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Watch: Members Of LAMB OF GOD, GWAR, DEATH ANGEL, Others Celebrate 40th Anniversary Of METALLICA’s ‘Master Of Puppets’ Aboard ‘Headbangers Boat 2026’
Musicians from LAMB OF GOD, GWAR, DEATH ANGEL, IN FLAMES and other bands performed an all-star cover set aboard the Headbangers Boat 2026 cruise, marking 40 years since METALLICA released “Master Of Puppets”. The event matters because the album remains a landmark of metal, with lasting influence and recognition beyond the genre.
The 2 November set included “Battery”, “Master Of Puppets”, “The Thing That Should Not Be” and “Disposable Heroes”. Released on 3 March 1986, the album was METALLICA’s first to reach platinum certification and is now eight-times platinum in the United States; in 2016, it became the first metal album added to the US National Recording Registry. It was the last METALLICA record featuring bassist Cliff Burton.
In short
- Musicians celebrated 40 years of “Master Of Puppets” with a cruise performance.
- The set featured songs including “Battery” and the title track.
- The album is eight-times platinum in the United States.
Explained simply
Metallica are a heavy metal band formed in the United States in 1981. Their third album, Master of Puppets, came out in 1986 and helped bring the band to a wider audience; it was also the last Metallica album to feature bassist Cliff Burton.
The album is regarded as an influential work in metal, and its recognition has extended beyond the music scene: it was the first metal album added to the US National Recording Registry. Its songs continue to be performed by musicians from other bands, including Lamb of God, Gwar, Death Angel and In Flames.