โChrissy, this riff slapsโฆโ
From the moment Eddie Munson plugged in and unleashed the fury of โMaster of Puppetsโ in Season 4, Metallica became permanently woven into the Stranger Things universe โ and into Netflix history. But was that the only time Metallica made an appearance? Letโs break it all down with every episode and every scene where Metallica melted our minds like demogorgons on toast. ๐ฅ
โก Season 4, Episode 9 โ The Piggyback
๐ต Song: โMaster of Puppetsโ โ Metallica (1986)
๐ Scene Timestamp: ~38 minutes in
๐งโโ๏ธ Context:
Eddie Munson, Hellfire Club president and absolute legend, grabs his Warlock guitar, climbs on top of his trailer in the Upside Down, and blasts โMaster of Puppetsโ like a man possessed (by METAL, obvs). The plan? Distract the bat-like horrors guarding Vecnaโs creepy murder mansion so the gang can sneak in unnoticed.
๐ฅ Why it rocks:
- Eddieโs solo was performed by real-life shredder Tye Trujillo, son of Metallicaโs Robert Trujillo.
- Joseph Quinn (Eddie) learned the song himself and actually played much of it on set.
- Metallica themselves gave it the horns-up, saying they were โblown awayโ by the tribute.
- TikTok exploded with fans discovering (or rediscovering) the track, sending the 1986 classic straight back into the charts.
Metallica + Stranger Things = pop culture perfection.
Quote from the band:
โThe way the Duffer Brothers have incorporated music into Stranger Things has always been next level.โ โ Metallica on Instagram
Fun Fact: โMaster of Puppetsโ plays in its entire 8-minute glory โ making it one of the few times a full-length metal epic was allowed to run wild on primetime streaming. Tidy, right?
๐ป Honorable Mention โ Wednesday (2022)
Okay, so not technically Stranger Thingsโฆ but still a Netflix gothic teen drama with a love of the macabre and a killer soundtrack.
๐ต Song: โNothing Else Mattersโ โ Apocalyptica (Metallica cover)
๐บ Episode: Season 1, Episode 1 โ Wednesdayโs Child Is Full of Woe
Scene: While Enid gives Wednesday Addams a sassy tour of Nevermore Academy, this haunting cello version of โNothing Else Mattersโ plays in the background โ perfectly fitting the spooky-but-sophisticated vibe.
Why weโre mentioning it:
- Metallicaโs DNA runs thick through Netflixโs soundtracks
- Apocalypticaโs cello version is so lush and eerie, it deserves a slow-motion walk through a haunted hallway
๐ค So, Was That Really the Only Time Metallica Featured in Stranger Things?
YES. But it was so damn epic, youโd swear they were on the soundtrack every episode.
Here’s the official Riff Report Metallica x Stranger Things breakdown:
| ๐บ Episode | ๐ต Song | ๐ Scene |
|---|---|---|
| S4, Ep9 โ The Piggyback | โMaster of Puppetsโ | Eddie shreds on top of his Upside Down trailer to distract demobats |
| (Bonus) Wednesday S1, Ep1 | โNothing Else Mattersโ (Apocalyptica) | Played during tour of Nevermore Academy |
๐ธ Why Metallica & Stranger Things Is A Match Made in Hellfire Club Heaven
- The showโs 1980s setting? Perfect era for Metallicaโs rise to thrash supremacy
- The themes of darkness, rebellion, and chaos? Metal to the core
- Eddie Munson? Literally based on every kid who wore a battle vest in your school cafeteria and air-guitared in detention
Stranger Things didnโt just use Metallica. It resurrected their legend for a new generation. Kids went from knowing Metallica as โDadโs gym musicโ to air-shredding along with Eddie on TikTok. ๐จโ๐ธ๐ฑ
๐ง Metallica in Pop Culture: From the Upside Down to the Top 10
After the episode aired, โMaster of Puppetsโ hit:
- #1 on the iTunes rock charts
- Top 40 on Billboard Hot 100 โ for the first time ever!
- Spotify streams jumped by 400%+ overnight
Even Robert Trujillo said his son โabsolutely crushedโ the solo, proving once again that talent โ and tremolo โ runs in the family.
๐ง Closing Thoughts From the Upside Down
If you didnโt want a guitar after watching Eddieโs solo, check your pulse. Stranger Things x Metallica gave us one of the most metal moments in TV history โ and reminded the world that no matter the decade, the riff reigns supreme. ๐ธโก
So whether youโre an OG thrasher or just joined the ride thanks to Netflix, one thingโs for sure:
Eddie Munson didnโt die in vain. He died a hero. A metal legend. A riff god.
โฆand the bats? They never stood a chance. ๐ฆ
Want more Riff Report madness?
๐ Check out our guides to rock and metal on screen, legendary soundtrack moments, and why the Upside Down needs a Marshall stack.
๐ค โThat was most metal ever.โ โ Dustin Henderson, probably
#StrangerThings #Metallica #EddieMunsonLives #MasterOfPuppets #RiffReportBlog #NetflixAndRiff
