Metallica "Master Of Puppets" REACTION & ANALYSIS by Vocal Coach / Opera Singer
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- čas přidán 18. 11. 2021
- Yes, this is my very first time Metallica graces my ears. Since beginning this journey, Kirk has been staunch in keeping the most popular metal band of all time from me, until today. "Master Of Puppets" has been heralded as one of the greatest metal compositions of all time, and was the first metal recording to be entered into the US Library of Congress. Sit with me on this one, it's quite an analysis.
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Metallica for the very first time, performing "Master Of Puppets” .
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Performed by Metallica - Words and Music by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, Cliff Burton
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I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Metallica - Master Of ...
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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Mini deep-dive: compare James' voice , pre/ post The Black Album
Hurt his voice, and got professional voice coaching
You should react to they lives in 1989
Amazing!!!! Please do Nothing Else Matters live. It's a totally different version of Metallica where he is slowed down and gets more into his heart. czcams.com/video/IFm-zvjMItY/video.html
Prepare to be blown away
Great video, but off topic... I think you should check out the band Nothing More. Particularly the song "Go To War" as played acoustic live for SiriusXM. The singers way of creating vibrato is very interesting to see, and I would love to hear your thoughts on it.
I really hope that you listen to and do reactions to the studio versions, so you can hear the original sound and delivery.
I grew up in the Metallica era. I was in intermediate and high school when the first four albums were released. And all the songs are amazing.
Historical note: The reason heavy metal wasn’t on the radio during this time was because of religious communities, who unjustly labeled all heavy metal, “devil music.” Even though Metallica put their lyrics in the jacket liners. This is not a slight on religion, it is just a fact. There were several lawsuits and protests during the 80s to not just keep metal off the radio, but to ban it altogether. Some bands were even sued for causing things like suicide, murder, and others.
I also grew up listening to classical music as a kid, so I appreciate the reference. I have always called them the heavy metal version of classical music.
As for the music video, it’s actually from the movie Metallica Through The Never. Which essentially is just a long music video, so it’s completely fair to call it that.
I’m so glad you finally did a reaction to Metallica. I’ve been waiting for this for some time.
If you like a song that tells a story, try the video for "One." Not live, the actual video. It's an incredibly moving and powerful anti-war piece.
One is an epic song, and the video is just brutal. Can't imagine Mrs. Zharoff escaping from that one dry-eyed.
Johnny Got His Gun. I literally wrote my philosophy thesis on the novel/movie/ "One". It has such a deep meaning behind it.
"One" - definitely. And the long version of the video, not the shortened one.
Hell yes!!!!! Battery is another good one
@@joshuamiller1693 Interesting thing is that they didn't know about the movie until after they wrote the song. The story just happened to be exactly the same as the plot of the movie.
This will probably get buried, but the structure of the song is like this: The first part of the song is the drug calling to the user. Tempting them, while also telling them everything that's going to happen, because we are all educated about drug use, but some of us do it anyway. The interlude is a beautiful peaceful moment, meant to be the high from the drug use. The perspective then switches to the user coming down from that high realizing this is bad for him: "where's the dreams I've been after / promised only lies" followed by a more frenetic solo. After this, when the addiction begins to take control again, the drug says the hardest line to hear: "Hell is worth all that" - and the user presumably dips back into the hell of use/regret. This song, both lyrically, and compositionally, is absolutely incredible as each distinct passage relates specifically to the lyrics and the shifting of viewpoints.
The next Metallica song you need to hear is "One". It is also very structurally complex, but I would recommend away from the official video because there is a lot movie lines talking over the music. For a video it's emotionally effective but for a first listen it sort of spoils the music itself.
And that little descending lick near the end was Metallica ripping off David Bowie's song Andy Warhol, while barely changing it!!! 😎🖤
A lot of miles on this one ☝️. Glad you're still with us
@@chrismeadows4216 I've seen this brought up a few times and I have a fondness for those who do. I've come to think of it like an easter egg hidden in there for the cool kids, where the typical metal head would have no knowledge of Bowie. 😎 Especially because it's played at like quadruple the speed. Probably this was Cliff's doing, but they did make the riff quite a bit more complex. Plenty of fond (frustrating) memories of a 14 year old me learning guitar and rewinding the tape over and over again trying to hear all the notes. Anyway, it's a cool nod to Bowie from a band you wouldn't think were fans imo.
@@TroubledTurnip Kirk has said it was his idea, and I'm surprised that more people hadn't picked up on the other Bowie nuggets hidden throughout Master of Puppets. Leper Messiah was taken from the Ziggy Stardust chorus, and the concept of Disposable Heroes had come from Aladdin Sane. Metallica were deep-diving Bowie in 1985. That's one of the coolest things we could know about a band with such a hefty reputation. In the other camp, Dave Mustaine's first album purchase was ChangesOneBowie, his first greatest hits album. You could argue that Bowie had the biggest non-metal influence of anyone on thrash metal as we know it, as obscure as some of his most innovative tracks can be. 😃😄
@@chrismeadows4216 I didn't know about the other two! My dad was a big Bowie fan, but Bowie has "era's" and everyone has their favorite. So I grew up hearing certain periods more and others not at all. I love the idea of these kids in the 80s making the heaviest possible music they could, taking a stand against LA glam metal, yet being huge fans of the authentic original. Actually that's very much the Metallica ethos.
You need to listen to the studio version, not necessarily for a reaction, but for your own pleasure. James' blew his voice in his carrier, and was told he should change things, or eventually loose his ability to sing. Listen to his aggression, speed, and rage in his 20s.
Four + hour sets for over a decade nonstop will ruin anyone's voice.
@@robmathews5419 But it hasn't. But they all have to adapt yes.
Yeah the studio version is one of the best metal tracks of all time.
Came here to say this and was not disappointed. The studio recording has something raw and visceral you don't get in the later live versions.
Completely agree. She has to get the true feel of the song, not the live old-man James crowd interaction weird movie video version.
”Chop your breakfast on a mirror”. One line that explains the entire song.
Explained the entirety of the 80s.
Amen
#Facts
Exactly
Yep.
You REALLY need to listen to the original, studio/LP version of anything Metallica. James Hetfield is way different live, especially compared to the original recordings.
Agreed. There is a great live version in 85 of For Whom the Bell Tolls. They were so young and his voice was totally. different.
The original version is the only version I enjoy ... he was a different singer then and the mix was different
agreed
I was surprised how rushed this sounds. In the studio recording the vocals are much more menacing, and the whole song seems more powerful. It is still fast, but this recording seems hurried.
He preserve the voice now.
If you’re doing more Metallica, it might be interesting to do a “before and after” of Hetfield’s singing style. He blew his voice out whilst preparing to record the Black Album and went to see a vocal coach having never had lessons before. Doing a comparison of how he used to sing with how he sings now, what he’s doing differently, how he’s protecting his voice etc. would be enlightening.
^THIS
Yes plz!
In fact I like the "classic" albums up to the black one a lot. Crazy. Perhaps because James projects much raw emotion with the way he shouts out the songs. And also in "One" James also sings in a clear voice at the beginning.
