...And Justice For All
Metallica
1988
Album Summary
...And Justice for All is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on September 7, 1988 by Elektra Records. It was the first Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted, following the death of their previous bassist Cliff Burton in 1986. Metallica recorded the album with producer Flemming Rasmussen over four months in early 1988 at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. It features aggressive complexity, fast tempos, and few verse-chorus structures. It contains lyrical themes of political and legal injustices, such as governmental corruption, censorship, and war. The cover, designed by Roger Gorman, and illustration by Stephen Gorman was based on a concept by Metallica guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, depicts Lady Justice bound in ropes, being pulled by them to the point of breaking, with dollar bills piled upon her scales. The album title is derived from the last four words of the American Pledge of Allegiance. Three of its songs were released as singles: "Harvester of Sorrow", "Eye of the Beholder", and "One"; the title track was released as a promotional single. ...And Justice for All was acclaimed by music critics for its depth and complexity, although its dry mix and nearly inaudible bass guitar was criticized. It was included in The Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll of the year's best albums, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989, controversially losing out to Jethro Tull in the ill-fated Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental category. The single "One" backed the band's debut music video, and earned Metallica their first Grammy Award in 1990 (and the first ever in the Best Metal Performance category). It was successful in the United States, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200, and was certified 8× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2003 for shipping eight million copies in the U.S. The album was reissued on November 2, 2018, in vinyl, CD, and cassette formats, as well as receiving a deluxe box set treatment with bonus tracks and unreleased video footage. The reissue reached number 37 and 42 on Billboard's Top Album Sales and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively.
WikipediaI was 17 years old when this album came out. A friend introduced me to Metallica, via this album and also Master of Puppets. At the time, I described the experience of listening to Metallica as a kick to the gut, and I meant it in a positive way. I cannot stress this enough, how huge this album was. Among metal fans, Metallica was probably a known quantity at this point. But for the rest of us, they were new, startling and so refreshing in a sea of hair bands. It was like someone turned on the lights and everything was different after that. A freaking revelation. The intensity and the speed is obvious, the dark imagery, the social commentary, but with real musicality as well. I compare this to my experience listening to Napalm Death recently, and the contrast is worth noting. ND's music is designed to repel all but a very small audience. But Metallica had an awareness of where the boundaries were in metal at the time and they just pressed against the line constantly until they moved it. Some have pointed out that Metallica had a more progressive approach to their music, which I had never thought about but I think is correct. The complexity of the arrangements, the eschewing of traditional song structures... the band just existed in a different space from most of their peers. There are moments that are genuinely lovely, like the intros to "One" and "To Live is to Die," which makes the contrast against the heavier parts even more striking. What a great album. An hour+ of Metallica can be a little exhausting, even if you like them. But it's been a long while since I've listened to them, so today was a gift. Fave songs: One, Blackened, Eye of the Beholder, To Live is to Die
Metallica makes good pump-up and hype music for crowds, but not so much music to listen to on a regular basis, at least for me. Didn't really enjoy this, actually liked their live album much better
Look, James Hetfield is a singularly silly man. In fact, Metallica are a singularly silly band. They'd possibly be a good one if they wore their silliness more proudly. Hell, if they wore it at all. But I was weaned on metal so I can tolerate the fundamental dumbness here (that muscly rage is the answer) so long as it's accompanied by shreddy breakdowns like the one that starts at 4:30 in One and carries on until next year, or the glorious combination of brutalised guitar and drums at the start of Harvester of Sorrow. Of the albums we've had so far, this is the one that delineates the directness of the path from Prog to Metal most clearly. Really, the differences between this and Made in Japan are negligible. So well done Metallica, you kept me chuckling, but nowhere near as much as Maddy singing along from the other room to deliberately misheard lyrics. Pride of place comes from the title track: "Pin your plimpsoles to your rear". Go on, listen again and find it.
A masterpiece of thrash metal. One of my favorite albums of all time. "One" might be the best metal song of all time.
Classic thrash metal. Doesn't have the melody or nuances of some of the other metallica record but it's all about the riffs. Solid riffage for some long ass songs. Great record but they needed to turn Jason's bass up.
One of my favorite Metallica records. It's not quite my favorite, and I rated it a five probably due to nostalgia reasons, but the riffs on this are too addictive to rate it anything less. Of course, the bass could be a little more present, but that's Hetfield's problem. The lyrics on this are as poignant as ever and the drumming is brutal without sounding like garbage like it does in their later records. I highly recommend this to any metal fan that hasn't listened to it already. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9.
Crazy guitar riff after crazy guitar riff. So influential. Even though this isn't an album I will probably return to a lot, I can appreciate everything it does and created.
This album felt like Metallica dropped a lot of the melodies featured in Puppets and went back to the thrash of earlier albums but combined lots of riffs and changes into longer and more complex songs. I liked it overall, the mix is weird, but the album feels meaningful and is a great listen.
Never been a huge fan of Hetfield’s voice, but I do understand that lyrically and sonically Metallica is one of if not the best metal bands out there. “One” is probably my favorite track. Shocker. I also like the opening track “Blackened”. I probably just need to listen to more Metallica to get used to Hetfields voice.
I think this album was Lars reaching peak narcissist- his drums are pulled far too forward in the mix, but the album still sounds fresh today. Probably my 3rd favourite album by the band
Well, it's a classic for a reason. It's mostly fire from top to bottom. I have a few issues with the mixing (why is the kick scooped out like a used melon rind?) but not enough to take the score down from full marks.
Metallica’s 4th album is refined from earlier works. It’s clear they found their footing with their new bassist Jason Newsted following the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton in a tour bus accident. This album boats “One” which is a beautifully crafted piece of work even for being over 7 minutes long it’s easy to get lost in masterful guitar work. This is a solid thrash metal album (4th of 5 in a row masterpieces in their genre) from arguably the greatest Metal band ever assembled. Giving 4 stars, but would give it a 9.4 out of 10. “Hold my breath as I wish for death”.
