March 3, 1986, is a day that will forever be a special holiday for Metallica fans across the world. On that day, the legendary rock band released their third studio album, Master of Puppets, and took their heavy music and dark lyrics to a whole new level.

Master of Puppets was the first album 'Tallica recorded with Elektra Records. While some bands might alienate fans with their first major-label release, Metallica only solidified their importance to the metal and rock world even more. The music is complex, the lyrics are fantastically deep and the overall record is near-flawless.

Besides the album sounding like a metal masterpiece, Metallica fans hold Master of Puppets in their hearts for another reason.

Cliff 'Em All

Two hundred and one days after the record was released, Metallica bassist Cliff Burton died in a tour bus accident in southern Sweden. Burton was a significant part of Metallica, contributing his unique bass style to three studio albums and helping write songs like "Orion," "Damage, Inc." and "Master of Puppets," a song Burton claimed was his favorite Metallica tune. Master of Puppets was the last album Burton was a part of.

Master of Puppets has become an album that many critics and fans hold up as not only one of the best Metallica albums ever released, but one of the best overall metal albums of all time. Eight songs make up this 54-minute masterpiece.

It is an album that showcases Metallica's maturing and progression from Kill 'Em All to Ride the Lightning, and it is a great bridge connecting fans to ...And Justice for All. To date, Master of Puppets has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide.

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Obey Your Master

It might be impossible to narrow it down to just one, but if you had to pick, what is your favorite track from Metallica's Master of Puppets?

Cast your vote below then send us a message in the Ultimate Metallica app and share your memories of this record.

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