Master of Puppets is the title track from Metallica's third studio album, released in 1986, and one of the defining songs of thrash metal. Built on James Hetfield's relentless down-picked riffing, it became a staple of metal culture for decades. The song reached a new generation in 2022 when it featured prominently in Stranger Things season four, sparking a wave of covers, memes and short-form edits. Its short, aggressive riffs make it ideal for sampling, which keeps the track circulating in gaming videos and edits.