James Hetfield never gets enough credit for his lyrics. Fantastic choice.

The whole album is a timeless masterpiece and Disposable heroes is one of the best Metal songs ever,saying that every song on MOP is an all time classic

James Hetfield originally got the idea for this song by listening to a football commentator calling the players “Disposable Hero’s” referring to their short careers and then being replaced by others. He then had the idea to intertwine that to soldiers in battle.

Disposable Heroes is one of the tracks that ties the entire album into symphony category. The first rhythm riff is 3/4 (triplet, triplet, 1-2-3-4), while the chorus is straight double strike until the last note of the section, which is held for twice the length of the others. The 3/4 time shows up in many of the tracks. Playing this song will either break your wrist, cause every vein in your forearm to bulge like the Hulk's, or both. Again, I suspect Cliff was trying to kill Lars.... Lyrically, Metallica and Iron Maiden broke conventions by not writing about drugs, dating, driving; both took on more serious subjects and classical literature. When I saw them in 2009, they played everything 25% faster than the studio versions in perfect cohesion. For 3 hours. And were fined by the city of Boston for exceeding permissible noise levels. Intense doesn't cover a live Metallica experience.

When this came out, I was recording and producing a lot of Metal bands in Phoenix Arizona. One day, before a session with one of the local bands, the Bass player handed me this album on cassette as an example of how they would like to sound. The band was Flotsam and Jetsam. The Bass player was Jason Newsted. Ironic, no? 😈

Master of Puppets is a true masterpiece of an album hence the reason it’s in the library of congress

There isn't a more iconic metal moment then when James screams "I was born for dying".

Cliff Burton's influence on these albums can't be underestimated. Metallica took a different turn after him. Successful, yes. But I still miss what it could have been with him.

I’ve always considered For Whom the Bell Tolls, Disposable Heroes, and One to be Metallica’s great anti-war trilogy

My uncle passed away recently at 94. He was a Korean War vet. I feel identified with this song, because he got wounded in combat, brought to a hospital in Japan, then brought "back to the front". No "Purple Heart"... No nothing. He served for the 65th Infantry Regt, 3rd Division. He's in peace now after all the nightmares he lived. RIP,, CPL Félix Rivera

Cliff Burton's influence and knowledge of music theory is all over master's, and ride the lightning. His presence is sorely missed.

“The God that failed” is one of their deepest songs, but it requires some context on James Hatfield’s history, specifically about his mother.

When I've heard at 16 never thought a classical composer would some day analyse a thrash metal song (and apreciatte!) as a song made by good musicians. The quality of the Four Horsemen was always there. We always knew that but the world just discover it decades after.

As usual, you nailed it. Every little purposeful detail: The intro that sounds like machine guns, the 3/4 change to keep you on edge, the incredibly powerful first-person point of view lyrics. You don't have like this music (like I do) - but your breakdown should really make most people appreciate it.

This whole album is worth the listen. It was the first metal album entered into the library of congress national recording registry as “culturally and historically significant”.

I absolutely love the sneering 'back to the front' at 10:34 where it drops to a single vocal track. One of my favourite 'tallica moments 👍🤘

This song is an orgy of guitar riffs...savage! And the lyrics are heavy!

"Left to die with only friend Alone I clench my gun" Just chilling...

"Alright, I'm ready!" *boom* the verses start. He's on their wavelength.

6:15 I love how the lyric is about a ticking clock, and then Lars's fill following it is the staccato crashes to match.

The Chorus in this song is one of the catchiest things I have ever heard.

One of the greatest riffs of all time. James has actually said that football players who put their bodies on the line were the inspiration for the lyrics. But lyrics that open up your imagination, that’s the sign of great lyrics.

This song goes the direction of "Hey you are expendable, go out there and die for me" Metallica's answer to Black Sabbath's War Pigs on steroids I'd go with Welcome Home(Sanitarium) next off this same album. Think Doug would like that one. We better not give Doug any Kreator, lol.