As a follow-up for the modern metalheads, she could do the same thing with Matt Heafy from Trivium, who had blown his voice out doing exactly what James Hetfield had done. Maybe react to Down from the Sky at Summer Sonic 2008, then one of Trivium's new Live from The Hangar performances from 2021, like In the Court of the Dragon.
Totally agree
This will probably get buried but love how you pointed out baroque and classical music influences here. Cliff, the original bassist who was on the first three albums (Master of Puppets included) before his tragic death, was heavily inspired by classical music, specifically baroque and Bach. This love for classical music along side his love for classic rock at the time heavily influenced the band’s sound. He taught them a lot and he is still so, so missed. R.I.P Cliff Burton, one of the greatest bass players to ever grace Metal.
Comment not buried. He taught them music theory.
Oh gosh, I miss and love cliff.
I came here to R.I.P. Cliff Burton.
One of the things that made me love Metallica early on - indeed one of the things that truly set them far and wide apart - was their instrumental sections, and the entire instrumental track featured on their early albums: in fact I think Orion from this same album is one of the greatest pieces of music ever written. I went to more than a few Metallica shows (including the legendary "Where the fuck's James" show and the make-up show) wondering if Jason Newstead would ever have the temerity to play it, and I'm not sure whether or not I'm glad he didn't, to be honest.
I won't say Metallica got worse the day Cliff died, but it was never quite the same again, either.
One last comment, the live shows are good and all, and they really are super showmen who really know how to work a crowd, but the studio tracks are even better. With one exception, maybe, for "Creeping Death" off of the "Live Shit! Binge and Purge" tour - that performance was simply wild.
Cliff 'em all.
Baroque and Classical being distinct musical genres, but still legit points here.
It’s dope that you caught how classical part 1 of the solo sounded because MOP was written when Cliff Burton was around. He was a cello player turned electric bassist and he had in immense part in turning metallica into the versatile, musically brilliant band it is today. He died after MOP album in a bus accident. Rip.
Edit: it’s about drugs. Chop your breakfast on a mirror is the key line. As for the solo, part 1 is the drug high, it’s loopy and happy. And then part 2 after the bridge is the come down-the withdrawals. It’s the dopamine receptors being drained, the headache, the chills/sweats, all of that agony expressed in a guitar solo.
You haven’t felt energy until you’ve been in the crowd screaming “Master!”
Or “MOTHER F&CKER DIE!!!” during Creeping Death with Newstead on the mic.
Or "Seek and Destroy" for 10 minutes.
@@cardiac19 Agreed! Screaming "Seek and Destroy" with 35000 likeminded people....been there 9 times and it never gets old 🤘🏻
100%. The crowd gets nuts
I saw Metallica with Queensryche opening for them in 1988 and the concert didn't live up to expectations. Queensryche was great but Metallica's sound mix was atrocious and you couldn't hear anything. It sounds like a 45-minute guitar solo.
I think Elizabeth is now suffiiently immersed in the world of metal that a "highlights" video of her reaction (no analysis needed! ) to watching "This is Spinal Tap" would be great fun - maybe as a Christmas special?
Turned up to 11!
@@orc_talltower The sustain - listen to it!
Absolutely Brilliant....how much more black can it be? None., none more black
Don't stand next to the Drummer.🤘
Hey Mike. I am surprised to see you here. Pleasently surprised. :)
Metallica has told the story of my life in so many ways as a child of the 70s. I’m an old man now, and most of my life has been filled with emotional and physical trauma. I’m a disabled, divorced, veteran who’s rejected religion, lost the family I tried so hard to build, lost so many people I cherished to time and death, and I live in perpetual physical pain and fatigue. Through it all, Metallica has had a song that matched my circumstances and gave me music to tell the story of my anger, my suffering, and my heartbreak.
These days I’m an opioid addict for the pain, hooked on them by my doctors who only mean well and don’t have any other way to fix what’s broken in my body. I find this song completely relevant to what it is like to be a slave to pain killers that wear you down but are the only respite from the torture. You trade one torment for another.
Thanks for covering this song. It’s one that tells the story of people like me so that others don’t forget us and what we endure.
Music is one of the few refuges I’ve had my entire life, so much so that I play guitar myself, when I feel well enough to. It was a gift and passion given to me by my mother and my uncle, both of whom have been dead for years now. It’s one of the few things I cherish, and without it, I’d have probably committed suicide many, MANY times throughout my life.
Your channel gives me someone to vicariously share that refuge with. Thank you. I only wish you knew me, you’d be worth a chat. I have so much to say about so many songs and artists and why they matter to me.
And yes, the pills DO become your master. With them, you barely live. Without them, you don’t live at all. They OWN you.
I hear you ❤️
I know the pain of addiction. I'm an alcoholic been through some tough times because of it. The song is all about being addiction to whatever drugs you are taking that's what this song is about. They are your master
I have a similar story to yours, but I embraced love of others, religion, and my wife who cares for me. Without the support of them in y life, I would surely be dead now. I can really connect to this song in many ways. I had an alcohol problem to help with physical pain, and watched my brothers go through years of drug abuse that should have killed them. They both have recovered and are free of drugs and alcohol, and I am thankful not to lose them! This song is so masterful (as many of their songs) that I am a true fan of their art. As a side note, this is a staged performance for a movie ("The Never" I think). If you want to see a good live performance, try their performance in Moscow in 1991.
We’re in the same boat. I’m paddling yet am barely able to keep afloat.
The graves are a nod to the Master of Puppets album cover. The statue is from And Justice For All. I'm not sure when this concert was, but the coffins are probably from Death Magnetic. The lightning effects bring in Ride the Lightning. Looks like they were taking the fans on a tour of all of their work.
Master of Puppets is specifically about drug use, but it could really be talking about anything that's controlling your life.
it was from The Through The Never Movie
This is from the concert of the Trough The Never movie, filmed in 2013 i think.
While the video is taken from the through the never film, the stage and effects are from the Death Magnetic tour. I believe the film is supposed to be the Los Angeles gig, been a while since I watched it.
I saw this tour in Birmingham UK was a great night.
yes
Govt.
You have to remember that they were just KIDS when they wrote this. In the mid-1980's. When there was NOTHING like it in comparison.
Total & complete brilliance.
Absolutely true so glad you pointed that out
Except Megadeth of course. Metallica has been my favorite band since early 80s getting bootleg cassettes from San Francisco shows in Sacramento where I grew up. Saw them in 1985 - Day on the Green!
I'm in agreement with most of the comments. The studio version is much better and not as rushed feeling as this version.
I wouldn't call it "better" but that voice in that record should definitely be analyzed. It's just so different.
@@sebastiancubillos5962 well... org song recorded somewhere around 1985/1986, and then this live performance from 2012...
There's a whole lot of years, and one MASSIVE alcohol addiction in between :)
Yeah, I love this song, but the live versions are never as good as the studio version for me. I'd be curious to see Elizabeth's reaction to the classic studio version at some point, because there are some significant differences and it would be interesting to hear her thoughts.