Very cool, but one thing I wasn't crazy about is how many of the songs had no ending, they just stopped (and sometimes changed partway through like they know how to do a transition but not at the end of a song?) Also, fun fact: Keegan's house used to be owned by Lars Ulrich, the drummer
* not what i typically listen to * very good album, sick instrumentals * would listen to again
Remember when Metallica was labeled "sellouts" for making the One video? It was a game changer. Yes, it was.
This is amazing! The playing on this track is phenomenal and the energy and power off the charts. This is not a genre I’m familiar with but I get the appeal - absorbing and exciting, an incredible sound. I kind of enjoy the angry political lyrics, less so the rebellious teenager stuff (but hey maybe this is as therapeutic as seeing a therapist), but overall a musical smack in the face.
I just can't shake the image of goateed suburban dads rocking out to this while sitting in their garages and neglecting their wives while drinking cheap beer and wiping grease on their pants. They wonder why their wives don't want to fuck them. Maybe if you stopped cosplaying as a tough guy and embraced the life your career in dentistry has allotted you you might find a warmer embrace in bed. That said, it's still kinda fun. Very technical and clean. I dunno, maybe I should shave my beard into a goatee. I'm giving this three stars as I wipe my greasy hands on my pants and try to go pork my wife.
Funny the first repeat artist on 1001 is muthafuckin Metallic-AH. Justice for All-AH. Longer tracks-AH. Bigger jams-AH. Thrashier thrash-AH. Less melody-AH. Technically precise-AH. Respect their intellectual property-AH. Vague commercial-libertarian messages-AH. I like better this Metallic-AH. Too same for too long-AH. C+
Couldn't get into this one... As much as I enjoy metal I find a lot of Metallica kinda dull
Unfortunately this band named Metallica (repeat that to yourself a few times, really roll it around - Metal-lica, Metallica, Met-al-li-ca) take themselves too seriously to take seriously. They are really good at guitar solos, of that there can be no doubt. They are less good at… well most of the other things that make music music. Maybe that’s too harsh - but their lyrics, their delivery, the overblown length of their songs, the fun-void at the centre of it all… it all points to the same logic that propels the ever more serious, ever more gritty reboots of Batman: you cannot laugh at this thing, this is serious - look how serious it is, it’s actually making some really serious points about… serious things. Hella good solos though.
Just a bit dull really - too much grunting and gnarling.
Very trippy sounding and definitely interesting. This seems like it could use another listen to really hear the words.
One of my favorite bands. 'One' is still magnificent. Wasn't sure to give 4 or 5 as it's somewhat in between
Just a few days ago we had the previous Metallica album Master Of Puppets. I gave that one a 4 and liked this one a bit better. It's more straightforward and more focused & relentless. Also, Master Of Puppets came across as somewhat pretentious at times, while And Justice For All doesn't. There were a few really good tracks but One and the instrumental track To Live Ist To Die in particular were excellent. 4.5 rounded up because of how fantastic To Live Is To Die was.
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Because of their reputation, I had written off Metallica and was surprised by how sophisticated and interesting it was.
One of their best. And they have had some great albums. This was the first one I bought from them. I have them all now, It is pretty great, start to finish.
Els primers 5 discos de Metallica són tan increïbles que és difícil trobar-lis flaquesses. En aquest cas, disc de transició entre el trash metal dels començaments i el metal més clàssic dels propers treballs, proposen temes llargs, barrocs, complexes, però tots ells dos esglaons per sobre de la resta de millors bandes del període. A l'últims temes afluixen una mica, però la seva gran part és tan excel.lent que es fa difícil no donar-li les 5 *...
This was the first tape I ever bought. Got it second hand from some shop in Kempsey, in about 1991. I'd heard a couple of the radio hits from the black album already, but nothing before that - I was 7 or so. When I first heard blackened I didn't even know how something so cool and heavy could exist. It legit blew my mind, it seemed next level in a way that nothing ever has since. The rest of the album really doesn't dip much in quality - I couldn't say shortest straw is something I ever get a hankering to hear on repeat, but even that as the album's lowest point is a fuckin' statement and a half. It's not my favourite Metallica album, but it's still the band at pretty much their peak, their live shows from this time are 110% by far as good as Metallica ever got, and I can't listen to it without just thinking about RIFFS and that brutally dry guitar tone for a good 20min afterwards. 5/5.
Great album - more "prog" than I remember, with shifting time signatures and elaborate arrangements. Dueling guitar harmonies are nice, but that chunky palm muted E is never far away.
I’ve never listened to this the whole way through. The hits are still as epic as ever and I found a lot of the in betweens to be really good examples of highly technical metal. I think Metallica will always have the crown for me of king. Not only did they help establish the genre, they did it with clean intentionally played music, not just noisy shredding. Every note has a purpose. This one isn’t my personal favorite of theirs but it’s inpossible to deny the influence and lasting quality. I’d do 9/10 if we were on that scale, but it will be a 5.
Great album, perfect start to this insanity! One (obviously) and Frayed Ends of Sanity were particular highlights
Metallica at their most progressive and arguably their most aggressive. From a musical perspective this is them at the top of their game; the compositions, time signatures, tempo changes and guitar harmonies are all next level and it's clear to see how the band thought they'd taken this approach to songwriting as far as they could with this album.
Metallica at their most technical, as lover of all things bassy I have to admit, the lack of bass is really felt in this album but ultimately it doesn't get in the way of some truly masterful songs
This album was my introduction to metal and I will always have a soft spot for it. Classic album even without the backstory.
