In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program Wired In The Empire, Atreyu guitarist Travis Miguel was asked which Metallica album he thinks is better, Ride The Lightning or Master of Puppets. He responded:
“I’m gonna go with the obvious and say Master of Puppets. Personally, my favorite album is …And Justice for All. It’s an odd choice for a favorite because every song is, like, 18 minutes long and there’s no bass, but that was my introduction to Metallica, so I have a really soft spot for it. But between Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets as thrash albums, I’d say Master of Puppets. It’s a bit more refined, more mature. Not to take away from Ride the Lightning — because the jump in musicality from Kill ‘Em All to Ride the Lightning was huge — but the leap from Ride to Master was even bigger. At least in my opinion. Some people might think I’m crazy or stupid — I get that — but yeah, Master of Puppets for me.
“You also have to remember, Master of Puppets came out in ’86, and the band members were still relatively young when they created it. Kudos to them for that. Metallica is kind of my north star; they’re the reason I do what I do. So, yeah, I’ll always be a Metallica fan.”
When asked if Metallica’s magic comes down to James Hetfield and his right hand, Travis replied: “It’s all of it, really. I remember the first time I saw the video for ‘One’. I had never heard music like that before. The only metal I knew was what I saw on MTV, which was bands like Warrant and Winger — big, colorful videos with pyro and women dancing on cars. The ‘One’ video was the total opposite of that. It was dark and depressing, and I remember being almost scared by it as a kid. But when you’re that age, you get fascinated by things that scare you. So, yeah, that was my entry point to Metallica.”
Back in June 2021, Travis’s Atreyu bandmate, guitarist Dan Jacobs, also shared his love for Metallica in an interview with Radioactive MikeZ. He said:
“We’ve played with them a few times, always at festivals though — there’s never been a Metallica/Atreyu tour. Metallica are the kings of metal — and rock, for that matter. They’re the biggest band there is. Getting to see them perform and how they run things is inspiring for any band, especially in rock. When you watch them, it’s like, ‘Holy crap, man.’
“When you’re that big, you just have the best show. It’s so over the top, but in the best, most epic way possible. They still sound just as good, if not better, than ever. Those dudes are just incredible at what they do. James Hetfield is an absolute beast. Seeing Metallica live is an unforgettable experience. There’s a reason they’re as big as they are and have been so successful for so long. They’re the real deal. You will not leave a Metallica show disappointed.”
When asked how he first discovered Metallica, Dan recalled:
“The first Metallica song I ever heard was ‘Enter Sandman’ in the ’90s. That was around the time I really started paying attention to music. I was about 12 or 13, and I’d just started watching MTV. Before that, music was just something I heard in passing on the radio, but now I was actively seeking it out. I remember seeing the ‘Enter Sandman’ video on MTV or VH1 from time to time. I liked it — it wasn’t something I was obsessed with at the time, but I could tell it was a great song. The huge sound of the drums and guitars really stood out.
“At the time, I was more drawn to punk — bands like The Offspring, Green Day, and Rancid. That led me deeper into punk and eventually into hardcore, which then brought me to metal, especially in high school. That’s when I started getting back into Metallica. The song ‘Battery’ especially stuck with me. Out of all their older songs, that one resonates the most for some reason. It’s the track that always comes to mind when I think of Metallica’s early work.”