Agreed
I do agree with that. But the "movie" this is from is actually pretty cool. The stage "accident" was unknown by the audience. Their reaction was real.
Metallica set the bar so damn high for live rock performances. you can see why they have such loyal fans.
Mettalica are good. But, Ramstien are absolutely a cut above and beyond them for a live show.
@@VixenIcaza Rammstein and Iron Maiden have far better shows than Metallica.
I'm 54 years old been listen to these boys since I was 15. I feel they are one of the greatest bands. One of the few bands that when I left there concerts I would all ways soak In sweat feeling like I got my ass kick! There is something about there first 4 or 5 albums that just get you so wound up that you just have to act like a maniac. Just a kick ass good time seeing them live. From being in the pit to giving yourself whiplash from head banging so hard. God they just move you especially when your tripping your balls off. These guys just fucken rock your ass off. I will listen to them till I die. I have gotten old with them and in my teenage years I could relate to there songs and even at 54 I still can relate. Fan for life. I wish I could meet them In person. I really do.
You were spot on when you mentioned the instrumental melody sounded almost classical. At the time the song was written, Cliff burton (their bassist at the time this was written) was introducing the band to harmonies, and classical techniques. He was inspired heavily by bach and used a lot of his techniques, in this song you can hear alot of baroque points and contrary motion! Cliff was one of the primary songwriters of this song, and one of the reasons they got as big as they did was just their technical ability and song writing capabilities. They lost a big part of themselves when cliff passed away.
Because of his sad and untimely death in a vehicle collision during the Master of Puppets tour in the mid 80's, Cliff Burton too often gets overlooked, but many of the early Metallica songs that were foundational to their ultimate mega-success were deeply influenced by Cliff. I like Robert Trunillo (current bass player) and I also liked Jason Newsted (though the band parted ways with him due to internal reasons that have never been clear to me), but it all started with Cliff and he was tremendously influential in Metallica becoming what they are today.
RIP Cliff 🤘🏻
They sold out everything. Biggest selling act. Biggest selling artist. Nobody will ever beat em.
@@Eric-bz6mo Jason also wanted to have a side project but James pretty much said no so Jason left
If you think this sounds good on guitar, you should hear it played by cellos.
Their bassist when they wrote this was Cliff Burton. He was classically trained and influenced a lot of their melodies and songwriting. Some of their other songs have classical references
To add, Cliff Burton wrote and performed a bass-centric non-vocals song that to this day, is considered as one of the Holy Grails of bass players Worldwide. He was an amazing talent.
:(
Cliff was an amazing bass player, he played it like it was lead guitar.
@@thoso1973 randy rhoads was also classically trained.
@@NWOslave True! Rhoads reportedly also told Ozzy Osbourne, that he considered switching back to playing classical music again, but alas his death put a stop to whatever future he would have shaped for himself.
This is the quintessential metal song for all time. If you could only pick one song to share with someone and explain what 80’s metal is all about it’s Master of Puppets!
Totally agree
Drugs, alcohol, toxic relationships, social media... pick your poison--this song applies. For those of us fortunate enough to find ourselves in our teenage years during this album's release, and also metal-heads this song was an Anthem.
There's no other addiction that explains 'chop your breakfast on a mirror. '
While the lyrical imagery is primarily cocaine the overarching theme, with history in general included, is addiction in general.
Yup.
The one tour they did, they had fans request their top 3 songs they wanted to hear.
Overwhelmingly, Master Of Puppets was chosen as #1, nothing else was even close. 🔥💯✊️
On the studio version, James actually sings both the call and response parts of "Master". The audience has learned to sing along.
The studio version is required for true appreciation of this one. It's a musical masterpiece!
I would agree, though she is seeing what they sound like now. The original song would give a better idea of the song itself while also giving a better idea of how much they have grown while seeing the concert version gives an better idea of the performance in total. I seen them like 5 time at the L.A. Coliseum when i was in my teens, that was some of the best times I ever had!
That or S&M version from 99
@@mikek9297 That's my favorite version of it
@@mikek9297 oh i love sie s & M Version too , more epic
Completely agree
I have been listening to this song since I was 9 and I’m now a 43 year old recovering addict and I never realized this song was about addiction… It totally takes on a new level of meaning for me now. Drugs were my master for 16 years… I’ve now been clean for 13.
Congrats on being clean!
Thank you!
That's something to be completely proud about, and I hope its' anniversary will always be one of celebration. 🙂
James Hettfield could be the lead guitarist for 95% of the rock bands out there. And he'd be an upgrade to every one of them.
His guitar playing is so completely underrated, but guitar players recognize his skill.
Absolutely! He's a lead guitar player masquerading as a rhythm guitar player.
I’ve always said James’ guitar playing is the secret ingredient of Metallica
James is a monster rhythm guitarist, no 2 ways about it. Maybe the best. The down picking, palm muting and he sings 😂🤘
In the studio version the chorus has "Master!" yelled two times, on concerts James always give the second "Master!" to public, it is such a powerful moment when you are there and you feel like you are the part of the song. It is a pure masterpiece, from the beginning till the end, Metallica deserves every praise for this song.
My favorite part of master is just before the interlude in the demo version late June version
yep this album my jam when i went to work
back when they were not popular lol
Yes!!!
Agree🎉🎉🎉
- This video is part of a 'movie' Metallica made. The footage of the riots, car crash, etc. are part of the movie's story.
- The crosses on the stage are also referencing the cover of the Master of Puppets album. The statue crumbling is also a reference to the And Justice for All album. They also had an actual statue crumbling in the late 80s live shows touring the AJFA album
- Metallica's first bassist, Cliff Burton (RIP), was a fan of classical music and a big influence on Metallica's early writing. You'll hear a lot of classical influences in Metallica's second and third albums.
For a first reaction to the song, I think the movie imagery was a little distracting to the song message
An electric chair from Ride The Lightning is also there
@@chrisriley8749 I agree with that. Besides the slightly references, the movie hás another context.
Yep - my first Metallica gig was on the AJFA tour. It's the Statue of Liberty that crumbles, of course. Interesting that Metallica were already concerned about threats to liberty in the late 80s! Perhaps an influence of thrash's early anarchist tendencies.
++
Watching this, 37 years later, less than 1km from where the last concert with Cliff was still makes me teary eyed
I *think* Metallica still holds the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first and only musical act to play on all 7 continents. So cool. I've been blessed to see them live twice. So good.
You nailed it about the call-response part. On the recorded song, he says "master, master" but live he gives the crowd the 2nd one.
I seen them live 2013 but we are an island NZ
@@krystalm4590 My sister did a summer camp exchange program and went to NZ for several weeks when she was in high school. She said it was the most beautiful place she's ever been.
21 times! I’ll go every single time they come. I’ll be old and decrepit and still banging my head to their tunes!