The essential metal album. Not exactly my type of metal but I cannot disrespect the greats
10/5. In 4th grade I had a mullet and an ....And Justice For All glow in the dark tee shirt; I rocked the shit out of that thing. This album complemented my panty dropping style.
Arguably the end of Metallica's thrash metal era, and what an end it is. Of Metallica's classic thrash metal trio (Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, and ...And Justice), I'm inclined to say Master of Puppets is the best album, and yet, there's a certain 'maturity' to these songs that really demonstrates just how much the band had grown as songwriters and musicians since 'Ride the Lightning'. While my opinion might change from day-to-day, 'One' is probably my all-time favourite Metallica song and just one of the best songs I've ever heard. Never has a 7.5 minute song felt so short - the beautiful guitar work in the song's first half, the face-smashing heavy-ness of the song's latter portion, Hammet's legendary solo, the lyrics; it's all just so damn good. And yet, there's so much more to like on this album than just 'One'! Blackened, the title track, The Shortest Straw, Dyers Eve - these are brilliant songs, each of them on their own the sort of songwriting that the majority of musicians can ever hope to achieve, and Metallica has them all featured on one album. So yeah, 5 stars.
I may be the only person on the planet that loves the production on this album and i'm not sorry. 5/5
This is still in my running rotation and is probably still my favorite Metallica album due to the sheer artistry and ambition of every track. There's a lot of virtuosity here, great messages, and it holds together as a full album.
This is a classic for me, it's not Metallica's best but still a solid album and it's the reason I learned guitar. One was the first tab I learned, starting with just the opening and eventually getting through all of the solos and the song front to back. Definitely would like to hear the version that still has the Bass track audible, but otherwise a big fan of this one and will give it 5 just for the personal impact it had on me.
Yeah, what they did to Jason is criminal. But this essentially a prog/thrash fusion album; that’s so far up my alley it may as well knock on my back door.
What an album! Yes there's the issue with the inaudible bass but it's Metallica at their most technical, on the cusp of world domination, when they were still pissed off. They were grieving for Cliff and they put this monster out. What I would give to be able to go back and see them on this tour.
Listened Before? Y Ah yes, another record from my favorite band of all time. This one is near flawless IMO. Pure magical speed metal with intelligent lyrics. Added to Library? It was already there Songs added to Playlist: Blackened, Dyer's Eve
I don't really listen to 80's thrash metal....but MAN. The energy....the riffs....so much fun
One of my favorite Metallica albums, some of my favorite Metallica songs and riffs. I know this record gets a lot of hate for its mixing but I've always thought it gave the instruments this cold, detached feeling that mirrored the subject matter of the songs (war, injustice, etc). The guitar sections were long, technical, and robotic. Even the cover is this blank white stone imagery. All of it always felt intentional to me and elevated the themes of the record well. Still could use more bass though.
A masterclass in heavy metal. Playing on the stylings inspired by the late Cliff Burton, Newstead’s first foray into a revitalised Metallica allows creativity that sling throwbacks to thrash metal and welcome an era of their greatest musical achievements.
One of my favorites and probably my favorite Metallica album. Heavy but with some great melodies and awesome solos.
Metallica does not falter in their 4th installment, still is not as immediate as master of puppet and ride the lightning. Also One is my fav Metallica song ever.
Although the energy and lyrics from the songs are amazing, the whole album is too much of the same for me. Maybe that's because of too much noise I don't know. Great songs, lyrics and message though.
Däng däng däng! Eine der besseren Metallica-Scheiben, wieder mal eine wohltuende Abwechslung. Und das von mir, über Metallica.
I overdid it on Metallica back in middle school, but it was refreshing to listen to a full album again with a different perspective than I had back then. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and it was nice to see a variety in my usual sound.
Very good metal album. My opinion may be a little skewed as it's the first album I listened to using KZ ZS10 Pros and the experience of listening to music with good headphones is so very good.
Not my preferred genre of music but it’s hard to deny that this is a great album. It shreds plain and simple!
This is without a doubt the best album I’ve listened to so far. It’s not something that I would listen to often but occasionally I could see myself playing a few songs off the album.
More like a 4.5 to me. The vocals sometimes don’t completely connect, and a couple of the switches within tracks can come off a bit odd. Everything else is absolutely incredible. Really great stuff.
Metallica just makes me think of playing guitar hero and that cheap, plastic clacky sound. How many closets are full of those plastic guitars...
flashback to 7th grade! I had friends in HS, they loved Metallica. This was on all the time. Not a bad track on the album. ONE was always a favorite and holds up just fine years later.
This is my Metallica. Accessible without compromising heaviness. Great album. Can't believe it was made in 1988; only 2 years after Master of Puppets, which sounds very dated by comparison.
Very peak Metallica. It’s not my favorite Metallica album, but there are some great songs. Musically you can hear the classical training on songs like “To Live is to Die”, which I could have listened to 9 minutes of the intro. Up there as one of their better albums, for sure
Very enjoyable. Some caricatural style metal, but also some surprisingly nice riffs. Up there with master of puppets.
Not my genre specifically, but a solid album that feels very raw and emoti0onal. Lack of bass makes it sound abrasive.
Sarò breve. Per chi come me, è nato negli anni '80, è cresciuto musicalmente con i Metallica ed ha desiderato di suonare in un gruppo anche grazie a loro, quest'album è quello in cui "wow!" ci sono i tempi dispari, c'è il tapping di One, c'è la doppia cassa di Blackened. Perché i Metallica sono un gruppo di iniziazione, ti avvicinano ad un certo tipo di musica e di stile. Poi si va avanti, si cresce e si scopre che Lars Ulrich è una pippa immane, che i soli di Hammett non sono un granché e che, ancora più grave, per colpa di un capriccio del batterista, in quest'album non si sente il basso di Jason Newsted. Per questo qualche anno fa è uscita la petizione "And justice for Jason" e su YouTube si trovano diverse versioni dell'album con il basso enfatizzato: un'altra storia. Quindi per quanto ora io sia cresciuto, per me questo rimane un album importante. Ovviamente i testi ora mi fanno ridere. Ma Blackened e Dyers Eve mi fomentano ancora tanto. Non do un 5 emotivo perché non riesco a passare sopra alla storia del basso. Quindi 4.. Come i Four Horsemen.
i knew this one, but not as well as others. i like it less than master of puppets, for whatever that's worth.
