Metallica Essentials: The Black Album RD (REVEALING)

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#3 Preview

SD: 2.4337
Average: 4.6154
Highest song not to top any list

Participants:

Red

nathanalbright

Mayman

singingrulebritannia

rowellfarm490

razorshark

American Idiot

macattack

Gonza'90

willapted33

CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker

tanooki

dremolus - solarpunk

[dremolus - solarpunk]

“Why, then you go on to Death Row at state prison and just. enjoy all that good food until it's time to ride the lightning. It won't be. long.”






#3. Ride the Lightning






Points: 83
SD: 2.4337
Average: 4.6154
Movement: 3-5-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-3-3-3

Red - 2
singingrulebritannia - 2
rowellfarm490 - 2
razorshark - 3
macattack - 3
Gonza'90 - 3
Mayman - 4
naomi - 4
nathanalbright - 7
American Idiot - 7
willapted33 - 7
dremolus - solarpunk - 7
CJ3 The Great Tanker - 9

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Our Top 2:

Fade to Black

vs.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Participants:

Red

nathanalbright

Mayman

singingrulebritannia

rowellfarm490

razorshark

American Idiot

macattack

Gonza'90

willapted33

CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker

tanooki

dremolus - solarpunk

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Most people probably associate it with Zombieland but I associate it with this


#2. For Whom the Bell Tolls



Points: 96
SD: 2.7245
Average: 3.6154
Movement: 6-4-3-3-4-3-3-3-2-2-2-2

American Idiot - 1
tanooki - 1
dremolus - solarpunk - 1
Mayman - 2
willapted33 - 2
nathanalbright - 3
singingrulebritannia - 3
rowellfarm490 - 3
macattack - 4
Gonza'90 - 4
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker - 5
Red - 8
razorshark - 10

which means...

#1. FADE TO BLACK



Points: 118
SD: 1.4979
Average: 1.9231
Movement: 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1

nathanalbright - 1
Mayman - 1
singingrulebritannia - 1
rowellfarm490 - 1
razorshark - 1
macattack - 1
willapted33 - 1
Gonza'90 - 2
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker - 2
tanooki - 2
dremolus - solarpunk - 2
Red - 4
American Idiot - 6

Congrats  to nathanalbright, Mayman, singingrulebritannia, rowellfarm490, razorshark, macattack, and willapted33!

[Red]

This rankdown went exactly as I expected, with zero surprises.

"Fade to Black", as great as it is, has the unfortunate distinction of being on the same album as three of my favorite songs. For me, there was a clear top three, then a clear 4, then everything else.

"For Whom the Bell Tolls"...I probably underranked it by at least one spot. That said, I've never felt a big connection to it in comparison to most of the album. It still would have been my #1 in Will's RD, though.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

And somehow they topped themselves.

When we last left the band, they’d met with Michael Alagobeen who got them signed to Elektra Records, as well as a management deal with Q-Prime, a firm specializing in marketing metal. Around this time, the satanic panic around heavy rock and metal had begun to take shape and thus it was hard to market Metallica to a wider audience. It didn’t help that Metallica had accrued a reputation for reckless and often dangerous concerts, even having to pay Madison Square Garden for damages audience members did. But the band didn’t mind, they thrived on aggression, even admitting they wanted to ratch up the “toughness” and “machismo” of their music.

In September, 1985, the band flew to Copenhagen to make its next album Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios. The band had actually recorded demos and completed the writing for most of the album save for ‘Orion’ and ‘The Thing That Should Not Be’. They didn’t know at the time that what they would wound up making would not only come to shape metal, but all of music in general. The lessons Ulrich, Hammett, and Hetfield had taken while recording Ride the Lightning helped further refine their talents and create more dynamic, epic compositions. They also had more time and better resources to make this albu, thanks to their connections with Q-Prime. They wanted to make more than just “noise”, according to them. The late Cliff Burton even had the intro to Damage Inc. inspired by Bach and his love of classical music. The themes of this album got much darker than the abstract darkness of their first two albums. The shadow of powerlessness looms over the album, as does power, oppression,, addiction etc.

On March 3, 1986, Master of Puppets was finally released. It’s gone platinum in 6 different countries, including going 6x Platinum in Canada and the US and is considered one of the most important albums of all time, even by non-metal heads. It’s so beloved in fact that in 2015, it became the first metal album selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

The long lasting legacy and impact of this album can’t be put into a simple intro and if you want more info about this album, Stuart Kirwan released a short documentary in 2020 called Hypnotizing Power: The Story of Master of Puppets that’s free to stream online.

Unfortunately, it is not all glory and success that’s tied to this album. As this is the final album the band recorded in person with bassist Cliff Burton, who tragically died in a tour bus accident 6 months after the album came out. Jason Newsted would eventually succeed as their next bassist. This will not be the last time we talk about Burton and his contributions but that’s for the next album to discuss. In the mean time, his legacy lives on in this album and in the previous albums.

Tracklist

Battery

Master of Puppets

The Thing That Should Not Be

Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

Disposable Heroes

Leper Messiah

Orion

Damage, Inc.

