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
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.
Most thrash metal bands of the era had society-critical and political lyrics, it's not just Metallica. How about Overkill's song, Infectious from 1991 with lyrics like: "I'm a wartime killer. I'm a man. I'm a peacetime killer! Doin' the best, the best I can. I adapt to nothing, and nothing pleases me. I'm a loaded pistol! Just you wait and see."
@@Kriegter true, No Remorse is different tho. "No Remorse, no repent, we don't care what it meant". It's not about the struggle of being a soldier, just like the other one I mentioned.
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.
@@LeoHoxtonI There will always be critics who critique things poorly. It doesn't really mean much, besides voicing their own opinions. That's valid, everyone has their own opinions but you know the saying about opinions & a-holes. Music is art and art should move you & make you think. This song (& record) does that. I know people who only listen to boy bands, or listen to Disney. It doesn't mean they're wrong because some critic said it's garbage. That music just happens to speak to them somehow. Live & let live 🤷♂️
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.
@@TheCyberMantis That's pretty disingenuous honestly. Metallica was still incredible for many years after Cliffs death, and even their weaker albums are pretty good. They just aren't incredible like their first few records.
We all are. We all are soldiers of clay un war with life and s### in some way but for me this song, like whole album, will always be fully about drugs and addiction. Those crosses remind me of all friends died in battles, not only in war, which we had here in 1990s, but also from drug abuse...
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? 😈
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
Wow! You uncle was a hero (a person who risked his life for others). Thank you, CPL Félix Rivera, for your courage, services to your country, and for everyone's freedom. God bless you!
I wonder if he fulfilled his purpose in life and then was supposed to die, like predestination. I say it because topping the two albums Ride The Lightning and Masters of Puppets is probably impossible. After this one there was And Justice For All, and then the Black album. They are equally great though too.
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.
Ahh but there you have the truth of it: Metal is complex layered and detailed with key changes time signatures and the many facets of instrumental genius just as you would see in an orchestra. It's the natural progression. You can bet that Amadeus would have been into the heavy stuff if they had amplification and electricity.
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 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 🇺🇸 🪖 🙏
@@ephesians.6 You cheer on your nieces going overseas for military service, while this song calls them "servant" and "blind man", pointing out that they don't even have a remote clue why they are sent to where they are sent to or why they are doing that they are told to do. They are the same puppets of manipulation as the soldiers Metallica was talking about nearly 40 years ago. Controlled, used and abused, just the same way.
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.
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.
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 ) .
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.
@@penoyer79 could also be, anyway, in their contract with metallica the two own half and half of the band, according to the copyright of most of their songs. 👍👍
Glad to see someone give credit to Kirk! Kirk has written so many great riffs, and James gets all the credit... Except for Sandman, which seems to be the only one people know Kirk wrote.
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.
@@detvarsomfankanske James and Lars are also classic legpullers. James in particular will absolutely notice an interviewer is taking him or themselves too seriously and come up with something completely off the wall.
@@metalmike570 People have said it from the dawn of time and it's still true. Metallica only had 4 albums. After that they lost their way after James lost his voice/hair came off and Jason left. People say genius (yes) but they were only genius's for 10 years (83-93) and they've been this new Metallica for 30 years!!! Try and fathom that for a moment. Their greatness for for a very short time. Btw I'm a Metallica fan since late 80s but don't like the new stuff.
@@ayaanbretmitchell9830 Some of the younger generation / millennials love The Load and Unload albums, they're alright. And Death Magnetic does have teeth. I do know what you mean though. What's happening to Metallica happens to every band, but most of us fans love the fact that hey are still around and almost all original members. Even the newest bassist has like 17 years in. This band loves to tour - and they compromise their own lives to do that just like only the best bands in the world. They are one of the best bands in the world and new album is in April and tour too. I'm going to go this time!!
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! 🤘🤘🤘
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!
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.
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.
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
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".
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.
Outlaw Torn is one of my all time favorite metallica tunes. A couple of those that fly under the radar. Fixxxer, Outlaw Torn and Bleeding Me are so GD good.
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
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".
Yup. I remember that clip as well. James basically said that the orchestra members were having a hard time with changes and time signatures and stuff,..and asked him for advice and he was like "I have no idea what time signature we're in, we just put the riffs together and make sections and play it" which is true. When you don't know shit, you just make sections and tell each other stuff like "ok this is the riff, played this many times. That is ONE section. Play section 2 times. The transition is the riff cut in half, playing that 3 times equals one transition." Stuff like that.
