Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' Is Trending All Over Spotify

As of the writing of this article (July 4), Metallica's "Master of Puppets" is sitting at No. 26 on Spotify's Top 50 - Global playlist. On the Top 50 - U.S. playlist, the track is even higher, clocking in at No. 12. Hanging around the thrash legends are artists like Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, Bad Bunny and Beyoncé.

"Master of Puppets" has landed on other major Spotify playlists, too, including big on the internet, which currently features 131 other songs and is nearing 2 million likes.

So, why is Metallica's titletrack to their epic 1986 album trending 36 years later?

Look no further than the Netflix original series, Stranger Things. The second volume of the fourth season of Stranger Things was released just a few days ago and those who binged the season's final episodes were met with an awesome surprise (slight spoiler): "Master of Puppets" is featured prominently, as you can see in the video below.

Robert Trujillo was quick to celebrate the inclusion of the thrash classic not only because he's kind of a big fan of the song, but also because his son, Tye, recorded some of the guitar parts for the episode. You can read more from the proud father here.

This isn't the first time Stranger Things helped sky-rocket an older song back into the public eye. Kate Bush's 1985 tune, "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)," was featured in the first volume of season four and has found new life because of it. You can read more about the track's surprising rise to fame in the 21st century here, and you'll notice below that it has claimed the No. 1 spot in both Top 50 playlists on Spotify.

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"Master of Puppets" is trending far beyond Spotify, too. In the iTunes store, on the broad Top Songs chart, it is No. 2, behind Kate Bush.

iTunes Top Songs - July 4, 2022

On Apple Music's Top 100: USA playlist, "Master of Puppets" has popped up in the impressive No. 37 spot.

"Master of Puppets" is currently the most-played song in Metallica's live sets. They debuted the track on Dec. 31, 1985, at the Civic Center in San Francisco, and have since played it nearly 1,700 times. It was the only official single released from Master of Puppets.

Listen to Spotify's Top 50 - Global Playlist

Listen to Spotify's Top 50 - U.S. Playlist

Watch Metallica Perform "Master of Puppets" Live in Hollywood, Florida

10 Facts About Metallica's 'Master of Puppets' Only Superfans Would Know

In so many ways, Metallica would never be the same after Master of Puppets hit the streets on March 3, 1986.

Because fans already know a lot about the record—like how the title for "Leper Messiah" was inspired by lyrics to David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" or that "The Thing That Should Not Be" has roots in H.P. Lovecraft's writings—we decided to dig deep into the history of Master of Puppets to pull out 10 facts that only superfans would know.