From album
Master of Puppets
Metallica · 1986
Details
TonalidadBm
Compás4/4
Tempo86 BPM
Duración10:35
CompositorCliff Burton / James Hetfield / Lars Ulrich
ÁlbumMaster of Puppets
Año1986
Credits
Music Cliff Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich
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The story behind
When you dive into *Orion*, you encounter an instrumental piece that takes you through different moods. It begins with a bass introduction that, with special treatment, evokes the feeling of a full orchestra. Then, the music moves with mid-tempo riffs, to give way to a slower bass line. The energy grows towards the end, and the song gradually fades out. What's interesting is how Cliff Burton, the bassist, shaped much of this composition. He was responsible for arranging the different parts of the middle section, creating a melancholic bass line and complex guitar harmonies. The piece includes bass solos by Burton, one by Hetfield, and three by Kirk Hammett. Originally, Burton had the idea to play all the solos on the bass, but he eventually shared some with the guitarists. The name *Orion* comes from the constellation, chosen for the "spacey" sound of its bridge.
This piece was recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Sweet Silence Studios, as part of the creation of the album *Master of Puppets*. The recording of that album spanned between September and December 1985. Interestingly, *Orion* and another song, *Welcome Home (Sanitarium)*, emerged from a single piece during the early demos, titled *Only Thing*. When separated for the album, *Orion* was not completely finished when the band arrived at the studio. It is one of the least performed live songs from that album. Its first complete live performance was in 2006, during the *Escape from the Studio '06* tour, when the band revisited the entire album to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. Before that, it used to be played in fragments or as part of other songs. In 2018, it was played to commemorate what would have been Cliff Burton's 56th birthday. The band has performed it on special occasions, such as at the beginning of a concert on their tour supporting their eleventh studio album, *72 Seasons*. The piece was part of the soundtrack for the film *Metallica: Through the Never*, although it was recorded in a prior rehearsal, unlike the other songs on the project. The bass bridge of *Orion* was used as a sample in DJ Shadow's song *The Number Song*.
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