The following is excerpted from THE GOLDEN AGE OF THRASH, the third volume of Badger’s HISTORY OF HEAVY METAL zine series. “Master of Puppets” – Master of Puppets (1986) Not only a defining moment for the band and for the genre, but one of the great works of 20th century chamber music—the most aesthetically focused and musically definite since, I dunno, Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune? Alright, so that’s doing a gross disservice to Maurice Ravel, Bela Bartok, Duke Ellington, Arnold Schoenberg, Steve Reich, Charles Mingus, and scores of others, but a great work of heavy metal is worth … Continue reading Maestro of Puppets: Metallica’s Place Among the Giants of 20th Century Music