Here the lads begin to straddle thrash, rock and prog. They also turned down the bass so it's really lacking a bottom end. Production/ego issues aside, the songs are strong. I mean it's Metallica; all of their early albums are solid. Best Tracks: Blackened; One; The Shortest Straw
I skipped school to go into Edinburgh to buy this then listened to it non-stop for weeks. Not their best, and pretty much cutting Jason Newstead from the mix impacts the sound. Still a good album though.
Fast and raw with long songs that often sound like different songs stuck together but nonetheless a great album
A good album with all that makes Metallica legendary, but the stale production really makes it hard to match it up to the Black Album or MOP.
Pretty powerful stuff. Not really my bag and all the songs are too long. Still can't deny the raw talent on display here.
Pretty great, the title track is amazing, not sure I will really go back to it though, but will still give it a 4 because I'm not a perfect human being
When this came out I was mostly listening to a lot of hip hop, Joy Division, New Order and The Doors. I never really warmed to Metallica but would say this is my favourite album. It marks a turning point for the band from their aggressive speed metal to their slow commercial stuff. I think this middle point is the band at it's best
Creo que vistas de manera individual este disco está lleno de grandes canciones, obviamente siendo One la que se lleva el disco, aunque And Justice For All no se queda muy atrás. Creo que el lado donde le pierdo un poco es porque aquí Metallica se clava en hacer canciones muy largas y con muchas partes, que a veces tienen cohesión (como en One) pero que a veces parecen un collage de retazos que tenían ensayados y no cuadran del todo entre ellos. Eso me pasa especialmente con Blackened, que aunque tiene lo suyo, de pronto se vuelve hasta confusa.
No hay bajo, todos lo sabemos pero aún así este disco tiene mucho poder. Brutalmente largo (65 minutos en 8 canciones) a ratos sí se siente un poco vacío en la melodía. Líricamente muy bueno. 4.5 que bajan a 4 porque no es el disco que más escucho de ellos porque es algo cansado.
This was always my favourite Metallica album, but I really did not enjoy it as much this time around. The somewhat unusual production bothered me on this occasion: hardly any bass, and very harsh sounding drums. To Live is to Die is still the stand-out song for me.
Compared to the Black album - which I did not think was so strong anymore after listening to it now - I could appreciate this Metallica album much more after re-listening to it.
Songs good individually. Didn’t feel like a true true album though. Could’ve flowed better.
Solid solid riffage with face-melting solos. Towards the end it loses its steam, but ends on a high note with Dyers Eve. Metallica's last truly great album. Needs more bass.
lag 1 mjög solid, sáttur með það - 8/10 lag 2 titillag er göödshit - 9/10 lag 3 líka klassa lag - 8.5 aðeins betra en fyrsta lag lag 4 og 4th most spotify streamed metallica song, good shit like 8/10 lag 5 er snilld maður shortest straaaaww lag 6 gott en ekki jafn gott og hin, 7.5/10 lag 7 veisla, 8.5/10 lag 8 intro mjög skemmtilegt, steikt transition lol en skemmtilegt samt, svo er lagið sjálft insane, 9.5/10 besta lagið hingað til - svo er outroið sama og introið, djöfulsins snilld lag 9 já líka mjög solid lag 8.5/10 overall mjög sterk 8/10
Metallica is extremely accessible to me, and I have mixed emotions about metal half the time. But this was perfectly intense and melodic. I have to admit I wasn't paying too much attention to lyrics, but that'll be on the agenda during the next listen. :)
Frenetic guitar riffs, intricate harmonies, driving bass and gritty lyricism. An interesting almost entirely instrumental song in To Love Is To Die, which has a beautiful guitar part. Some songs overstay their welcome a little, but overall a good album!
Something Metallica gets that a lot of similar bands don't is that the throttle doesn't have to be at 112% all the time. Best track: One
Could stand to have a better mix, but ultimately this album absolutely rocks regardless. It's a bit of an underrated part of Metallica's catalog due to leaning a bit more towards the prog-thrash movement that was happening at the time. Really deserves more appreciation.
The meme is definitely spot on - this could've been way more powerful with some actual low end in the mix. There's still riffs for days and "One" is a classic I never grow tired of.
Ca fait bizarre d'écouter One et que Baloji balance pas de 16 dessus Prefs: Blackened, ...And Justice For All, One, The Shortest Straw, To Live Is To Die, Dyers' Eve Moins pref: Eye of the Beholder
Very good. Started off a bit meh, but was really into the album during the second half.
Pretty classic Metallica album. It is a solid follow-up to Master of Puppets, with a few gloomy/grungy slower jams that still capture the essence of this band. Vocal mixing on a couple tracks has not aged well. Still a fun listen. Fuck Napster.
Not my favorite Metallica album, Hetfield’s choruses sound repetitive. The music is really hard hitting. Enjoyed it!
Great album. I still recall the first time I heard One and it gave me chills. It still gives me chills now, on every listen. It's just terrible and beautiful. This album is before Hetfield starting adding extraneous 'ahh's on the end of every line. I almost miss it, weirdly. But yes, great album from what was a great band.