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}

312999 Adrian C. 🍓 alexcuse Alex1901 _ Daryl the Beryl Beno BlurryKyle House Lannister taylor is terrified castleoblivion26 cedric  Cody LBTrocks @crapkuki23 daniel1784 dremolus - solarpunk eidde  Gonza'90 GP newpower Sambalada ilikemilk CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker HamedM1 💔 @imhappy259 jamesflame janinho Leo ✔ born Juanca lyhom shootingstar16 Mayman MoD Mylo13 💜  Taiga razorshark RobbyFlorida rowellfarm490 sergejdordij OCDave SwiftlySheeran tanooki Au$tin toomuchboy trilogy Triple 9 twigs walt91 DadJokes wheatsquares33 willapted33 wrip  anthony11554 anorable avatar Az Paynter yuh yuh BB🌕  beyoncelover boysilver400 Private Dancer taylor is terrified castleoblivion26 cedric charmander78  Cody Wants Out... tim @crapkuki23 DJDaveMick69  eidde Crimsonio fearlessarrow Exclusive filthy gabe Gonza'90 GP GrinningLikeADevil hydraflare  ilikemilk  .indulgecountry 𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤 @jadenlefranks  Kanenrá:ke  Mr. Thonk Eyes jtd Thee Stallion Fire kimberly lyhom mamooshka shootingstar16 M5 Mayman MoD Mylo13 💜  netti  Fanstar1  Nick P SHOOTER  Red RobbyFlorida samo🦕 sergejdordij  stallie SwiftlySheeran tallen2001 tanooki Au$tin thelegends Rose "Payola" Nylund 𝓲𝓽'𝓼.𝓰𝓿  Ty woods  weaver mako  wyckyd  macattack Doc Indie Party Rock  nathanalbright  singingrulebritannia  @nevada  macattack

[CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker]

Here's the Bloodbath I've been waiting for, well this and if we happen to do SNM down the line...

[dremolus - solarpunk]

We're up to 11 lists now. The deadline will be done in 24 hours so if you plan on submitting but will be late please let me know as I'll also plan on starting the reveals tomorrow.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Tags}

312999 Adrian C. 🍓 alexcuse Alex1901  Daryl the Beryl Beno BlurryKyle House Lannister taylor is terrified castleoblivion26 cedric  Cody LBTrocks @crapkuki23 daniel1784 dremolus - solarpunk eidde  GP newpower Sambalada ilikemilk CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker HamedM1 💔 @imhappy259 jamesflame janinho Leo ✔ born Juanca lyhom shootingstar16 Mayman MoD Mylo13 💜  Taiga  RobbyFlorida rowellfarm490 sergejdordij OCDave SwiftlySheeran Au$tin toomuchboy trilogy Triple 9 twigs walt91  wheatsquares33 willapted33 wrip  anthony11554 anorable avatar Az Paynter yuh yuh BB🌕  beyoncelover boysilver400 Private Dancer taylor is terrified castleoblivion26 cedric charmander78  Cody Wants Out... tim @crapkuki23 DJDaveMick69  eidde Crimsonio fearlessarrow Exclusive filthy gabe  GP GrinningLikeADevil hydraflare  ilikemilk  .indulgecountry 𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕓𝕤 @jadenlefranks  Kanenrá:ke  Mr. Thonk Eyes jtd Thee Stallion Fire kimberly lyhom mamooshka shootingstar16 M5 Mayman MoD Mylo13 💜  netti  Fanstar1  Nick P SHOOTER  RobbyFlorida samo🦕 sergejdordij  stallie SwiftlySheeran tallen2001  Au$tin thelegends Rose "Payola" Nylund 𝓲𝓽'𝓼.𝓰𝓿  Ty woods  weaver mako  wyckyd  Doc Indie Party Rock     

[dremolus - solarpunk]

And the deadline is closed! I was planning on doing reveals today but something came up so Thursday it'll be then!

In the meantime, a few questions:

1. What do y'all expect will be the Top 3?

2. What will be the last place song?

3. What will be the song with the highest SD?

4. What would you rate Master of Puppets as an album overall?

5. How would you compare it to Metallica's first two albums?

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[khan]

I'm quite excited for this cuz this is the first rankdown I've ever done where I don't super care about the order of the results lol. Helped by there being so few songs, sure, but every song is really THAT good.

[DadJokes]

1. What do y'all expect will be the Top 3?
Master of Puppets, Battery, Damage Inc

2. What will be the last place song?
Leper Messiah

3. What will be the song with the highest SD?
Orion

4. What would you rate Master of Puppets as an album overall?
An easy 5/5

5. How would you compare it to Metallica's first two albums?
Tough call. All three of the first albums are stone-cold classics, but I think MoP is the quintessential album from them. It's where I would recommend a new listener to start to get the best overall impression of who and what Metallica is.

[nathanalbright]

Other than your including Damage Inc in the top 3 I agree with your conclusions pretty solidly.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Only gonna be doing 4 today since I'm busy as is, will reveal the latter half on Sautrday.