The C sharp riff that Doug remarks shows exactly how ignorant is James about theory, and that's one of the greatest things about Hetfield, a guy kowing theory would be very resistant to put that C sharp in a E minor Key. It sounds out of structure, but the way that Hetfield puts all together make it work as hell.
Early Metallica sounds almost like someone gave James one lesson and taught him the E minor scale. He took it home and practiced and thought "This is boring, what if I play this note also?"
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.
@@machupikachu1085 Lmao, but seriously, MOP had his most creative and most unorthodox drumming in their discography. I never heard drummers improvise other guitar solo rhythm section.
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.
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
I've been a Metallica fan since roughly 1984..... never cease to be amazed and touched by so many Metallica songs especially the older I get..... nice to see people are finally giving James Lars Kirk Cliff Jason and Robert the love and respect they have always deserved
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 UA-cam 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
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 !!!
Listening to this in 3rd grade and remember my teacher yelling at me “they are a bunch of talentless losers that will be nothing in 20 years” lmfao. That was in 1988.
2 роки тому+3
Really enjoy you reactions, they are pretty objective and gives us the context (musically) of the songs you reacted to. Keep going!!
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.
I appreciate that you listen disposable heroes. That is hell of a track, one of my favorites and maybe one of the most violent sound in the old Metallica age. Great to hear you commenting it!
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.
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.
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
There’s a reason this album got put in the archives. These guys made something truly special in this. As a retired soldier a lot of the songs James did around the subject of the service rings a little louder for me, he took the subject to heart and didn’t do some sort of dig on the guys/girls who have to do the job, he always left that dig specifically for those who used us as chess pieces to be tossed away when we break
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.
Great point Joe, and it's great to see prog metal is still going strong today with newer bands taking it to a new generation. I grew up with prog, and to hear bands like Opeth embracing it is only a good thing.
They threw an allusion to Tom Sawyer in Welcome Home. And it wouldn't surprise me if Metallica; as Rush, Zeppelin, and Diamond Head fans; got into Queensrÿche's and Fates Warning's first two albums.
My favorite Metallica song of all time. I saw them in 2006 in Buffalo NY with Godsmack. Metallica opened with Blackened (full song) and went right in Disposable Heros ( full song) awesome show.
I was had at classical composer reacts to disposable heroes.I've always felt certain metal has a classical vibe with the peaks and valleys.From calm to super dramatic.Long songs full of time changes and moods.Great song to react to.
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.
if you're pointing to the fact that even in studio he wasn't able to play note for note, then yeah, in that sense Kirk played "note for note" as in studio
@@beatmet2355 he wasn't able to play it clean not in studio neither live, that's what I meant. So he played live pretty much as in studio, but I wouldn't call it note for note, not pretty much, not perfectly
This is my favorite song by this band. It has everything that characterizes this band - fast tempo, sharp, good and memorable lyrics and guitar riffs that are damn difficult to play. James gave an amazing display of his skills as a lead guitarist here. This is a masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece of metal music. Shit, this is masterpiece of music at all.
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.
This is one of my favorite Metallica songs and favorite Kirk solos. The interlude where they switch from off to on beat leading up to the solo is just so brutal and punchy (I feel like I have watched tons of covers, all playing it incorrectly). And then when the solo mirrors the interlude when it also switches to on beat. It plays like some epic soldier march, desperately marching into one final battle. Love it!
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.
I agree... Doug you should review their entire album ¨Eppur Si Muove¨, it's the best from them. They sing in English, but they also sing in Italian and German.
Yes, Doug is a classical music composer, he should review more of those European Symphonic metal groups. Haggard is an awesome group. Also he should react to their album ¨Awaking The Centuries¨
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.
What's cool about these lyrics is that James, who is a big football fan, took as much inspiration from injured and broken down football players from the 80's as he did soldiers. So it's fun to listen to it from that perspective.
"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...")
![Lp. Сердце Вселенной #60 РОЖДЕНИЕ ЛОЛОЛОШКИ [Финал] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YoR0pAV9FVQ/mqdefault.jpg)
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
Ride the lightning, master if puppets and justice for all is my all time favorite 😍
@@atgimm2090 the first 4 albums are all classics in their own right
My fav Metallica song, such an underrated piece
@@Rewolweri brutally beautiful
Their best song imo. I've been waiting for you to do this one. Thanks very much.
James Hetfield never gets enough credit for his lyrics. Fantastic choice.
He gets quite a bit actually. Not back then very much, but definitely nowadays. And especially since he got sober.
