When Stranger Things detonated Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” into the cultural bloodstream, it didn’t just spark nostalgia—it reignited a global conversation about heavy music. Behind that now-iconic moment was Tye Trujillo, whose contributions helped translate a metal classic into a scene that felt both timeless and immediate, bridging generations in the process.
“It was really cool to be a part of,” Trujillo says. “Stranger Things is kind of like one of the main things I think that brought the rock music, guitar music back on the map for a lot of the younger generation. So to be a part of it really means a lot.”
The opportunity didn’t come from fandom or a carefully plotted career move. “They reached out to me,” Trujillo explains. “To be honest, I wasn’t really aware of Stranger Things too much. I knew it was popular, but then I found out more about the show and I was like, ‘Oh, this is cool.’” What sealed it was the vision. “I thought it was a great idea to bring that song—Master of Puppets—into the scene, because I think it would really bring back that music on the map.”
When the finished scene finally aired, the impact was immediate. “It was pretty cool seeing Eddie in the junkyard with the guitar,” Trujillo says. “It’s cool how it’s raw—it’s like a throwback to what I’d imagine the ’80s would be. Makes you almost want to go back in time.” The moment didn’t just live online; it reshaped how a new generation approached guitar-driven music, sending Metallica streaming numbers through the roof and reminding the industry that riffs still matter.
That same spirit—raw, instinctive, and unafraid to swing hard—runs through OTTTO’s latest EP, Sweaty Pool. Where earlier releases leaned more direct, Trujillo says the band wanted to push themselves this time. “With Life Is a Game, we were shooting more for kind of a straight-up sound,” he says. “While this Sweaty Pool EP—we wanted it to be a little more different and kind of abstract.”
The EP’s energy mirrors the cultural moment Trujillo found himself in with Stranger Things: heavy music untethered from rules, bleeding into new spaces. From the feral Nick Oliveri-assisted title track to the grunge-leaning power grooves of “Canyon,” OTTTO sound like a band catching momentum at exactly the right time.
Between global touring, high-profile collaborations, and a Netflix moment that brought metal roaring back into living rooms, Trujillo isn’t slowing down. “We’re going to be constantly writing stuff,” he says. “Just staying busy and staying creative for the next year.” If Stranger Things proved anything, it’s that the next chapter of heavy music isn’t behind us—it’s already happening.
Watch Skratch N Sniff’s full interview with Tye Trujillo below!