined. And yes there are many drug references in this song, the song is about how addiction to drugs controls your life and leads it do destruction, the puppet being the addict the master being the drug. I really enjoyed the video man, look forward to see more Metallica!

Saw these guys many times through the 80's and 90's. They are unreal live. Absolutely great, undying energy. I always felt like I had run a marathon after their shows. Welcome to the Metallica rabbit hole. I was here for the Tool rabbit hole way back when, and I'm still here. ;)

The”strings ambience” you’re referring to is a called a volume swell. You pick the string with the volume attenuator of the guitar turned to 0, and then you gradually turn it up as the string is vibrating. Metallica has used that trick quite a bit, and it’s very effective for creating a gentle atmospheric nuance at the right moment.

Such a great and important message in Master of Puppets. This song came out in my teenage years and really influenced me to stay away from hard drugs, pills etc when so many around me did not. Many paid the price of addiction, some with their lives.

It's so awesome that you are getting more into metal and the look on your face at times reminds me of when I discovered metal for the first time. I like your analysis of music and can't wait to see more from not just metal, but all types of music.

You sir, produce some awesome reaction content. There's no bias and no bullshit like other "musicians or professionals" fill their reactions with. There are so many reactors out there who are either too young and don't really listen to the music and others who don't pay any attention to the music. This might be weird but you look like Red Green and your Linkin Park reactions were spot-on.

This album was added into America's National Recording Registry as an important piece of musical history in 2016 - on the album's 30th anniversary!!!

Couldn’t stop getting eye contact with the smiling shark puppet in background 😃……the lyrics are very important in this song

That's so awesome you cheer up sick kids. Touches my heart! Those kids are so brave.

James Hetfield is the rhythm guitarist and vocalist. He is a beast on rhythm and is easily the best down picker to ever have lived. Even Mustaine and Dimebag Darrell have mentioned him as one of the greatest rhythm guitarists of all time, as have so many others in the rock and metal genre.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="524">8:44</a> that was the part that blew my mind as a kid. When the clean guitar comes in the measures go like 2/4/4/2/2/2 but as the drums and harmony guitars enter it's in 4/4/4/4. And when I learned in with guitar and played it along with the harmony guitars and the drums the rhythm of the clean guitar suddenly seemed so strange even if it stays exactly the same all the way. That gave me so much perspective on what you can actually do with arranging rhythms. As simple as 4/4. I'd suggest the instrumental song Orion from this same album. It's my favorite Metallica piece ever.

The line “chop your breakfast on a mirror” gives away the subject matter.

The weird missing rhythmic piece you’re feeling is the lost 8th note in the verse rhythm part on the double hits right after “crumbling away” and so on. I don’t even think this was a planned thing just a feel they acted on but the result is that falling forward feeling, plus the precursor then jumps up a step adding to the tension even more. It’s pretty perfect in its ever frowning intensity.

Geebz, THE master of puppets 🤙

That middle section is something else 👍 Next up…Harvester of Sorrow.

Happy new year from Oz. Keep the reactions coming

My dude ! Love your vids ! I just watched 4 or so over the last days . Subscribed ! Love your take on things

Ah yes, Kurt hammond, the forgotten Metallica vocalist..

Still my favorite 4 album collection. Kill 'em all through and justice for all have inspired me to be a musician since I was a kid Also: if you are gonna do one do fade to black. Its amazing Also also: James Hetfield is the lead singer and Kirk Hammett is the lead guitar Also also also: Cliff Burton is one of the best bassists of all time!!! PUSH THE BASS!!

86' the year I graduated Highschool, and joined the Army. Conversationally also the year my every day driver truck was made a 1986 GMC High Sierra. I love those old square body Chevys 73'-87' and own a few

Does our guy up there,the composer,know he's in a compilation Master of Puppets reaction video? They cut to him taking a sip of coffee twice,like he's watching the morning news,lol The other first timers are banging,all excited. I think it's Derek Reacts

RIP Cliff Burton. Greatest bass player of the 80s.

Saw this live at the Monsters of Rock festival in Houston in 1987. So, so glad I got to see them back then. They were the main attraction to the festival for me and my friends, but it definitely helped that Van Halen was the closer. Metallica was AMAZING live, and Master of Puppets was no exception. Funny thing is, listening to this now, it sounds a bit...messy. They seemed to lose the tempo just past half way through the song and the drums, as you mentioned, seemed to lag or be ahead just a smidge here and there. That being said, I can still enjoy the song. It's a classic and is nostalgic. Great reaction. Sorry your shoulder is still bothering you. I have the same issue, same shoulder, so I get what it's like. Aloha!

I hope to see more Metallica reactions. Seeing your first impressions to such great songs takes me back to my first listens

Classic Brilliance. Can hear every single instrument and the part they play in the masterpiece. Love this song. Thanks.

Hearing you call Hetfield Kirk Hammet made me laugh every time hahaha

The guitars were recorded using Mark2 mesa boogie amps. They add a super heavy thick sound. Very popular mid 80s and onto the 90s. Also This was the album Metallica started quad tracking the rhythm guitars. Great video as always. Keep it coming! Yes Anthrax, Among the living.

Good catch with the weird time signature measure. It's 21/32. Rick Beato has a great breakdown of this on his channel.