As the biggest metal band ever I think he gets plenty of credit lol.
Agree! And metal as a genre doesn’t get enough credit for tackling difficult subject matter.
@@greggygrogaments agreed
my favorite songwriter of all time. his lyrics all through the 80’s and 90’s are some of the most heartfelt and true lyrics i’ve ever heard
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.
Most thrash metal bands of the era had society-critical and political lyrics, it's not just Metallica.
How about Overkill's song, Infectious from 1991 with lyrics like:
"I'm a wartime killer.
I'm a man.
I'm a peacetime killer!
Doin' the best, the best I can.
I adapt to nothing, and nothing pleases me.
I'm a loaded pistol!
Just you wait and see."
@@9xqspx6 this is from 1986. Metallica wrote about soldiers and war even in 1984 in For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Personally, I hate when they play faster than the original recordings, it's just off putting.
@@Johnny_GC no remorse 1983
@@Kriegter true, No Remorse is different tho. "No Remorse, no repent, we don't care what it meant". It's not about the struggle of being a soldier, just like the other one I mentioned.
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.
Hypnotizing Power documentary?
I think the track’s title comes from “Fahrenheit 451”. I think it’s about book burning or firefighters. Or it contains both, idk.
@@chupachuuups706it’s not
Master of Puppets is a true masterpiece of an album hence the reason it’s in the library of congress
Amen!!!
Indeed.
It's a pity they don't actually listen to the lyrics.
Nah, 1/2 is regression crap and fluff, and there's enough push-back and critique to say that's right.
@@LeoHoxtonI There will always be critics who critique things poorly. It doesn't really mean much, besides voicing their own opinions. That's valid, everyone has their own opinions but you know the saying about opinions & a-holes. Music is art and art should move you & make you think. This song (& record) does that. I know people who only listen to boy bands, or listen to Disney. It doesn't mean they're wrong because some critic said it's garbage. That music just happens to speak to them somehow. Live & let live 🤷♂️
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.
Let's be honest, Metallica went down the toilet after Cliff died.
@@TheCyberMantis That's pretty disingenuous honestly. Metallica was still incredible for many years after Cliffs death, and even their weaker albums are pretty good. They just aren't incredible like their first few records.
Totally agree, I had the pleasure of seeing them twice on this tour in the U.K. before they took their tragic trip to continental Europe. RIP Cliff.
@@TheCyberMantis overexaggeration
@@Kriegter more like facts
There isn't a more iconic metal moment then when James screams "I was born for dying".
We all are. We all are soldiers of clay un war with life and s### in some way but for me this song, like whole album, will always be fully about drugs and addiction. Those crosses remind me of all friends died in battles, not only in war, which we had here in 1990s, but also from drug abuse...
BACK TO THE FRONT
To live is to die.
Yawn.
Yes there is. When Tom Araya said "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"
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? 😈
F o r e s h a d o w i n g
Wow
❤❤❤❤
Nice!
Goddamn I love Jason
I’ve always considered For Whom the Bell Tolls, Disposable Heroes, and One to be Metallica’s great anti-war trilogy
Confusion is good as well
@@GTRrocker84 i find song utterly boring. its the only song on hardwired i skip. riffs are good but cant stand the lyrics. same old shit.
The Day That Never Comes
@@daveelson213 bruh 50 percent metallica songs have the same topic of the lyrics
Hero Of The Day too
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
Damn. He deserves to be remembered indeed. Thanks for sharing that.
Get with the army heraldry dept. if they can find his records and show he wounded, you can get his PH awarded posthumously.
Wow! You uncle was a hero (a person who risked his life for others). Thank you, CPL Félix Rivera, for your courage, services to your country, and for everyone's freedom. God bless you!
Cliff Burton's influence and knowledge of music theory is all over master's, and ride the lightning. His presence is sorely missed.
I wonder if he fulfilled his purpose in life and then was supposed to die, like
predestination. I say it because topping the two albums Ride The Lightning and
Masters of Puppets is probably impossible. After this one there was And Justice For All,
and then the Black album. They are equally great though too.
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.
i remember thinking the vary same thing
Ahh but there you have the truth of it: Metal is complex layered and detailed with key changes time signatures and the many facets of instrumental genius just as you would see in an orchestra. It's the natural progression. You can bet that Amadeus would have been into the heavy stuff if they had amplification and electricity.