It's really hard to find a bad song or record through Metallica's first four. Loud, heavy, but absolutely gorgeous in spots when they peel away the overdrive and delve into more the classical pieces. Favorite tracks: "...And Justice for All", "One", "To Live is To Die"
What a great album by Metallica. Stand out track for me is One and I actually started liking this song back when it appeared on a Guitar Hero game. Definitely recommend any of Metallica's older works.
I kinda know this band… The album opens with blackened a song that initially seems grand but then forms into this all guns blazing riot of a song it works really well as an opener to the album as each time I was bored they would just change the whole song; just what is needed for a 6 minute song. Now for a 9 minuter the album’s title track (…and justice for all) the intro is done much better on this song it builds up from these relaxing mellow guitars to a choppy crunchy metal song. The lyrics are good , metal lyrics don’t really tend to work on me with the same themes of satan always being sung out, but this feels different it feels like a band who care about what they’re doing as musicians to make an admirable piece of musicianship. The guitars on the verses of eye of the beholder remind me of a horse galloping only to come crashing down an amazing effect. I’am not too fussed on the vocals on the verses of this song. The chorus is a bit more messy but it works and the vocals sound better here. So the song is a mixed bag but not bad. Song four is the song one it’s kind of a pause to the album as the listener knows it showing them that metallica can do more than the in your face long winded but good metal song. Well actually the song is still long winded but the rest holds true this is the album’s blissful walk in the park, great. Oh no, wait it turns into your typical metal song half way through. The shortest straw has everything you expect but nothing else. Good but not one I would re-listen to in a hurry. The start of harvester of sorrow is explosive then it forms into sounding like an army is marching towards you. It’s awesome everything that I want in one of these songs and not too long. I love the first 30 or so seconds of the frayed ends of sanity the most off the whole album but i’am not saying the rest of the song is anything but epic it’s ambitious but epic the albums best song. The album’s penultimate track is the 9 minute epic to live is to die it’s similar to one in the way that it starts off all acoustic then takes a massive left turn as it goes on. When the acoustic guitars come on these menacing guitars come on like you’re about to fight the final boss in a video game. It’s an awesome piece of skilful musicianship, it would’ve been my favourite song if it had lyrics that weren’t just spoken word stuff. The album closes on a good but rather odd note with dyer’s eyes a rather choppy mess of a track not stopping for much, having the album’s most aggressive singing and instrumentation. I like it but don’t love it. It was a bit too dragged out and in your face to be a 5 but it’s still a great display of musicianship and everything like that.
Very solid overall! Lot's of brilliant ideas dragged down by the shitty production, but has a few great tracks. "One" is a standout of course, and most songs have excellent guitar solos. "To Live Is To Die" is a sleeper hit. Album's a tad long, I think. Flawed, but still great.
I forgot about the song One, it's so good. Liked it even though I'm kind of over my Metallica phase.
Never listened to this one before. It is really good. But I still think ride the lightning and maybe kill em all is better
While this is not my favorite Metallica album, that title going to The Black Album, it does contain what I think is my favorite Metallica song though with "One". I do agree with the criticisms of the mix and have laughed at my fair share of ...And Justice For All lack of bass memes. It just isn't there. The length of these songs for a metal album is also a point against the album. Despite these negatives there are way more positives and this is still a great album that certainly deserves its spot on this list.
Nog steeds een beetje jammer dat de bas zo slecht hoorbaar is, het is al beter omdat het geremasterd is but still.. dijk van het album maar niet hun beste
It's not bad, but I'm not the hugest Metallica fan. They are like AC/DC to me- they have a time in place, but they fall into sort of generic metal for me- not as hard as some of the bands I really enjoy in the genre. "One" is the obvious standout track
Even though the guitar tone remains constant throughout the full hour, it works surprisingly well with the brilliantly arranged tracks that make up this album. There's a bit of a slide into monotony near the back half, but still a strong LP nonetheless.
Good technical composition, I can appreciate this for what it is. I don't fine myself ever really getting into this type of music though. Highlights: -And Justice for All
Loved the music. Not a huge fan of the lyrics, if you can consider them that. But damn is the music technical and awesome.
5/10. I wish Metal albums weren't always so long. This has probably been the most enjoyable one I've listened to so far, but I still don't want to listen to it for over an hour. It just starts to feel so bland. Maybe I just need to listen to it louder?
I thought some of the songs were too long and repetitive so it wasn't my favorite, but I still liked it.
6/10, not a bad metal album but it ended up feeling pretty formulaic and a lot of the songs did not need to be 7+ minutes
Levy löytyy jopa ihan CD:nä, mutta kuuntelin silti Tidalista! Ekana kuuntelin remasteroidun version ja sitten perään alkuperäisen. Alkuperäinen levy on tunnettu siitä, että bassokitara on miksattu tosi hiljaiselle, mutta remasteroidussa kuulosti minun korvaan, että olisi puolestaan käännetty basso tappiin. :D Itse levyn sisällöstä todettakoon, että sisältää hittibiisejä, mutta ei ole ainakaan nykyisellään kuulu suosikkeihini Metallican tuotannosta. Jotenkin kylmän, onton oloinen levy, ehkä se on se bassottomuus sitten. The frayed ends of sanity kuulosti tässä sessiossa parhaalta biisiltä.
Mijn eerste kennismaking met harde muziek. Ik kan me vooral herinneren dat openingstrack 'Blackened' echt impact maakte, misschien nog meer dan 'One'. Verder vind ik het nu toch vooral opvallend dat ze zijn weggekomen met het wegdraaien van de bas. Dat mis je nu toch echt. En de overige nummers vind ik toch echt minder sterk.
Better than the previously played more mature album. Hard all the way through. But, yet again, too long. Short, sweet and hard would’ve been nice as metal tends to feel repetitive after a few songs.