I was a Metallica roadie for one night in Pensacola FL during the St. Anger tour, November 9th,2004,working for Labor Ready but they gave us tour shirts that said "Madly In Anger with the local crew"‼️ Wound up losing the shirt in a car 🔥😭‼️
Because this needs to be said again. Their song One is a must... the official video, it's intense.
Thumbs up to Metallica - "One" (studio version), with official music video. It has close-ups of James' singing. He was in his 20s in that performance (less than half the age he was in this Master of Puppets performance), and his voice back then had a constant, intentional inclusion of "fry" in it (as I'm sure Elizabeth would note in comparison to his later singing style).
James Hetfield is a worldwide treasure. The man IS heavy metal. The stance, the voice, the showmanship, the laugh at the end of most choruses in all live performances, riff master, list goes on and on
When he addresses the crowd during their shows, the affection he has for their fans is so genuine that it's hard not to get choked up. A world where Metallica can't properly tour anymore is a darker, sadder world.
Treasure indeed.
METALLICA is Heavy Metal. James is great, but Metallica made it because of their music. Metallica are a brilliant Band with a great singer. Want to hear a brilliant vocalist? Matt Corby - Brother.
The crosses are from the cover art for this album “ Master of Puppets” . This is from a movie titled “through the Never” a young roadie named Trip is retrieving cargo to deliver to Metallica at the arena and he’s met with obstacles at every turn.
I think you are an incredible song analyser. To be knowledgeable of one's music specialty is hard enough, but to be willing to go beyond what you have learned and understand is something that you have not been trained at, that itself is worth everyone's kudos. Really great work!
They're great live, but the original studio version with lyrics is the best way to listen to it. No distraction from the music and lyrics that way. You'll hear all the great riffs, bridges and fills you're missing right now. It's about 20 BPM slower as well, the added speed is for the live performance, to make it even more brutal.
Always love watching people experience songs I've heard hundreds, if not thousands of times, to be reminded of what my first time hearing it was like.
Totally agree with you and everyone else who has said that she needs to listen to the original; it's practically a different song. And to add my two cents, that extra speed on the song just makes it feel to me like they're phoning it in, although a very technically masterful example of phoning it in...
Yeah and also because James can't sustain those notes for that long anymore, lol
I disagree. I love the original but for me, nothing compares to Metallica doing this live. James' interaction with the audience, the call and response, and the little James-isms thrown in there like the "Yeah's" really add to the whole experience of the song. Metallica for me are like Iron Maiden, the albums sound great, but you have to listen to them live to fully experience them. Like Iron Maiden, Metallica has some many hooks, melodies, and harmonies, which is why it works so well live.
Yep , agreed
James Hetfield is one of the greatest rhythm guitarists, often overlooked. He's a downpicking (insanely fast, no upstrokes, generally) master.
James Hetfield is definitely not overlooked in the slightest, he is one of the most analyzed and influential guitarists of all time.
I remember an interview with Dave Mustain where he said James was the best rhythm guitar player in the world.
He's not doing much if any alternate picking, unless it's songs faster than this, but he has toned the downstrokes down quite a bit, I bet his wrist is getting the better of him nowadays.
Down picking was used by Jimmie Page in led Zeppelin on certain songs and the Johnny Ramone (Cummings) used it exclusively in the Ramones citing Page as his inspiration for it.
@@johnbaker6125 Obviously. Down-picking has been used since picking notes was a thing. The original comment stated, that James is a master of the technique. Which he is.
"Master" with a return of "master" by the crowd kind of gives a dominating vibe. Like, crowd says "yes", he slaps them and says "yes... master." and they respond quickly with "I'm sorry master I forgot the honorific master" type vibe. Getting thousands of people to call you master, making *them* the puppets.
20:00 As a recovering alcoholic, to me this scene depicts the realization of just how overwhelmed you've become, the kid walks out and sees it's not just another day. He realizes he's caught between an angry mob and a police force with nowhere to go. Reality is suddenly flipped on it's head and things are much darker than you originally thought. A decision must be made right this second that very well could mean life or death. Great song, Great analysis.
A cool idea, but this video is from a movie so the mob was real. Lol also congrats on recovery. Addiction is a nasty thing
Like many commenters, the original studio recording or the '89 Seattle concert would have been better to breakdown and analyze.
We're just happy you enjoyed the song.
James' voice has changed dramatically over the course of his career. It would be extremely interesting to hear your opinions on each stage of Metallica's career and give us insights into how he sings the way he does and why and how his voice evolved so much over the years.
James said he took lessons to learn how to sing properly to do Nothing Else Matters. He said it was the first song he ever wanted to sing, not shout. It seems to me ever since then his voice became much more clean, especially live, and he tends to use the "twang" Elizabeth points out a lot more for power rather than just pure force like he used to. Probably this is why he's still able to continue singing at his age. No doubt his 80s vocal style was iconic though and the old songs don't sound quite right without it.
@@TroubledTurnip He lost his voice recording the black album that's why he needed voice lessons so he could sing again
@@boscotheman82 I'm sure I heard him say on Howard Stern he was sick of shouting and wanted to sing properly on Nothing Else Matters. It could be "sick of shouting" was his response to hurting his voice like you said. One way or the other, Nothing Else Matters was the product of the vocal lessons and I think it changed how he's sang ever since. Maybe not as powerful as in the 80s, but definitely healthier and I'm glad he's still able to perform at his age 🙂
He needed lesson's and to change his approach. If he kept singing like he did in the 80s his voice would be shot today.
Oh man… when i saw them in 2000, dude’s voice sounded rough. I mean… ROUGH! Then at the AC Orion fest (2012?) he sounded amazing. More youthful and powerful.
It's a great mix of concert tour combined with like a 3D movie, and once, during the concert, The Statue of Liberty from " Justice for all" just crashed down. And they put it in a movie. Just amazing!
I saw them in about 1996, and their whole stage blew apart in their last few songs. So yeah, they have effects going on all around them. It was epic.
I respect James so much. He never wanted to sing or really knew how. But he stepped up when they needed it and became an iconic frontman. Legend
it's funny. there's an old demo where they perfomred with just james on vocals and Dave Mustaine on guitar. i think they played a couple gigs like that as well
An iconic frontman roundly mocked for his singing during the second half of his career. This version is embarassing honestly its so bad.
Have you heard him last 6-7 years?
@@fanatic26 well, and then there's Axel Rose
@@fanatic26 really? Roundly mocked? He changed his singing on the Black Album because he near enough broke his voicebox. So yeah he went to classes and learned how to do it more proper and in a way that doesn’t hurt him. Singing one song at home is one thing. Metallica are in essence still an arena band and tour relentlessly.
Metallica is everything. I am 47 yearold, father of a 22 year old daughter, senior executive in international company. Still, I listen and play Metallica’s songs when I am upset, when I am happy, when I am stressed, when I am relaxed etc…. Metallica is big part of my life and stay with me until I die
Amen to that. I’m 17 and Metallica is everything to me
Same. I'm a 40 yo Metalhead and a father of a 3 yo son who knows the lyrics of Master of puppets by heart and his native language is Croatian not English😁🤘🏻 This song is a pure beast
Manly, yes, but moms like it, too!