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.
well said
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 👍🤘
“The God that failed” is one of their deepest songs, but it requires some context on James Hatfield’s history, specifically about his mother.
james hatfield is my favorite drummer
@@ali965 lol
@@ali965 He's the best drummer in Metallica
@@filrut He's my favorite table.
@@nihilist1680 I AM THE TABLE
This song is an orgy of guitar riffs...savage! And the lyrics are heavy!
well said!
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.
I always thought that was a nice touch
Exactly💪
"Left to die with only friend
Alone I clench my gun"
Just chilling...
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 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 🇺🇸 🪖 🙏
Seems like the machine gun sounding guitars were not the only thing you missed about this song...
@@9xqspx6 not quite sure what that means, but thanks!
@@ephesians.6 You cheer on your nieces going overseas for military service, while this song calls them "servant" and "blind man", pointing out that they don't even have a remote clue why they are sent to where they are sent to or why they are doing that they are told to do. They are the same puppets of manipulation as the soldiers Metallica was talking about nearly 40 years ago. Controlled, used and abused, just the same way.
@@9xqspx6 actually it's not only guitars, but mainly - drums that sound like it
@@F1stzz True! But that was beside my point.
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.
The fact that they had the thoughtfulness and awareness to write these songs and lyrics, at such a very young age, just astounds me.
Art and Talent
That's mostly because of cliff's extraordinary knowledge 🔥
They were all wise beyond their ages, especially Cliff.
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.
How about some Xentrix or Sacrifice?
@@9xqspx6 Doug'd have a field day with For Whose Advantage?
@@OfMaceAndMen That's an awesome album!
I'd go with The Eye of the Beholder, such an underrated song with amazing lyrics about freedom
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 ) .
There is a real cool fan made documentary called “Hypnotizing Power” about Master of Puppets and all the songs. It’s fucking great!
Makes sense.
"Alright, I'm ready!" *boom* the verses start.
He's on their wavelength.
I´m not even a big Metallica fan, but this is one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.
Yeah you gotta admit this is a freight train of a song.
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.
could have been lars too... he's got an ear for piecing riffs together.
@@penoyer79 could also be, anyway, in their contract with metallica the two own half and half of the band, according to the copyright of most of their songs. 👍👍
Glad to see someone give credit to Kirk! Kirk has written so many great riffs, and James gets all the credit... Except for Sandman, which seems to be the only one people know Kirk wrote.
@@Maggai kirk gets alot of credit wdym those solos didn't write themselves!
This is the first song I heard, March 1990. I had never heard anything as fast or heavy. Changed everything.
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.
No. I'm pretty sure he said the lyrics can also be applied to those who play for the NFL.
@@tallycahamuhlhetru26 James always try to make the lyrics open to interpretations
@@detvarsomfankanske James and Lars are also classic legpullers. James in particular will absolutely notice an interviewer is taking him or themselves too seriously and come up with something completely off the wall.
The Chorus in this song is one of the catchiest things I have ever heard.
Not a Michael Jackson fan I see...
@@machupikachu1085 I sure am, but he can’t beat the classic “Back to the Front”
@@e_knees8816 Just Beat it.........back to the Front!
Master Of Puppets is the greatest Metal album of all time. Just incredible composition skills for a bunch of 21 year olds.
Why does everyone say this. They were like 24
@@ayaanbretmitchell9830 even then holy shit man, they were super advanced for their age
On the 8th day; God created Metallica!
@@metalmike570 People have said it from the dawn of time and it's still true. Metallica only had 4 albums. After that they lost their way after James lost his voice/hair came off and Jason left. People say genius (yes) but they were only genius's for 10 years (83-93) and they've been this new Metallica for 30 years!!! Try and fathom that for a moment. Their greatness for for a very short time. Btw I'm a Metallica fan since late 80s but don't like the new stuff.
@@ayaanbretmitchell9830 Some of the younger generation / millennials love The Load and Unload albums, they're alright. And Death Magnetic does have teeth. I do know what you mean though. What's happening to Metallica happens to every band, but most
of us fans love the fact that hey are still around and almost all original members. Even the newest bassist has like 17 years in. This band loves to tour - and they compromise their own lives to do that just like only the best bands in the world. They are one of the best bands in the world and new album is in April and tour too. I'm going to go this time!!
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! 🤘🤘🤘
One of the best Metallica songs. So many good riffs.
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!
He is a machine live too. Right hand of steel!
I was in The Navy stationed on an LST with Marines when this album came out, and they absolutely loved this song.
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.
These lyrics have always been chilling. Hetfield deserves all of the credit he gets. He's an amazing artist (Showman, Player and Lyricist) IMHO.