You asked how powerful this would have been in concert... I saw them in London on this tour in 1986 just days before Cliff left us, and the power of the band was staggering. I've seen them a few times since, but they never matched the perfection of 1986.

Fun fact- this song was originally about Football players , how they are " Disposable Hero's " and are thrown away as soon as they get useless. It was changed to War later but his original concept was inspired by watching the NFL ( James is a HUGE Raiders fan ) .

This is the first song I heard, March 1990. I had never heard anything as fast or heavy. Changed everything.

I literally cried through this whole reaction. Watching it with you, the magnamity of war, the fact that it is part of Cliff Burton's swan song...all of it. This is something I feel honored to share with you Doug as well as everyone else who watched it. Also, as crazy as it seems and as many times as I have listened to this song (thousands at least!), I have never noticed that the beginning is meant to sound like machine gunfire. You never know, even as a diehard Metallica fan, what you're gonna learn on any given day here on The Daily Doug. God bless our soldiers living and fallen...and my two nieces overseas serving our country (one in Djibouti and one on her way to Kuwait) in the US Air Force 🇺🇸 🪖 🙏

I´m not even a big Metallica fan, but this is one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.

The fact that they had the thoughtfulness and awareness to write these songs and lyrics, at such a very young age, just astounds me.

This is the hidden banger from MoP. My god, the ending is fucking epic

the C-sharp arrangement is thanks to Kirk Hammett. It was a riff that he brought from his old band. It has been very interesting how James Hetfield was able to incorporate it into that song.

Master Of Puppets is the greatest Metal album of all time. Just incredible composition skills for a bunch of 21 year olds.

One of the best Metallica songs. So many good riffs.

One way to interpret that ending on C# rather than E is that no, you don't get to go back home, things aren't resolved, there's just an abrupt ending - it's cut short like the life of soldiers.

I was 15 when Master was released. My mind was blown. I kept the cassette in my Walkman for months! No one does the metal gallop better than Metallica. Master is a masterpiece of an album. Still relevant & hard hitting to this day. Metallica forever! 🤘🤘🤘

26 years after first hearing this song; that Kirk solo still brings tears to my eyes

I think it was on the extra features on the S&M DVD that James was telling a story of how Michael Kamen was mentioning some of the interesting time changes on some Metallica songs and started analyzing it. When James admitted to knowing basically no music theory and he wrote those time changes to "freak people out".

These lyrics have always been chilling. Hetfield deserves all of the credit he gets. He's an amazing artist (Showman, Player and Lyricist) IMHO.

The album is pure class. Not a weak song on it. 👌

Don't forget one of the most Powerful line verses by James. "Finished Here, Greetings Death,He's Yours To Take Away."

The drumming is freaking amazing in that era. The break down with the syncopated ride snare tom parradidle is just perfect .

Another thrash metal classic with a similar theme is Slayer’s “Mandatory Suicide”

This is one of the most underrated songs from Metallica. Next song you could check is The Outlaw Torn

This song is a masterpiece and in my top 5 songs by Metallica all time! "Back to the front" is a notorious line yelled by Patton, and brought to fame in the movie of same name by George C. Scott. Interestingly enough he was also credited with saying: "You don't win a war by dying for your country. You win a war by making you enemy die for his country".

Lars is so brilliant here. All the little fills and different drum styles he incorporates in this one song are so spectacular I find myself always focusing on the drums when I hear this song.

I was in The Navy stationed on an LST with Marines when this album came out, and they absolutely loved this song.

This is my favorite Metallica song of all time! That riff that comes in around the 30 second mark is beautiful!

I remember in 11th grade we read Johnny Got His Gun. And our teacher even had a project for us that had to do with the relation of the book to the Metallica song “One”. Was one of the only times I got a good grade cuz I had just started listening to Metallica that year hahaha

To me this is the best drumming Lars has ever done

One of Metallica's greatest! The *Back To The Front!* part reminds me of when Patton slapped a "Shell-Shocked" soldier and threw him out of the field hospital and called him a coward.

