'Master Of Puppets' Wins Out for Shavo Odadjian in METALLICA Album Showdown

When Shavo Odadjian, bassist of SYSTEM OF A DOWN, got hit with the impossible question of whether METALLICA’s “Ride The Lightning” or “Master Of Puppets” was the superior album during an interview with Radioactive MikeZ on 96.7 KCAL-FM’s “Wired In The Empire,” he gave the kind of answer you’d expect from a guy who’s been steeped in metal for decades. “Personally, I spun ‘Master Of Puppets’ more,” Shavo admitted. But he wasn’t about to downplay ‘Ride The Lightning’ either, calling it home to some of the greatest metal tracks ever. He emphasized that both albums are “different beasts”—each an undeniable influence on his music.

He went on to say that ‘Master’ has a more “commercial” feel, not in the sellout sense, but because it’s packed with riffs that stick with you. However, ‘Ride The Lightning’ hits a little differently, with more extended compositions and some deeply emotional moments—like ‘Fade To Black’, which he described as a track that makes you tear up without even realizing why. According to Shavo, both albums hit a sweet spot where you know it’s great because you keep coming back to them.

Pressed further on his preference, Shavo seemed to struggle with choosing one over the other. “I didn’t say that,” he quickly corrected when MikeZ suggested ‘Ride The Lightning’ might be his top pick. For him, ‘Ride’ is full of intricate compositions that aren’t necessarily catchy but still command attention, whereas ‘Master’ has more memorable moments. And then there’s ‘Orion’, a track so “ridiculous” that it pretty much pushes ‘Master Of Puppets’ into a league of its own. Shavo finally agreed with MikeZ, acknowledging that ‘Orion’ is the tipping point for why he would lean toward ‘Master’—because any album featuring a track like that deserves the nod.

Beyond reminiscing about METALLICA, Shavo is currently gearing up for the release of his new band’s album. SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is set to drop its debut on October 11 via Sumerian Records’ imprint, 1336 Records. The lineup includes vocalist Taylor Barber (LEFT TO SUFFER), WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist and producer Michael Montoya (a.k.a. Morgoth Beatz, known for his work with Travis Barker, Juice Wrld, Lil Xan, and others), guitarist/backing vocalist Alejandro Aranda (better known as Scarypoolparty from American Idol), and WINDS OF PLAGUE drummer Josh Johnson.

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is set to make their live debut at the Mayhem Festival on October 12 at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino. With that lineup, and Shavo’s touch, you can bet it won’t be just another average gig.