Don't forget one of the most Powerful line verses by James. "Finished Here, Greetings Death,He's Yours To Take Away."
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.
That's a cool way to look at it.
Absolutely, a pretty common thing to go for in metal songs. Yes this sounds ugly and weird, because that's how life is.
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
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".
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.
This is one of the most underrated songs from Metallica.
Next song you could check is The Outlaw Torn
Outlaw Torn is one of my all time favorite metallica tunes. A couple of those that fly under the radar. Fixxxer, Outlaw Torn and Bleeding Me are so GD good.
Yes! S&M 1999 ❤️🤘🏼
I'd go with Welcome Home(Sanitarium) next off this album. In line with Ozzy Diary of a Madman subject matter.
Underrated by whom? Its a classic masterpiece with any 'Tallica head I know..
Underrated? It's on their most universally acclaimed and beloved album and been an acclaimed piece since day one.
This is the hidden banger from MoP. My god, the ending is fucking epic
When the drums "fall apart", that's pretty heavy. Dig!
Only if you’re new to the band I’ve known how good this song was since I was 11 and got MoP on cassette in 1996.
EPIC IS THE WORD!!!
ending is the best part
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
Nice D.R.I. symbol there↖️😎
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".
Yup. I remember that clip as well. James basically said that the orchestra members were having a hard time with changes and time signatures and stuff,..and asked him for advice and he was like "I have no idea what time signature we're in, we just put the riffs together and make sections and play it" which is true. When you don't know shit, you just make sections and tell each other stuff like "ok this is the riff, played this many times. That is ONE section. Play section 2 times. The transition is the riff cut in half, playing that 3 times equals one transition." Stuff like that.
The C sharp riff that Doug remarks shows exactly how ignorant is James about theory, and that's one of the greatest things about Hetfield, a guy kowing theory would be very resistant to put that C sharp in a E minor Key. It sounds out of structure, but the way that Hetfield puts all together make it work as hell.
@@morsteen facts
Early Metallica sounds almost like someone gave James one lesson and taught him the E minor scale. He took it home and practiced and thought "This is boring, what if I play this note also?"
What James has you can't teach - totally born with it, everything about the guy.
Same thing with Ozzy!!
The drumming is freaking amazing in that era.
The break down with the syncopated ride snare tom parradidle is just perfect .
Definitely Lars at his best on this.
This is my favorite Metallica song of all time! That riff that comes in around the 30 second mark is beautiful!
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.
Peak Ulrich.
I agree. Lars' drum tech played really well on this album! 🤣
@@machupikachu1085 Lmao, but seriously, MOP had his most creative and most unorthodox drumming in their discography.
I never heard drummers improvise other guitar solo rhythm section.
It always amazes me how trained your ear is, to be able to tell what chords are being played... just unreal, kudos on that.
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.
I've been listening to this music 23 years, and I get the chills EVERY time.
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
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!
The album is pure class. Not a weak song on it. 👌
I've been a Metallica fan since roughly 1984..... never cease to be amazed and touched by so many Metallica songs especially the older I get..... nice to see people are finally giving James Lars Kirk Cliff Jason and Robert the love and respect they have always deserved
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 :)
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 UA-cam 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
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 !!!
Listening to this in 3rd grade and remember my teacher yelling at me “they are a bunch of talentless losers that will be nothing in 20 years” lmfao. That was in 1988.
Really enjoy you reactions, they are pretty objective and gives us the context (musically) of the songs you reacted to. Keep going!!
I got chills so many times throughout this video. It's so good to see when someone really gets it, fantastic video and analysis!
Another thrash metal classic with a similar theme is Slayer’s “Mandatory Suicide”
I've personally dared Doug to do Slayer 😈
Damn, that's one banger of all 'em bangers for sure 🤘🏻
War Ensemble perhaps?🤔
Other Slayer may have the intensity and war theme, but lyrically yes Mandatory Suicide is the closest.
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.
It is indeed powerful live, I had the fortune to enjoy that song live in Lima, Peru.
I appreciate that you listen disposable heroes. That is hell of a track, one of my favorites and maybe one of the most violent sound in the old Metallica age. Great to hear you commenting it!
Easily in my top ten Metallica songs list...gives me chills every time
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.
This video shows that quality music resonates with music lovers no matter the style or preferences.
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.