One' could score top marks on its own really. It is by far the stand out track on this album, the rest trailing behind in its wake. I wonder if it makes the rest of the album sound bad because that track is so superb. I only scored this 3, because I know Metallica do so much better. But still, what a track One is, faultless.
Uhm, yeah. I still love most of this album, still bewildered by Harvester Of Sorrow as 1st single. Boring and a sign of the direction for the next album. But Blackened, Shortest Straw, Frayed Ends..., the epic To Live Is To Die. Driven by majestic thrash riffs which I think the production only enhances. The guitars are really fucking massive. No bass, for Shane, we knew that. Then there's the elephant in the room. Or rather the man behind the drum kit, Lars Ulrich. You....are the weakest link! He drags the overall score down on this one. His technical limitations, or basic lack thereof become increasingly obvious as you listen over the years. It took me years to realise that he was never good but on this album it shows. Clunky, stiff drumming that lacks any real groove. That ranted, it doesn't kill my enjoyment of this album when I occasionally listen to it. A lot of it is nostalgic feels but most crucial is the fact that Hetfield writes some fantastic riffs. At least did.
Some greats here.. alot of fluff, I find Metallica take ages to get to meat of song. One is a banger though
It was alright. I enjoyed the slower sections in this album, but everything was fine. The main and bass guitars are fantastic; I just wish the drums added a bit more. The vocals do the genre justice, and the songs are oddly long. Favorite track: Harvester of Sorrow
Good album. I love metal but thrash isn’t my favorite. So I won’t rate Metallica as high as most metalheads.
I don't think I have realized this before l, but most of Metallica's are so long. Does every song need to be 7 to 9 minutes long? According to me this album did not have any iconic songs.
Despite metal really not being my cup of tea, I did think this was a pretty good album. I found some of the songs really hard to take seriously, but there were some excellent moments as well. To live is to Die in particular was very good. Closer to a 3.5
Oh, starting with AJFA. I always thought that Lars' drum parts were very awkward, albeit technical. Oh, also, #releasethenewstedcut
I haven't listened to this one since I decided Metallica were greedy posers for wanting money from Napster. Times change. Here's what doesn't - Metallica still sounds silly to me, lyrically, but goddam these boys got some riffs.
Not really my genre of music but its still very good for what it is. One and ...And Justice for All are the best songs.
First of all, I can't believe I listened to a whole Metallica album! Though there are some fine songs on this album and I can understand the appeal of the band to their fans, I wished it would ended sooner as it became quite monotonous and repetitious. They take themselves far too seriously and for a band (more specifically, Lars) that tried to shut down Napster and file sharing, lighten up! Blah!
Overall good. Production and instrumentation excellent. Personal Opinion: A bit heavy Relisten? Yes
The complexity of the composition is astounding, I don't know enough about the band to understand who the genius is, but it's clear that their music is akin to classical music in its form if not its aesthetic. I personally couldn't find a way in, as my own proclivity for synthesis between word and music was not fulfilled and left me wondering if it would have been a better album if it was instrumental (I'm sure that's sacrilege for Metallica fans, so that's why I've said it )
Segunda vez después de muchisimos años que escucho este disco. Nunca fui un amante del trash pero esta vez lo pude disfrutar más que en mi adolescencia. Encuentro cosas muy interesantes en el disco pero lo que más me llama la atención ( y no siempre para bien) es la larga duración de los temas.
3.5 | Nunca lo había escuchado como disco completo. Para mi opinión y gustos bien podría llamarse "One, Blackened y Otras Curiosidades." Se oye quizá despectivo pero tampoco quiero hacer menos las otras canciones, en general el disco tiene canciones excelentes, thrash a todo lo que da.... taaaan a lo que da que el disco termina sonando medio de la cola. Parece que lo mezclo un niño de 15 años que solo se le ocurre "SUBELE MÁS A LA GUITARRA... MAAAAAS." Y no, no es que tenga un sonido crudo, ni violento, ni fuerte, nada más suena muy apelmazado ahogando por completo al 80% de la batería y al 100% del bajo. Hasta para hacer música pesada se necesita sutileza y mano fina. Canciones excelentes amarradas en un paquete que de verdad da pena la calidad; más comparando con Master o Ride the Lightning (que esos sí los he escuchacho antes completos) y darse cuenta que discos anteriores sonaban impecables. Composiciones de thrash metal en una de sus mejores posibilidades... album feo.
Appealing album for me even though the most metal band I regularly listen to is King Giz. It didn't have anything too memorable though so I doubt I'll listen to it again
This album has potential but the production and sound quality was poor. It needs to be remastered or something.
I didn't like it all that much but the first one was fun. Didn't feel loud? Even though the whole vibe seems like it's gonna be.
While I enjoyed this one about as much as the Norah Jones one (meaning not very much), I give it one extra star because there is one song that I genuinely enjoy on this album (ironically, the track called "One"). It'd be more of a 2 and a half if that was possible here. A lot of the songs just felt really similar to one another, and on top of that the songs are long with not much variety. Got nothing against long songs, Tool is fucking sick, but their songs have like a build up and a purpose, where a lot of these tracks just felt like "metal because it's cool" if that makes any sense.
Was kinda waiting for it to be over by the end but I did enjoy most of it. One is a good track
1st album on this site. 1st time for Metallica. 1st heavy metal anything. Words & stories matter. I was surprised by To Live is to Die & how Cliff Burton influenced this album.
First time I've listened to this specific Metallica one. Not bad but not really sure why it is on the list.
