[Warning: This article contains spoilers for episodes 8 and 9 of Stranger Things 4 now on Netflix!]
The epic fourth season of Stranger Things has been all about the music! When part one was released in June, fans went crazy over Kate Bush. When part two was released last weekend, metal heads were jumping for Metallica. Earlier today, the band posted an official statement on their Instagram page, sharing how honored they were to have their song integrated into the season finale.
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The scene they’re referring to is, of course, Eddie’s show-stopping performance in the Upside Down. Eddie teams up with Dustin in order to provide a distraction for Vecna’s bat army in order to give the others a chance at stopping him once and for all. The two barricade Eddie’s Upside Down trailer, then grab his guitar. Eddie plays the classic metal song, demonic bats flying their way, with red lighting flashing behind him. It’s a scene that Dustin dubs “Most. Metal. EVER!” and rightfully so.
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MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
Obey Your Master
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For the Duffer Brothers, the song choice was intentional from the start. The scene marks an integral moment in Eddie’s character arc. Ever since the first episode of Season 4, he spent his time running and hiding, chased by both the authorities and the revenge-hungry Jason. But at this moment, Eddie decided he was done with running. The character playing a song about control serves as both a symbol of himself taking control and Vecna as a threat. The spider-like villain who hides in the underbellies of another dimension, invading the minds of his victims? Sounds like a good fit for the role of Puppet Master!
Nora Felder, the music supervisor for Stranger Things, confirmed that Joseph Quinn learned how to play the song for the scene, giving a whole new layer to the performance. A few days ago, Robert Trujillo, Metallica’s bassist, posted his own praise of the scene. He confirmed that his own son, Tye Trujillo, as well as lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, contributed to adapting the song for the show.
Since the premiere, “Master of Puppets” saw a resurgence in streaming that was not unlike Kate Bush’s “Running Up that Hill”. Currently, the metal classic is sitting at number 10 on Spotify’s top 50 for the United States.