I had the distinct pleasure of hearing this live several years ago. It was absolutely massive
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
One of my all time favorite Metallica songs 🤟🏻
There’s a reason this album got put in the archives. These guys made something truly special in this. As a retired soldier a lot of the songs James did around the subject of the service rings a little louder for me, he took the subject to heart and didn’t do some sort of dig on the guys/girls who have to do the job, he always left that dig specifically for those who used us as chess pieces to be tossed away when we break
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.
Great point Joe, and it's great to see prog metal is still going strong today with newer bands taking it to a new generation. I grew up with prog, and to hear bands like Opeth embracing it is only a good thing.
They threw an allusion to Tom Sawyer in Welcome Home. And it wouldn't surprise me if Metallica; as Rush, Zeppelin, and Diamond Head fans; got into Queensrÿche's and Fates Warning's first two albums.
My favorite Metallica song of all time. I saw them in 2006 in Buffalo NY with Godsmack. Metallica opened with Blackened (full song) and went right in Disposable Heros ( full song) awesome show.
This album is immortalized and archived in the library of Congress. That fact alone says how good it is.
And their new album will be out in April!!
I'm just an ordinary metal fan from Poland and I'm very happy that this genre of music is gaining new fans. This music will never die.
To me this is the best drumming Lars has ever done
I was had at classical composer reacts to disposable heroes.I've always felt certain metal has a classical vibe with the peaks and valleys.From calm to super dramatic.Long songs full of time changes and moods.Great song to react to.
This is my favorite Metallica song ever, thank you for doing it!
Thanks you for elevating the beauty and poignancy of James's lyrics--an often overlooked aspect of the band imo. Great video
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.
if you're pointing to the fact that even in studio he wasn't able to play note for note, then yeah, in that sense Kirk played "note for note" as in studio
@@ThoArtOne 😂 that doesn’t make sense, but ok
@@beatmet2355 no it doesn't! After I heard his standalone guitar tracks from the studio mix. Check it out
@@ThoArtOne “pretty much note for note” doesn’t mean exactly. Of course, he’s not going to perfectly replicate it. That’s why I said that.
@@beatmet2355 he wasn't able to play it clean not in studio neither live, that's what I meant. So he played live pretty much as in studio, but I wouldn't call it note for note, not pretty much, not perfectly
This is my favorite song by this band. It has everything that characterizes this band - fast tempo, sharp, good and memorable lyrics and guitar riffs that are damn difficult to play. James gave an amazing display of his skills as a lead guitarist here. This is a masterpiece, an absolute masterpiece of metal music. Shit, this is masterpiece of music at all.
This song sends shivers down my spine, it is so good. Classic album from a great band.🤘
"Left to die with only friend-- alone I clench my gun"
Always hits hard no matter how many times I hear it
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.
This is one of my favorite Metallica songs and favorite Kirk solos. The interlude where they switch from off to on beat leading up to the solo is just so brutal and punchy (I feel like I have watched tons of covers, all playing it incorrectly). And then when the solo mirrors the interlude when it also switches to on beat. It plays like some epic soldier march, desperately marching into one final battle. Love it!
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.
I agree... Doug you should review their entire album ¨Eppur Si Muove¨, it's the best from them. They sing in English, but they also sing in Italian and German.
Eppur Si Muove is an amazing album, full of great symphonic and opera arrangements.
Yes, Doug is a classical music composer, he should review more of those European Symphonic metal groups. Haggard is an awesome group. Also he should react to their album ¨Awaking The Centuries¨
He absolutely needs to do Therion as well since they created Symphonic Metal
This was always my favorite song on the record with the title track coming at a close second.
Doug should definitely review Fade To Black, as soon as possible. And I suggest live version.
I agree. That song is another masterpiece. Dark, beautifull, heavy, sad all at the same time.
But not the one they had to cut short
Lincoln 2018, the best live Fade To Black performance ever.
@@dawidgarstecki8553 kirk did butcher the solo though
It's amazing they were still in their early 20's when they were cranking out these legendary tunes...
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.
Yes the fast paced sweep picking between 2 strings is not as easy as it looks
What's cool about these lyrics is that James, who is a big football fan, took as much inspiration from injured and broken down football players from the 80's as he did soldiers. So it's fun to listen to it from that perspective.
The reaction at 11:25 is priceless, thank you Doug
Cliff Burton's influence on MOP is HUGE!
Flemming Rasmussen, the producer of Master of Puppets and their previous album Ride the lightning, is genious
I prefer his work on Blind Guardian’s Imaginations from the Other Side
i'm crying before the song even starts. great choice
"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...")
Well said Doug. These lyrics have moved me since I was 13 years old.