Ok. I was pretty brutal to Metallica in a previous review, I think. So, clean slate guys. Slay me... The intro to the first song with the overlapping eBow guitars is a great way to lead into the pummeling. Love the guitars. Vocals are perfect for the music. Fuck Lars. Isn't that where 80% of people end up with Metallica? Haha. I don't talk a lot about cover art in these reviews, but it should be noted on this record. This album art hangs with some of Iron Maiden's finest, IMHO. And, that is to say, if you buy what's being sold, it's some great shit. But if you step back and squint your eyes, it also looks like something from "This is Spinal Tap." Both wins. So, I like this much better than the Black album. But it still has some Metallica hang-ups.
Nunca he sido muy fan de ellos, tienen canciones buenas y muy buenas. Su actitud frente a Napster nunca me gustó lo que no ayuda a mi interés. Lo mejor las guitarras de algunos temas: Blackened o Eye of the beholder. Y por supuesto su punto fuerte de baladas como One.
I have listened to this album dozens of times and recently sold the CD I bought when I was maybe 14 so I thought it was funny I came across it now. I think I liked it better then. Overall solid metal title “Blackened” and “One” are my favorite tracks
Kirk Hammett is amazing. One of my favorite guitarist to listen to. Don't love Mettalica as a whole but love that guitar.
Basically an above-average heavier album from Metallica. Noticeable are the half-hearted riffs, the martial rhythms that repeat themselves ad nauseam. (5/10) FT: One
First thing I noticed is that the mix feels a bit sterile, like it was either over-engineered to be cleaner or wasn't engineered enough, not sure. I think the only song I like is "One". And it's just okay for me. It's just not my type of metal.
I can definitely see why Metallica has a mass appeal beyond a strictly metalhead audience. They are at once the epitome of metal and yet they sort of transcend the genre in many ways. Although I ultimately find this album fairly exhausting, I definitely have a newfound respect for this output from their prime.
Not familiar with this one, more familiar with Master of Puppets because that's what some of my older friends were listening to when I was in middle school. I have trouble taking this music seriously, it's mainly the vocal delivery and the extravagant guitar solos.
...And Justice for All, Metallica, 1988 -Starts boring and very generic (i.e. - sounds like every Metallica song ever) but I mean hey: listen to those drums, nothing not to love there. -Metallica: incredibly skilled instrumentation paired with near-total inability to make their songs distinguishable from one another. They set the bar high with their preceding album, Master of Puppets, and I'm curious what they could pull off just 2 years later. -Really loved the opening for ...And Justice for All; the song doesn't evolve into anything to write home about though. 9 minutes in and I realize: this album is going to feel long as hell. Thanks Metallica... -Eye of the Beholder is a pretty decent song but forgettable -One has some absolutely delicious guitar licks and their shot a stylistic shift in the vocals really pays off - they communicate a sentiment both hopeful and devastated. We love this one of course and it does a good job hoisting the album out of snoozefest territory. -The Shortest Straw returns the album into snoozefest territory. Like so many of their songs, we build and build and build up to some self-indulgent drum and guitar ram-jams and fall back into some repetitive lyrics. Yawn. -Yawning continues through Harvester of Sorrow as the formulaic-metal intensifies -Did I just hear the WIZARD OF OZ flying monkey chant sample used in The Frayed Ends of Sanity, like what?????? LOL sure why not. It works. -Basically zoned out the rest of the album. Snooze snooze snooze. Great instrumentation but mastery of your instrument and your genre only counts for so much.
Pretty sure I listened to this a while ago off my own bat and was surprised at how mellow it actually is compared to my teenage perception of angst fuelled rage driven guitar noise. Although it's far from a chillout album, it all just seems so much tamer nowadays.
One of those albums I can appreciate even if I don't really like it. This is definitely an album, and maybe just a band, for someone other than me, and thats okay. It wasn't hard to get through, but I didn't really like the lead singer's voice or the instrumentals. Still okay though.
1988 kind of rocked from what I'm seeing as these albums keep coming. This is quintessential Metallica. Clearly they have lasted the test of time, but Lars and James are lights out on this, especially Lars. This was when they were probably wasted out of their minds though. One is a great track! If you love thrash metal and this genre, this is a 5/5. I, however, do not. That being said, this is as good as it gets to me, and so I"ll give it a 3.
I like the songwriting on this album. ...but the mix is unforgivably terrible. Lars disgracefully turned the bass down to zero to get a specific drum sound. But it was a lose-lose, because the drums sound extremely terrible too; they sound so flat and lack oomph. It's such a shame. It perhaps could've been their best album otherwise. There's just so much good metal out there besides Metallica that I don't bother with this album much. Also it's hilarious how much fans seethe that Jethro Tull beat this album for a Grammy in '89
Guitarists are so fragile. It was criminal when they mixed Cliff almost completely out of Master of Puppets. Who did the production for this album? Oh Metallica did. It sounds like sticking your head in a cardboard box. Thin and trebly. It deserves a new remix with some actual bass in it. Insecure little guitarists.
First half is solid, especially since the remaster. The second half gets to be pretty boring.
Metallica at their youthful, angry, energetic best. But as others have said this album could definitely use a remaster/re-mix. Guitars have the signature Metallica sound, but the drums are so flat and the bass is m.i.a.
A good classic metal album. This one seems to have pretty consistent guitar riffs besides a couple songs. One is a fantastic song that makes this album a bit better. A majority of songs suffer from not being too much different. The 9 minute instrumental song isn’t bad but is weirdly placed at the penultimate song. This album is good but isn’t as good as their self titled album. 7.5/10
I can appreciate the lyrics, the message, and the anger in these songs. My personal preference is just different from what Metallica and the metal genre as a whole is selling. Also, I believe that this is a feature of metal, but I cannot get behind multiple songs being close to 10 minutes in length.
My least favourite Metallica album, due to the awful, awful mix. Fave track - "One". Mainly for having seen them do it live a bunch of times...
Pretty classic heavy metal, good drums and guitar but I always find it hard to fully get into enjoying Metallica.