One of the things I find so amazing about this song is that structurally it's nearly identical to Yes' Heart of the Sunrise. In this era while everybody was crediting Metallica with being the premier thrash band they actually pretty heavily prog influenced. Of course in the 80s metal and prog were in 2 separate world, and prog was "a dead dinosaur" so nobody would mention that. But really prog metal is being invented right here, along with some other bands in that era.

Dr Doug you're the best! I very enjoy watching your videos in the late evening (22:03 in Poland), just to end a day in companion to a great dude and awesome music :D

Really enjoy you reactions, they are pretty objective and gives us the context (musically) of the songs you reacted to. Keep going!!

Holy crap, I've been listening to this song since it came out and it never occurred to me that opening riff might be emulating gunfire in combat.

I got chills so many times throughout this video. It's so good to see when someone really gets it, fantastic video and analysis!

I have to admit I about spit out my drink laughing at your quote "they ain't happy about this situation..y'all" great stuff and so well put :)

i got this album in 86. Been raging to this digesting every lyric and mentally viewing the video for every song... metal was uncool when i got into it then it exploded. Metallica = biggest act ever.. This is a great channel with your own musical background. The reaction during intro when you sat up and pondered the sudden change in tempo.. great open mind man. The backdrop for the Master tour looked amazing for 1986 lol Wed December 10 1986

Hi doug. If you enjoyed that 3/4 patterns you shuld listen "The Frayed Ends of Sanity", it's a real time signatures and bpm chages roller-coaster. As the title "suggests " it deal with insanity, therefore very heavy lyrically. Kepp it coming with good stuff.

I love that you chose this song Doug. I've shared my opinion with so many people over the years that James really doesn't get the accolades he deserves as a lyricist. Ever since this song first came out, it blew me away. The lyrics against the backdrop of that machine gun rhythm is so powerful. Master of Puppets - which speaks to drug addiction is another lyrical and musical masterpiece IMHO. Hearing your comments during Disposable Heroes was so cool, because they so accurately captured my sentiments on it, so it really resonated.

I love seeing Doug's reaction to the transition at 8:04, cause that's one of my favorite parts of the song, and it really does illicit that sort of reaction. Such an unexpected and very cool twist.

This album is immortalized and archived in the library of Congress. That fact alone says how good it is.

This is my favorite Metallica song ever, thank you for doing it!

Doug, you have perfect pitch, and open mind, and a love for music. Super great analysis and we love your appreciation for all music. Beautiful and back to the front my dude, you rock

Doug these videos are awesome really gives me a new appreciation for a lot of these songs

This song sends shivers down my spine, it is so good. Classic album from a great band.🤘

Easily in my top ten Metallica songs list...gives me chills every time

"Left to die with only friend-- alone I clench my gun" Always hits hard no matter how many times I hear it

First song I ever heard from them. 6th grade recess, 1989. I instantly loved how the guitar sounded like a machine gun. Hooked ever since. 🤘 RIP Cliff 🤘 Fucking masterpiece of an album. Jesus.

It is indeed powerful live, I had the fortune to enjoy that song live in Lima, Peru.

one of my favorites of this MASTERPIECE album , after ORION ( the best of all time), of course !!! And Lars ( yes LARS) did a fantastic work on this track too !!!

Well said Doug. These lyrics have moved me since I was 13 years old.

It’s nice to see a fresh take on a song I have really enjoyed (and played on guitar) since ‘86. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing this live several years ago. It was absolutely massive

Doug should definitely review Fade To Black, as soon as possible. And I suggest live version.

One of my favorite songs. I was serving in the Marines at the time this came out. Lot of meaning for us even then. We were lucky. I got out before our current never ending wars started.

