Slayer Guitarist Kerry King Says His Favorite Metallica Album Is…

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Trying to pick a favorite Metallica album is no easy task; over the course of the band’s career, they have released ten studio albums (with a new record arriving next year).

It is always interesting to hear which of the band’s albums resonate the most with people, which is why it’s super awesome to find out what Kerry King‘s favorite Metallica record happens to be!

During a past conversation with Rolling Stone, the Slayer guitarist was asked to name his top ten favorite metal albums. Among his ten picks, Kerry shouts out what Metallica album stands out the most to him.

That Metallica record… well… it is none other than Master of Puppets! Here is what Kerry had to say about the record:

“I wasn’t on the fence about picking a Metallica record for this list, but it wasn’t a rushed decision either. Metallica’s a great band and they deserve to be on this list, so I thought, ‘What album of all albums would I put on if, say, I’m working out?’

“That would be Puppets because one of my favorite Metallica songs of all – well, probably my favorite Metallica song of all – is on that record, and that’s ‘Damage Inc.,’ the best song they ever wrote. That’s coming from a hardcore-thrash kid. I could justify including it by that.

“If you think Metallica is thrash, and they were at one point and stayed a thrash band for quite a while, I would say they were the first thrash band. They were more established than us. I remember seeing them early on in Orange County, in a place we later frequented called the Woodstock.

“Me and Jeff would go do homework, see what bands were popping, and what’s happening. We heard about Metallica and they played close enough to us that we went. And all I basically remember about that is watching David Mustaine play and ripping these crazy solos and he’s not even looking at his hands.

“I’m like, ‘That guy fuckin’ rocks. He’s awesome. He was a great talent.’ Unfortunately, his demons got the better of him and he had to go a different route.

“On Master of Puppets, though, there’s great stuff. I love ‘Battery’ and ‘Master of Puppets.’ It’s a little long for me. You know, Slayer doesn’t really make epic songs, ’cause I get tired of ’em. But that record, it’s got a billion great songs on it.”

What do you make of Kerry King’s pick for his favorite Metallica album? What is your favorite Metallica album?

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