PREVIEW #8
SD: 2.3157 (Second Highest!)
Average: 6.1429

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Badass props to the Metallica fan who made this original painting for this song



#8. Leper Messiah



Points: 40
SD: 2.3157
Average: 6.1429
Movement: 8-8-8-8-8-8-8-7-7-8-8-8-8

khan - 2
American Idiot - 2
Gonza'90 - 3
tanooki - 4
macattack - 7
nathanalbright - 7
razorshark - 7
Mayman - 7
dremolus - solarpunk - 7
Red - 8
singingrulebritannia - 8
rowellfarm490 - 8
DadJokes - 8
willapted33 - 8

[dremolus - solarpunk]

#7. Preview

SD: 1.7368
Average: 5.6429

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Now this is album merch I'd buy and wear in public



#7. Damage, Inc.



Points: 47
SD: 1.7368
Average: 5.6429
Movement: 7-6-7-7-7-7-7-8-8-7-7-6-7

razorshark - 3
rowellfarm490 - 4
American Idiot - 4
willapted33
macattack - 5
singingrulebritannia - 5
DadJokes - 5
Mayman
Red - 6
tanooki - 6
khan - 8
Gonza'90 - 8
nathanalbright - 8
dremolus - solarpunk - 8

[razorshark]

The one I expected out first, my 8 could win but idc. We are in for this ride

[dremolus - solarpunk]

PREVIEW #6
SD: 1.9889
Average: 5.4286

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Said it before, there needs more metal about H.P. Lovecraft (artist is @niking on DeviantArt)



#6. The Thing That Should Not Be



Points: 50
SD: 1.9889
Average: 5.4286
Movement: 5-7-6-6-4-5-5-5-6-6-6-7-6

DadJokes - 2
dremolus - solarpunk - 3
macattack - 4
khan - 4
Gonza'90 - 4
razorshark - 4
rowellfarm490 - 5
singingrulebritannia - 6
nathanalbright - 6
Red - 7
willapted33
American Idiot - 8
tanooki - 8
Mayman - 8

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Last one for tonight

PREVIEW #5
SD: 2.3157 (Highest SD!)
Average: 4.5714

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Perhaps it's because their sound is too loud and aggressive but kinda shocked there hasn't been an anti-war movie that's used Metallica



#5. Disposable Heroes



Points: 62
SD: 2.3157
Average: 4.5714
Movement: 4-5-5-5-6-3-2-3-3-3-4-5-5

Condolences Red, Gonza'90, and American Idiot

Red - 1
Gonza'90 - 1
American Idiot - 1
khan - 3
DadJokes - 3
nathanalbright - 4
Mayman - 4
razorshark - 6
willapted33 - 6
dremolus - solarpunk - 6
singingrulebritannia - 7
rowellfarm490 - 7
tanooki - 7
macattack - 8

[khan]

Oof okay I know I said every track is a masterpiece but there's still a little pang of sadness for Leper Messiah being last place. Guess not everyone feels it's such a seminal banger.

[singingrulebritannia]

Disposable Heroes is kind of monotonous in the verses ngl

[Red]

"Orion" beating "Disposable Heroes" is kind of mid, ngl

[DadJokes]

The Thing That Should Not Be has a great doomy riff and really ends up sounding like a musical impression of a Lovecraft beast. Really underrated song IMO.

Disposable Heroes is another overloooked song to me. Its brutal, mainly because it never lets up for 8 minutes. Guitars and drums go off like actual bombs and no one is left standing.

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Ayt, let's finish this

PREVIEW #4
SD: 1.9287
Average: 4.2143

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[dremolus - solarpunk]

God-shit, right here



#4. Orion



Points: 67
SD: 1.9287
Average: 4.2143
Movement: 6-4-4-4-5-6-6-6-5-4-3-3-4

Condolences, tanooki and razorshark

tanooki - 1
razorshark - 1
singingrulebritannia - 2
Mayman - 3
willapted33 - 3
DadJokes - 4
Red - 5
khan - 5
nathanalbright - 5
dremolus - solarpunk - 5
macattack - 6
rowellfarm490 - 6
Gonza'90 - 6
American Idiot - 7

[dremolus - solarpunk]

PREVIEW #3
SD: 1.5191
Average: 4
HIGHEST SONG NOT TO TOP ANY LISTS

Participants:
Red
macattack
singingrulebritannia
khan
rowellfarm490
DadJokes
Gonza'90
American Idiot
nathanalbright
tanooki
razorshark
Mayman
willapted33
and me!

[singingrulebritannia]

Battery

[dremolus - solarpunk]

Kinda surprised we haven't had Metallica branded batteries yet. C'mon, it sells itself




#3. Battery




Points: 70
SD: 1.5191
Average: 4
Movement: 3-3-3-3-3-4-4-4-4-5-5-4-3

Condolences, tanooki and razorshark

Mayman - 2
willapted33 - 2
dremolus - solarpunk - 2
macattack - 3
rowellfarm490 - 3
nathanalbright - 3
Red - 4
singingrulebritannia - 4
Gonza'90 - 5
tanooki - 5
razorshark - 5
khan - 6
DadJokes - 6
American Idiot - 6