Grew up with Metallica as my favourite band and still pull up their songs on the regular.
My girls may like Taylor Swift, but they can still sing along with the black album.
Cool dad!!!🤘
EXACTLY. Same. 18 and 23 year daughters. We all saw them before Covid in Louisville. My band since 86.
This live performance is very reminiscint of the "Reload" tour I saw back in '96-7. The stage was in the center of the floor in Key Arena in Seattle. It was a phenomenal performance by the masters of their genre. Props DID disintegrate, light towers DID explode and burst into flames. Pyrotechnics. Mosh pit was the entire floor area. It was glorious!
These gentlemen are masters of their trade. Each is serious about their art, and their performance of their art. The audience is knowledgeable, as demonstrated by their participation. Just a great all-around experience and a great memory.
I've been watching these boys since day one. Seen this tour twice at 2 different arenas. I'm 54 years old and I still get goose bumps every time I hear this song. One of the great ones. Also they did this song a little different when they were touring supporting the album. Your listen to them at a lot older age. Still rocks just a little different.
Please just go and listen to the original recorded version of Master of Puppets on your own if you'd like to be actually blown away because it's a much different song than that new live version that you were listening to, it's true after 30 years of screaming what you were hearing is old man James Hetfield which is still amazing but please go and listen to him in his prime, thank you for your videos! You are amazing!
I couldn't agree more. What she's listening to here isn't what Master of Puppets is supposed to be. The original recorded album version is what the song is, and conveys every emotion necessary.
@@jaalenn1 Agreed!
100% agree…. Listen to the Master of Puppets album. So much more raw and authentic.
Mhm I agree but not completely. I love both versions and I think it is amazing that they changed it up a little bit in this new version.
Disagree they all got better as do all musicians with learned techniques and practice . A recorded version is always better than live . He was NOT old when this video was released .
1) yes this was recorded over multiple shows
2) yes thats a real tesla coil and pyrotechnics (they are known for this at shows)
3) the falling boulders are foam
4) all these live performances are post-mixed
5) this was part of an IMAX movie/concert film “Through The Never”
-the visual fx were saved for the cinematic parts but their shows are that epic usually!
Are the clips with Dane DeHaan from a movie, or are they specifically made for "Through the never"?
@@geiroveeilertsen7112 As far as I know they were filmed specifically for it.
@@geiroveeilertsen7112 yes this film was specifically produced to go with the Metallica show.
@@geiroveeilertsen7112 The answer to this is...yes. It's a movie, that's called "Through The Never." Metallica crafted the story and built it around the the concert. It's all intertwined.
I LOVE watching you react to stuff that's been so integral in my life for so long and feeling it again through your interactions. 🥰
Metallica is my favorite band of all time. I was emotional when I was finally fortunate enough to see them in concert. Wathcing you break down the vocals and music have been entoxicating. I have watching all of your Metallica videos in one sitting, lol. You have a new subscriber.
Being fun to look at is probably the kindest thing anyone has said about Lars in about thirty years 😂
Only douche elitists have bad things to say about him. He is the perfect drummer for the band
LMAO! You're probably right.... Although seeing him nearly 30 yrs ago was a WILD experience
@@julien2231 Yea that is not true at all. While the criticism is especially harsh because he comes across as a rich elitest asshole in ever interview hes ever done, some of us with a musical ear have much more legit gripes. He makes mistakes, loses time, and does all sorts of things that expose him as an uncaring middle of the road drummer live. Im not even a drummer and I can catch mistakes in a large number of his performances, ESPECIALLY during the Load era where he was trying to distance himself from the thrash metal.
Lets not even talk about the St. Anger snare sound.....
@@fanatic26 lars is more of a businessman than a drummer. without him, they probably wouldn't be as famous as they are today
@@Metallicazor Ive followed their whole career im well aware. Hes also the one responsible for tarnishing their image with his business acumen. Im sure the Napster debacle won em a ton of fans lol
James is no Dio or Halford, and even in Metallica’s catalog this probably isn’t the best choice for a vocal analysis, but I’m so glad this was her first Metallica song.
There is no better introduction to the band than Master.
I would honestly give anything to be able to listen to this song and even the entire album for the first time again. When I first heard the interlude instrumental part I felt like I was ascending into outer space. Truly a wonderful one-of-a-kind experience to hear such a masterpiece for the first time.
@@mdnblues that’s what I love about reaction channels. It’s like getting that dopamine again through someone else. Many of them bring me to tears. Have you seen Alex Hefner? Dude went full on metal head from hip hop because of Metallica. Awesome channel.
first time i heard this in 2010 i had never heard heavy metal before (I'd stuck with radio rock for the most part) this is still one of the greatest songs I have ever heard and it's a regular play on workout playlist
I don't know. The Thing That Should Not Be is a pretty good introduction as well, especially the famous and terrifying live Seattle version.
@@muslimmetalman welcome man! Its never too late and all are welcome in the Church of METAL! I'm 43 and a Metalhead and musician since 1989!
I've been a fan since they played the San Francisco and Berkeley scene when Dave Mustain and Cliff Burton were still in the band. Awesome band and great choice of song.
As for the video, this includes scenes from “Metallica: Through The Never,” a live concert/action-thriller movie. Each set piece (the gravestones, the gas canister, etc.) are all references to previous bodies of work! Check it out, it’s an awesome look at Metallica’s work!
"I am really impressed by the lyrics." Just know, the lyrics and music were created by a 22 year-old. Pretty impressive to create one of the most iconic hard rock songs of all time at such a young age.
Not to nitpick but rock and metal are two seperate genres and in 1986 when Master of Puppets dropped, Metallica were the KINGS of METAL.
@@jeffbudd7678 are* not just were
@@jeffbudd7678 nobody cares, great band nevertheless :)
@@Erwin0912 I care otherwise I wouldn't have said anything.
While the song's video was of great production quality, I don't like this version for song quality. I think a lot of the video got in the way of the audio diminishing aspects of the song.
Once upon a time, James would always play and sing in this weird, hunched over, posture. He also didn't have much vocal training. Later on, his voice told him to get some actual help with singing by quitting on him. There is much more vocal nuance and technique in this performance as compared to the 1986 album version. He's standing straighter now as well. The lady justice statue is a callback to the "And Justice For All" album cover and the crosses are a callback to the cover of the "Master Of Puppets" album. The Lightning is a callback to the "Ride The Lightning" album and the horseman calls back to the most memorable song on their first album. "Kill 'em All." Also, and lyrics for Master of Puppets were written by a 22 year old with a budding alcohol problem.
Can someone please pin this comment? I've been listening to Metallica for ages, and I totally missed all these little "Easter eggs" throughout the stage... Nice!
@@frankgile1996 If I'm not mistaken, there is a coffin in the video that calls back to "Death Magnetic" too
Also, the lyric "chop your breakfast on a mirror" is an overt reference to cocaine addiction.
