The duration of Metallica’s song “Master of Puppets” is 8:36. It is the title track and second song on the band’s third studio album, Master of Puppets, released in 1986.
The song was recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark, during late 1985 with producer Flemming Rasmussen. Its unusually long running time reflects its multi-section structure: a fast, tightly picked opening, a slower melodic middle passage, extended guitar work, and a forceful return to the main riff. The track is also famous for its demanding downpicking, especially in James Hetfield’s rhythm-guitar parts.
Several details can cause confusion in trivia questions. “Master of Puppets” is not the album’s opening track; “Battery” comes first. The title song’s length is also sometimes misremembered as roughly nine minutes because it is substantially longer than many thrash-metal songs. The album version is specifically listed at 8:36, making that the canonical answer.
The song was released as the album’s sole single and became one of Metallica’s signature live performances. Its lyrics address addiction and manipulation through the metaphor of a controlling master and a powerless puppet.