Metallica Is An American Heavy Metal Band. The Band Was Formed In 1981 In Los Angeles By Vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield And Drummer Lars Ulrich And Has Been Based In San Francisco For Most Of Its Career. The Band's Fast Tempos Instrumentals And Aggressive Musicianship Made Them One Of The Founding "big Four" Bands Of Thrash Metal Alongside Megadeth Anthrax And Slayer. Metallica's Current Lineup Comprises Founding Members And Primary Songwriters Hetfield And Ulrich Longtime Lead Guitarist Kirk Hammett And Bassist Robert Trujillo. Read More On Last.Fm
Leper Messiah Is The Sixth Track Of Metallica's 1986 Album Master Of Puppets. Religion's Control Over People Is Castigated Throughout The Song By James Hetfield. Hetfield's Relationship With Christianity Is Well-Established And Stems From His Mother's Death Because Of Her Refusal To Seek Medical Treatment For Cancer Because Of Her Christian Science Beliefs. Religion Is Frequently Discussed In Other Metallica Songs. In This Song The Leper Messiah Of The Title Is Someone Who Uses Others' Faith For Their Own Personal Gain And For Control Over Them. After The First Chorus The Narrator Changes To A Dissident Of Religion Asserts That Religion Is Nothing But Mental Slavery And That Those Heading Religions Only Do So For Power And Control. Cover Versions Include UK Death/heavy Metal Band Afflicted On Metal Militia - A Tribute To Metallica Compilation CD 1994 On Black Sun Records.