The four horsemen??? You mean mechanix 😂 (it’s just a joke I love Metallica too🤘)
@@sambitbasak765 Indeed it was originally Mechanix! From Dave Mustaine's band Panic. Mustaine was a damn good songwriter in his heyday. Too bad his alcohol/drug problem was far more than just budding at the time. I sometimes wonder what Metallica would have been like if Dave had stayed in the lineup and away from the Chemical R&D. It was cool to see him on stage with Metallica on their 30 year tour in 2011.
The lightning is actually a really advanced LED system so yes it’s actually there. Metallic’s live shows are insane
I've loved watching you videos on Phil Collins and Metallica tonight. I've loved these songs for years, but hearing an expert analysis of why they are so great has made me appreciate them so much more. I also love how visceral you feel the sounds as it reminds me of how much these songs drive my emotions.
Thanks for the great video (which I realise makes me sound old as video is no longer a thing)
As James gets older, his voice has worn. They've done live shows since 84/85 and James has always sang. If you want peak James, listen to their Seattle 89 show, Mexico show from 93' or S&M from 99'. S&M was preformed with a 100 person orchestra.
Yes, James' and Metallica's voyage has been an intricate one. He had issues with his voice and he had to go through an arduous process to regain it., involving surgery and lessons on how to sing without utterly destroying his chords. I think I got a rough idea about what made him change his singing style, be it self preservation, technique, or a desire to keep things fresh, and I respect that. I would go see another Metallica concert any day they are in town. However, in my humble opinion, nothing can beat the raw power of their original recordings. Maybe it's because that's what I grew up with, and it became so ingrained in my memories about what I love about the band, and my past youth in general. Also, I think Elizabeth should really get into some Dream Theater, I think it would blow her mind to find out that they once did the entire Master of Puppets album as an encore.
Period point blank...up until the Black Album, James didn't "sing" in the traditional sense. When the black album came along, and the subsequent tour, James took singing lessons....and warmed up via the lessons by doing his exercises....with his feet in a bucket of dirt. The bucket literally said "James' dirt"
James is a better singer today than he was in 1981. He has had 30 or so years of training plus 40 or so years of experience.
Prague 2008 was one of the best vocaly for James. Although the sound technitian did a bit of a bad job giving a bit too much to bass sound the band was playing their best songs in FULL versions (like how many times you heard Fade to black with the outro solo all the way to the end live?). Also you could tell they have been finishing up the recording of a new album that time (Death Magnetic) so the instruments and vocals were so precise. No sloppy job on stage, not a bit. That was one hell of a concert.
Seattle '89 is the top of Hetfields voice. They have been playing since 1981 not 1984.
This song has 3 separate sections. The first section is about chasing that fix. The first 2 verses up to the slower section. The slower section symbolizes once you've gotten that fix. The melody you liked could be seen as "the high." Then there's the come down. This goes through the guitar solo. Then you come full circle, right back where you started.
As has been said you should check out the studio recording (or live in Seattle, '89). This version was released as a concert/movie hybrid and in my opinion the "movie sequences" take away from the performance on stage.
What Josh said
Agreed, this wouldn’t be my first choice either. Studio first on this one would prob be best. The live in Russia is pretty crazy tho too, hugest crowd!
Exactly what Josh said.
I love the scene in the middel, gives so many more people the chance to be a bit closer to the band, and they move around the scene, so everyone attending gets a little bit of each 🤍💙
One thing that strikes me about the lyrics is that, if you pay attention, James shifts personas between being the Master and being the Puppet. He hits it from both directions, and pulls it off like a boss! EDIT: And at the very end he seems to merge the two personas, almost as if he had surrendered to the Master and accepted his fate, at the cost of his own sanity.
This is such an eye-opening take! Thank you! It’s rare the comments on this type of videos teach you something or have this much insight. Bravo
@@carriehesketh3555 Weirdly, it just came to me! I suppose my own experience with addiction helped with insight. Ninnyevent, I appreciate the compliment!
@@BenihanaDarkslide You are very welcome!
The Seattle '89 concert is the gold standard for Metallica live performances. They were firing on all cylinders.
100% Agreed
As Kirk has said, they took some special vitamins for the 89 Seattle concert!!!
czcams.com/video/cEPtV2Gob1E/video.html
Hell yes. I dubbed the audio onto a cassette back then and played it to DEATH in my car. Great show.
That 1991 Moscow concert tho....
I looking forward for this, but shame it's not Seattle 89 version.
If anything from Seattle 89 is to be analysed it's gotta be either Blackened or Battery. Not for vocal virtuosity, or delicately timed musicianship, but for PURE, UNADULTERATED ENERGY
@@JoboTheBestEU Agreed, Creeping Death would be another great choice
Or the album version.
To be fair she probably picked this as it's the "official video"
Seattle '89 is the epitome of what an epic concert is....any track off that concert for sure. The Thing That Should Not Be...was phenomenal.
I've listened to this song for decades, and you you brought a new insight to me. Thank you.
Lightning represents the bands second album Ride the Lightning and the crumbling statue of Justice is from their album …And Justice For All and yes it crumbles on stage
Master of puppets is the best album ever. Over 35 years later it still brings joy to my ears like it did when I was 15.
This album is a incredible ride never gets old
You must check their concert in Seattle, 1989... Mind blowing.
The statue named "Doris" did crumble live during the song And Justice For All... in Quebec on both filming nights. This version of Doris was composed of foam puzzle pieces that were held together by the suction of air. When the crew shut off the air they had to add a shaking mechanism to cause it to crumble. SOOO many stories for the other effects on stage for this film. The idea was to bring back all stage spectacles from their career into one performance. The lightning used was very dangerous and very real. It destroyed a few pieces of electronic equipment. Wild!
The live footage was filmed in Vancouver and Edmonton. Not Quebec.
I went to a Metallica show in 2018. Such an amazing show. They really bring the crowd into their performance. James really loves to feed off the energy of the crowd.
James blew his voice out during the Black Album period, suffering damage during the "So What" (b-side cover) session in particular. He was just pushing himself (and others were pushing him) too hard, but to his credit, he then sought help from a vocal coach. His voice has never quite recoverd, and they now tune down live (as they do in this performance) to accommodate. He does his best.
As other have said, the tour where they were just driven by demons (no other way to put it) was the Justice Tour (Seattle 89 is an official recording). Years of non stop touring had culminated in a time period where they were at their peak on all levels, including confidence, technical ability, energy and youth.
He's much more technical now and I can respect the effort. Huge old school Metallica fan but what he's managed to come back from and how well he actually sings now is very impressive
Another thing of note, if you listen to interviews around the time they released Metallica (the Black Album), until they recorded that album James had no idea he could actually sing - it was a revelation to him at the time that he actually had some talent at vocals, and started to take it a lot more seriously. It’s pretty obvious he had talent long before that, but it had just never occurred to him that he was actually good at it.
There is a reason this entire album is in the National Recording Archives. (The only metal album to date, btw). Now that you've entered the Metallica kingdom (We welcome you) there are some songs of theirs that are really worth listening.
