Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ Wins Metal Madness Championship

After 23 days, 32 songs and a gargantuan amount of votes, Loudwire's 2012 March Metal Madness finally has its champion -- Metallica's 'Master of Puppets.'

Metallica began their journey to the gold in the Headbanger Region of March Metal Madness, taking on modern progressive rock titians Opeth and their track 'Blackwater Park.' Although Opeth's fans gave Metallica a run for their money, the thrash icons moved on to Round 2 for a battle against perhaps the biggest new metal act of the 2000s, System of a Down.

In the battle between 'Master of Puppets' and 'Chop Suey!,' Metallica pulled off the win by a respectable margin. In the Headbanger Regional Finals, Metallica went head-to-head with the almighty Pantera. Although 'Walk' proved to be solid competition, victory was against captured by 'Master of Puppets.'

The Final Four of March Metal Madness came down to the most legendary of acts -- Slayer, Iron Maiden, Motorhead and of course, Metallica. After the slaying of Iron Maiden and the 'Kill 'Em All' mantra being put into effect against Motorhead, the final two tracks were revealed for the World Championship Match -- Slayer's 'Raining Blood' and Metallica's 'Master of Puppets.'

In the end, 'Master of Puppets' took the championship after defeating Slayer in the most voted-on battle in the entire March Metal Madness saga. Congrats to Metallica on their win, and get ready for 2013, when we will take a whole different approach on the bracketed musical melee.