Long hair, tank top, and high tops with tongue flapping out sounds like an exact description of their singer/guitarist Curt Hammond during this era. You’ll find plenty of photos of him rocking this look - usually with some combination of the following accessories - guitar, skateboard, plastic cup of beer.

This song is about drug addiction. The middle part is suppose to relate to someone who is getting high and as the drug wears off the music gets heavy again which is suppose to symbolize that the person is looking to get high again now that the euphoric feeling is wearing off.

Cliff Burton was an amazing bass player. I'd go as far as to call him the jimi hendrix of bass. He just did things that noone else did. If you're into bass, check out a few of their songs that are focused on the bass, like Orion , or anesthesia - pulling teeth. You'll dig those

Happy new year you old bugger. Thanks for your insights into music I love it. See ya next year. Orion.

That little smile when the solo starts, love it!!!

"the drums were slightly ahead or behind". Yes, that is the well-known Lars Ulrich-effect. Don't let anyone tell you, he was this 'good' back then too, not just now. It just took people a horrendously produced album to truly notice("St.Anger"(2003))

Kirk is lead guitar, James is rhythm and lead vocals. Love your channel

Awesome breakdown. Thanks!

You're totally right about the drums feeling slightly fast or slow, but it's by design. In studio they basically said "what if we just cut this part a tiny bit short?" And created this kind of weird, not-quite-right feeling that honestly fits in incredibly well with the theme of addiction in the song. It' like the verses are the addict looking for a high, and the solo in the middle is the pure bliss you feel when you take that first hit. Then as the drug wears off you hit that low point where you're not high anymore and you need more to get high again, and then the 2nd solo kicks in. It's such an awesome feeling altogether.

I've been a decades long Metallica fan, and I've seen MANY reactions to this important band. I've watched many "technical experts" comment on this song and many others by the band. They all had, to my uneducated ear, many insights on the band and it's music. Maybe it's because of your technical expertise, or maybe just a true open ear, but you are the first person who actually seems to receive what they are sending. I may be projecting what I feel onto you, and I hope not, but you seem to get the emotions they are sending. I feel like I can see the emotions cross your face as they happen. I hope I'm not mistaken, because if so, you are getting exactly what they intended. If so, ENJOY! Really enjoy your videos. Please continue. As a suggestion for something a little different but staying in the same "neighborhood", try Pantera's "I'm Broken" or "5 Minutes Alone". Would love to watch your reaction to one of those.

The "strings" are done by single notes with slow volume turns on the guitar :)

Cliff Burton was the bass player on their first 3 albums. Very deeply into classical music! He used a lot of volume swells that are very cello like.

These reaction videos are so crazy. Here is a guy listening to music, and stopping here and there making comments and just grooving to that. And here I sit watching him react to this. And my dog sits watching me react to this guy react to music. Strange but everybody is entertained.

The battle for a louder bass is part of the history of Metalica. You are not alone!

Awwwright!!🤙

I was on the Haunted Rainbow Rd. IL, when we used to listen this. Try Welcome Home next!! The BEST Metallica Ever. (rip Cliff)

Happy new year!!!

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="308">5:08</a> Ah yes, Kurt Hamond, the lead singer of Metallica. Great analysis!

the Fat Man & Little Boy of riff bombs! what a track, great one to close out the year on 👍 I've always thought there was a note or two missing in some of those intro riffs, thank you for finally giving me the validation! Haha. Well, here's to a great 2022 with Geebz 🥂

I've seen it/them live 3 times over 25 years and they are ALWAYS 👏 brilliant. There is nothing like being at a Metallica concert. Simply an incomparable cathartic exchange and release of energy - and most of all FUN!

So glad you did this one! Master of Puppets is brilliant. Except for your little mix up over who the singer is this was a wonderful and genuine reaction. This song is a classic and watching you experience it for the first time was so much fun. Love you Geebz!

Fun fact. Metallica didn't care about the time changes in fact they don't to this day, they just write music in their own tempo, if they change time signatures 12 times in the chorus, so be it

The time signature has been debated endlessly and will be different depending on where you look. Most common is several measures of 4/4 and one measure of 5/8. Edit: a Google search yields the result of 21/32 🤣

Cliff was classically trained and was THE driving force of their melodic sense, chord progressions, and alternate timing.

It’s his first time listening to MoP in the morning… This has been my "driving to work" morning song for the passed 30 years…

I've noticed that the bass tended to be mixed lower in lot of music from the 80s.

Cliff Burton was a master of the bass. He would have done amazing things if he didn't pass so young :'(

One of best metal songs ever, one of best metal albums ever. Simply amazing that they was around 23 years old in that time. Every song on Master of Puppets is a masterpiece. Cheers everyone from Serbia 🍻

Great informed reaction, thank you for sharing your expertise

hearing them called a rock band as a fan is sad but I Get it lol. Metallica as a rock band and as a metal band are two different experiences it'd be cool to see you do more of their heavy tracks

Anthrax…YES!!! Thrash metal with punk influences. Among the Living (the track) off the album with the same title is a great one to start with It’s based off the Stephen King book The Stand. Also, A Skeleton in the Closet, off the same album is great. Mahalo 🤙🏻

I guess this guy follows my spotify lists :d whichever song I listen recently, he immediately makes a video about that song :d

Thanks for the bass comments. Cliff was a one of a kind and if he had lived I can only imagine the great music Metallica would have made with him