You had mentioned the baroque sound in the interlude. Cliff Burton was their bassist who started with baroque music and introduced it to the rest of the band. You can really hear his influence on the first 3 albums.
Fade to Black ; The Thing That Should not Be (Live - Seattle '89) ; Creeping Death ; One ; Unforgiven ; Outlaw Torn ; Fixxxer
Metallica is the master of the change up. You will hear a very nice melodic sound, and then get hammered with a fast pace in your face riff.
I love every song from the first four albums. I think Welcome Home (Sanitarium) is an underrated song. It’s hauntingly melodic, beautifully composed, and perfectly balanced for its dark, depressive theme.
Fade to black would be a natural song for reaction, that or One live
I love Sanitarium and Fade to Black. They put a lot of feeling into songs and it makes you feel like you're not alone, others feel the same way at times in their lives. Fade To Black is definitely one of their best and a masterpiece.
When I saw them back in their early days, the crowd used to go wild when they did Leper Messiah too. It's got a groovy kind of beat and makes you have to dance around and act like a fool. In the best possible way. 😂 I love watching people really get into the music at live shows.
This song is made to feel like an addict. The first part as aggressive as a search for the fix, the melodic beautiful part Is the high, and then the build back to normalcy and needing more
I have seen Metallica 4 times and each time they didn't disappoint! On a side note my guitar player was their pilot from 1993 to 1995 and shared a lot about them as people and James after performance routine, it takes a lot out of him and does a lot to take care of his voice. He said they are very friendly group, maybe because he had their life in his hands as the pilot lol but James did a real winde down session. They are the pentacle of a great working band! 🤘😎🤘
James is one of, if not the best rhythm guitarist in metal. Hammett gets a lot of love for his lead work, and deservingly so, but Hetfield's rhythm work is equally impressive.
All down picking it's incredible
Absolutely the best rhythm guitarist in metal. The man makes it look exceptionally easy.
I actually think hammets rhythm playing gets overlooked too
@@tomsmith184 You're completely right. People actually shit on Kirk because he isn't as technical as other metal guitarists. HOWEVER, he manages to keep up perfectly with James (who is definitely in the top 5 metal rhythm guitarists of all time) when it comes to rhythm playing, and I think that sadly gets overlooked.
@@webcrawler2007 Jon Schaffer #1, James #2
It is interesting you mention the classical influence in their music - their S&M concerts feature an orchestra!
Definitely worth checking out, especially that rendition of "The Unforgiven III" IMO.
Watching James sing Unforgiven III with just the orchestra was incredible. From a purely technical perspective you can certainly find flaws in his singing, but he brought so much raw emotion and vulnerability to that performance, it was just amazing. Especially considering what he must've been going through at the time, since he went back to rehab not long after S&M2.
For me its "Wherever I may roam" though the unforgiven is great ... hell, there's not a song on there that isn't awesomely good.
Outlaw Torn on both S&Ms is a masterpiece
Nooooo no no the s&m 2 version is not as good and Lars is so off. “Bleeding Me” from the original one is the one she needs to see first!
i just watched youre "master of puppets" video. ive listened to metalica for over 30 years and never got the depth you did. thank you for that
Love your REACTIONS!!! So honest and just natural.
Thanks for your videos.
Love from India!
You're right to mention the baroque influence of the middle section. You can hear that all over their early albums. Their first bassist, Cliff Burton, was a big fan of Bach and other classical. He taught them how to write guitar harmonies. If you want to hear an even more classically influenced song, I'd check out "Orion." But maybe don't do it for this channel, since it's an entirely instrumental song. Or do!
Cliff was the man R.I.P.
I always heard a kind of eastern European folk element in that middle section (of "Master..." I mean, not "Orion". Even though "Orion" has a folky middle section, too). But then, a lot of classical composers "borrowed" melodies from folk songs.
Also, a lot of the early lyrics were influenced by Dave mustaine even after he was kicked out of Metallica.
When the classical influence was mentioned, I thought to myself, she's talking to you, Cliff.
Do!
Everyone is worthy of listening to Metallica. That's part of what makes them great.
And Master of Puppets is an amazing place to start.
The cool thing about Metallica is that everyone is worthy of hearing their music. Metal has no boundaries.
I always assumed that the music suddenly getting slower and more melodic, then slowly ramping back up was symbolic of the previous lyrics. Where someone is "getting their fix". Everything is quieter, and numbed, then the tension starts to creep back in as they come down from the high.
Imagine being 16 and hearing this as new music in the early 80's. Mindblowing.
Agreed, it was!
I remember being in high school and taking off school the entire day when this album came out. Mind blowing to put it lightly.
This REALLY should have been done with the album version.
I was born in '72, so i was lucky to experience Metallica from the beginning! people hate on them because they changed throughout the years, but to me they keep evolving as they get older. I was able to see them one time while in college, then I won two tickets to a concert, brought my wife, she wasn't a Metallica fan, but after the concert she was. We drove 400 miles to see them again, and it was great as usual! You break down the songs perfectly, there is a lot of thought that goes into each song.
The crosses are from the album cover, and the cut-scenes are from a new Netflix show(forgot the name, but popular) that Metallica was recently associated with. They just spliced in scenes from the show into a recent live performance. Although even in there older years they still sound excellent, this is an older song, and hearing a live version from 90's or soon after release would do it real justice. Also another great to check out, and is my fav Metallica song, "for whom the bell tolls".
Actually the whole thing is pieced together from the Metallica movie "Through The Never". There's a video with "Enter Sandman" and "Hit The Lights" from the same movie. Google it and you'll see.
It'd be interesting to hear what you think of the original recording (before he blew his voice out on the road and had to go through vocal rehab and take singing lessons).
Or the demo version
I didn't know he had vocal lessons, or that he "blew his voice out", but I suspected the vocal lessons. Hence my other comment about him sounding less authentic.
@@corrywhatever3516 Oh Yeah. His poor technique was damaging enough but what really did his larynx in was getting caught in a pyrotechnic blast. If scorching your throat on the fumes of your own burning flesh on stage isn't metal, what even is?
A few times he blew his voice.
@@MichaelBottomshe blew his voice singing more than once.
As already noted by so many folks in the comments, this is "old man" James, and while I'm still a huge fan - his voice has grown so much with his age as well, and this song sounds so much better with the voice he had when it was originally recorded. Take a listen to the original, live or not - the sound is much different, even more powerful.
Indeed. The original Master of Puppets song was released in 1986 (the same year that Elizabeth Zharoff was born). James Hetfield has been singing this song for 36 years. Thirty six years! So at this point in his music career, he's just playing with it - letting the audience sing parts of it (because any Metallica concert attendee will now every lyric of every song on their rotation, of course!), intermixing normal vocals and growls, singing in different tempos and speeds than the original (sometimes faster, sometimes slower). He almost HAS to do this, because otherwise he will get bored and start messing it up. I don't mind this updated version of the song, but the original is where it's at for me if I was trying to analyze it. I do understand why Elizabeth uses the live versions for analysis, though, as she can see much more of the techniques being used by the singer/s.