Thanks you for elevating the beauty and poignancy of James's lyrics--an often overlooked aspect of the band imo. Great video

Doug, I recommend you Haggard's music, they're from Germany, Symphonic metal with medieval instruments. You should review their songs All'inizio È La Morte, Of A Might Divine and Eppur Si Muove.

One of my all time favorite Metallica songs 🤟🏻

From a guitar player's perspective...this song is truly insane when you realize James plays that blistering pace on rhythm with ONLY downstrokes. The man was an absolute MACHINE on this record!

The best song on the greatest thrash metal album ever created...period...set the standard, still holds up today \m/>

I love this song. As a guitar player, this song requires a significant work on the right hand with the palm mute in the verses. Also, the lyrics are awesome. So fantasticly deep.

This video shows that quality music resonates with music lovers no matter the style or preferences.

Cliff Burton's influence on MOP is HUGE!

10:58 best song ending ever .. aggressive riffage

The reaction at 11:25 is priceless, thank you Doug

"Back to the front": that line reminds me of Kubrick's film PATHS OF GLORY, with Kirk Douglas, in the way that the soldier in the trenches during WW1 were treated by high command as "disposable heroes", and treated as cowards for retreating during an unwinnable battle... (Not to mention "Us and Them" by Pink Floyd, with the line "Forward! He cried from the rear, and the front rank died...")

It always amazes me how trained your ear is, to be able to tell what chords are being played... just unreal, kudos on that.

Love your videos on metal songs Doug. You have an interesting insight to the music. Rock on brother.

I think the main inspiration for this song was when James was watching a football game and watching them get injured then pumped full of drugs to get back out and play but wrote the lyrics to a more serious topic

I remember it like it was just yesterday. San Diego sports arena, Ozzy Osborn, The Ultimate Sin Tour, Metallica opened, the album and the live show for Master of Puppets was mind blowing and life changing, the influence radically changed my guitar playing for the better as well. Chop your breakfast on a mirror was a terrible life choice for me around this time. Years later the reality of how horrible this was helped me quit. Metallica f’d up with the whole Napster thing. We’ve all moved on, water under the bridge… They definitely have proven they are here to stay. Mad respect 👊🏼💯 (Plot twist; After coming to the realization this was killing me, I joined the military only three years later 😳🤯🤪)

I love Ur reviews... I do genuinly believe u aapreciate it.... I even learn a lot from... Listening to the chords... Thx a lot

BACK TO THE FRONT! This song and Frayed Ends of Sanity are the best in their discography in my opinion. Very interesting analysis Doug, and you're the first "reaction" guy I see who actually pays attention to the lyrics in a metal song. To be honest I think your reaction videos are the only one worth watching on KZfaq as you really add something to the listening esperience instead of just saying WOW, I'M CRYING, THAT'S SO WONDERFUL. Besides, your knowledge and "ear" are incredible, it's a pleasure to see you react to these "rawest" songs

They haven’t performed this a lot live, but their 2009 Mexico City performance is pretty impressive. Kirk pretty much plays the solo note for note. And Doug, if you look close at the MOP cover, there’s a set of dogtags and hanging off one of the crosses. Also, a helmet on another.

Yes, the whole Master of Puppets album definitely addressed various forms of control. Lepper Messiah, Master of Puppets, Sanitarium...

One of the tightest performances, the rythmic figures in the beginning. Just fantastic!

I've been listening to this music 23 years, and I get the chills EVERY time.

"One" is another great song about war, an absolute Metallica classic, and almost a sequel to the topic of "Disposable Heroes". The videoclip of the whole song, with footage from the movie "Johnny Got His Gun" would make a great reaction!

Flemming Rasmussen, the producer of Master of Puppets and their previous album Ride the lightning, is genious

i did NOT expect you to react to this song because i didn’t think it would suit your style, but this is my favorite song off of the album. the transitions, the speed, the lyrics, it’s the quintessential metallica song in my opinion.

This was always my favorite song on the record with the title track coming at a close second.