Their third album would’ve been “Master of Puppets”, correct? If that’s the title you’re referencing, I don’t feel it’s over produced at all. Quite the opposite in fact. “And Justice For All” by comparison, is very slickly produced and very tight with the guitars and drums (even though the drums are basically fake). No bass on that album though. Poor Jason Newsted!
This sounds like albums 2, 3, 4.