While I do agree, that there's a grit and maturity in it now, that he didn't have before, that I like. But I actually don't like this version, the tempo is way too fast and it feels too rushed and automatic. And to be fair, as it is some of their earlier stuff, they probably do it on automatic and don't think about it, or even noticed it's changed. But there's a haunting aspect to this song, a slow burn that can only be captured by the original tempo/studio album version. I'd like to see modern James voice, with the same slower tempo and feel the album version had. Something gets lost here.
Unpopular opinion: best version of Master is the one from S&M
@@MrBilld75 I think one of the biggest things missing for me is the original Lars drumming. James has lost something throughout the time he’s been performing, but man has Lars really fallen off to me. Back in his prime I feel like the dude was nuts on the drums. Now, he’s behind on some of his notes, ahead on his notes, and playing stuff just a bit different then the way it was recorded, and generally, I feel like it isn’t for the better
@@vyyo5025 Yeah, Lars in his prime was much better. About the only stuff I didn't like album wise/recording wise was Justice. You can tell the drummer made the album and the reason it sound like trash, is purely because of Lars. Like where is Newstead's bass?! Then he had the nerve to come back 20 years later on the producer? Asking "what's wrong with Justice, it sound like hell?!" The producer was not happy and straight up told him "that was all you Lars, don't you dare try and pin that on me. Justice sounds like that because you repeatedly told me to turn down the bass!" So yeah, seems he's getting Alzheimer's in his old age, lol.
Awesome job! Metallica is a very complex band! Great analysis, we all appreciate your work so much!
1st off,I ran across you yesterday and I am so appreciative for your open mind and seeming love of some amazing metal... thank you! I was on tour with them when this movie was filmed and that almost no one saw because of the terrible plot. I did see and answer that someone posted that explains the idea of this film. I wish they had just released the concert version because there was a lot of technical miracles that made the live show so intense.
This song is truly a lyrical and instrumental masterpiece.
Not without Cliffs bass
It is but I feel like it's greatest strength is the actual composition or arrangement
One of Cliff's many contributions to this album
This version is from the movie "Metallica: Through the Never", which is a concert/movie that tells a SUPER vague story. Actual concert with filmed movie scenes. Anyway, the crosses during the song are a reference to the original "Master of Puppets" album cover, which is a series of crosses in a graveyard on a hill. This is one of the greatest songs ever made, but Hetfield's voice has changed drastically since the original release.
I watched it at the movies. Super vague is a pretty good description of the ‘story’ line.
They have made better music videos to say the least. This one deserves a better ONE
It's not a super vague story it's all on homage to their original bass player who died in a van crash (if memory serves me well). The bag the kid is trying to return was his.
I still like his vocals tbh
@@gcm747 it was a pretty good concert registration video and the imax screen and sound system made it a lot better than just listening on headphones.
Just… don’t think too hard about the “plot”.
There was a interview with James about one time they played the song and the audience started singing the song back in the '80 it blew him away.
Great capture of the band. Love the breakdown. Keep it up.
Hope to hear No Leaf Clover when Metallica played with that symphony orchestra
S&M
Yes!
"No Leaf Clover" was wonderful. I also really enjoyed this version of "Hero of the Day", which I didn't particularly care for on "Load".
Love both of those songs, but at live shows the most powerful thing imho is when they do Creeping Death and there are thousands in the crowd yelling "die.. die... die... die" its wild 😁🤘
I can't even put into words what metal means to me. My older son and I call it metal therapy, seeing live shows. 😂 It speaks to me on another level and is an acceptable way to get out your angst and anger over all the injustices in life. 💯✊️with thousands of others enjoying it just the same.
If you want a better feel of the original “vibe” of this song, go back and listen to the original album version. As Metallica tends to do, this is played about 10 bpm faster tempo in concert than the original. It almost gives it a punk feel. The original has a bit more melodic and menacing feel to it.
I love this content! So fun to hear a new perspective from a well trained ear. Liking and subscribing!
Agreed. Metallica is good live but the album tracks are so much better
Also agree that the Metallica tends to play a faster tempo in concert (I'm one who has memorized every album and seen them live several times). Also, the concert footage is interspersed with footage from surreal/dystopian concert film they released in 2013 called "Through the Never". The clips of the young boy who is clearly not one of the band members playing on stage make a lot more sense if seen in the context of the entire "Through the Never" concert film. If this is your first introduction to Metallica, those might seem out of context, but make much more sense if "Through the Never" is watched in its entirety.
Yeah, as someone who knows Metallica only from the albums (Ride the Lightning through Reload), it always throws me a bit to hear their live performances. Not bad, mind you - but they very much have a different feel.
This particular performance feels, strangely enough, more crisp technically, but also more loose lyrically, compared to the studio recording (Plus sped up a bit, of course.) I'm guessing that's age - the band is collectively better at playing after 30 years, but Hetfield's vocals are probably wearing out a bit - but his actual singing technique has also improved, I think.
I was about to say... felt like I was going crazy. Never heard the song with this faster tempo and it's... it's just not as good.
Exactly
Growing up with this song in my teenage years it was quite an influence and in a format the teens could relate to. Starting with the partying, living at 100 miles per hour, adrenaline and fun but then the Crash happens, after that the realization, hardness, chaos and everything is a wreck. That kid did walk away but the specter ("Master") was still around if not as prominently. Great Video:)
This is a materpiece, you cannot express it into words!
This recording is from 'Through the Never' which has its own 'story' running behind the 'concert' which is where the 'video' (the kid, the police, anarchy etc) are more associated and going on whilst Metallica are playing their 'Live' concert. Therefore the visuals are not always directly correlating with the actual lyrics/song.
Its perhaps better either analysing the Song from the Album (in isolation) or a live performance (the S&M with the San Francisco Orchestra is superb...) without the 'distraction' of the 'Through the Never' story (which is worth watching too and would help you understand [maybe] the video part here...
thank you for bringing up the San Fran SF....Hero of the Day is literally a work of art in that concert. It was an incredible concert on video, I can only imagine what it was like live......
@@muskokamike127 I only got to watch the DVD of the Concert when it released - same as I had to do for S&M2 as I don't live anywhere near San Francisco (or the US) to be able to be there in person...
They are amazing live!!! I can say that though as I have seen them play live!
Also, the crosses and graveyard motif are straight from the Master of Puppets album art.
the 1989 live in seattle concert is probably their best live version ever
Oh I'm so glad you mentioned this. I've been frustrated at her getting sidetracked by the movie. 🙌
Can we all just appreciate how good that bass sounds?
Robert is really great.
Robert is amazing. Always been a fan
Especially since the bass was never mixed well on Master and Justice.
Yes!!! I was thinking that the whole time!
Wait......there's BASS in Metallica songs?!
If no one has shared this yet, the beautiful classic sounding instrumental represents the “high” of the addiction and how they bring the harsh drums and “master” calls represents the “crash” and the restarting of the addiction cycle