When I first picked up the guitar, I didn't know anything about technique. Early on I stumbled my way into palm muting and said to myself, "that's the Metallica chug-chug thing!" The riffs on this album have a harmony and beauty that isn't found as much on The Black Album. The production hides the lyrics a little better on this release, too, which is an overall benefit. (For what it's worth, I listened to the remastered version.)
Enjoyed it more than I expected. A few songs really slap and have a nice groove to them. 5/10
Listened to on 8/10/22 3/5 Favorite song: Blackened 9 minutes is too long for a song where I’m just getting yelled at - none of their hits were on this album
First song way better than the rest Songs are a bit long, especially the intros Like does any song need to be almost ten minutes long? No. After a while the songs all blend into one, nothing really stands out. Bit dull Faves - Blackened Overall - just fine, songs are too long and a bit boring Rating - 2/5
Album heeft de typische Metallica klank. Vind het voor een nummertje wel leuk, maar een heel album is echt te veel van het goede voor mij. Nummers zijn niet onderscheidend genoeg, waardoor alles een beetje een grote brei wordt.
Ist mir etwas zu heavy. To Live is to die - hat einen schönen Anfang und Ende. Dazwischen ist alles sehr schwer...
Apparently there was a bass track on this album that they turned down. I wish it was there. I'm not a big metal fan but it did sound a bit hollow.
One oli ihan kiva biisi niin kauan kunnes Hetfield avasi suunsa. Muuten perus Metallicatuubaa. Inhokkibändien top 5:ssa.
Just too much for a Monday morning! I made it through the first three, can see why I used to have a soft spot for the later metallica (liked the black album) but the earlier stuff is just too much of the same thing (over and over and over....)
Probably more of a 2.5. no tracks added to the playlist but appreciate the guitar work
Ik vond dit vroeger echt een goede plaat, maar ik kan er nu echt niet meer inkomen. Platte productie ook, als ie nou wat lekkerder zou klinken, zou het misschien nog wel te doen zijn.
It was an ok song, could have done with having a few more songs on the album, you know, change it up a bit
Ho fatto molta fatica a finirlo. Non capisco bene cosa mi vogliono comunicare, tecnicamente ci sono dei virtuosismi ma per quanto mi riguarda finisce lì.
In conclusione: Io c'ho provato ma rinnovo la mia impressione che i Metallica siano particolarmente cringe a tratti. I pezzi oggi suonano tutti estremamente banali ma c'è da dire che forse quando sono usciti erano rivoluzionari (forse?). Anche pezzi un po' più decenti come forse One comunque sono estremamente prolissi e abbastanza noiosi. Considerando che i Pantera erano dello stesso periodo direi che questo album non si merita più del 2.
This is the first time I've listened to a complete album from Metallica. My familiarity with Metallica centers on their Black album, fights with Napster, and the Metallica documentary from 2004. Was I listening to this album to experience the music or was I just trying to get through it? I felt like I kept getting distracted by thinking about a drummer who seems like a jerk, and a bullied bass player. Kirk Hammett has some skills. Between the lyrics and the delivery, whenever I listen to Metallica I end up asking myself, "¿What character is James Hetfield playing when he's singing these tracks?" I tried to be open. I don't think Metallica is my kind of music.
the worst 80s metallica album. mix sucks and writing isn't nearly as good as the other ones
The mix on this album is horrible. The drums are too far out front, there is little to no bass. This is what happens when the egos of individual musicians effect the output of the entire band.
I find Metallica boring and uninteresting for the most part. The only part of this that surprised me in a good way was the beginning of The Frayed Ends of Sanity where the Wizard of Oz Wicked Witch theme song made an appearance. And that lasted about 5 seconds. Otherwise I could have easily lived without hearing this. 2 stars.
Heel bekend album van een nog bekendere artiest. Begint lekker up-tempo! Toch zijn er in mijn ogen betere albums van Metallica en ik moet zeggen dat ik deze zelfs een beetje tegen vind vallen. Kan naast het bekende "One" niet echt een ander leuk nummer vinden. **
One is a phenomenal track, as they noted later in their career they were pretty coked out during the recording process and it shows in spots. The bass is turned wayyyyy down in the mix. Not my favorite of their albums but better than most.
So, you put me in a rough spot here. Previously, I rated Metallica's black album a 5 - and I stand by that. For the genre, there is no better band than Metallica at writing, performing, recording, producing. They are the complete package. Metal perfected. So, yeah, their best album (the black album) deserves to be on this list, and everyone should listen to it. But - I also thought that would be the only Metallica album on the list. This album is long, egregious, pretentious, etc. Unnecessary.
I wish I connected with this more, as I know I love Metallica sometimes, but it just fell short for me. It felt like a less full sound that I normally hear from them--curious as to why?
Despite being a big metal fan I have never managed to get into Metallica, despite my best efforts. This album only acted to strengthen my overall disdain for the band. The production on this album is truly awful. Nothing about the mix is cohesive. I tried both the original and the remaster, and both sounded horrible albeit in slightly different ways. The vocals sound okay, but everything else sounds like absolute shit and I can't believe it was ever allowed to be released in this state. The drums are way too far forward in the mix and overpower everything else, and this alone is enough to completely ruin the listening experience. The bass is pretty much non-existent despite being sorely needed to round it out. Guitar tones are mostly awful - rhythm guitars often too scooped and muddy, lead guitar too harsh and brittle, clean tones just pathetic and weak. Kirk's solos generally don't align with the songs at all, and it often feels like he wasn't even listening to the same tracks as the rest of the band while recording. Mindless guitar wanking devoid of musicality. All that aside, I did think there were some okay songs, and Hetfield's rhythm playing is solid as a great big shit-covered rock.
Not for me because I find it rather repetitive, but I can't say I've ever really given metal a fair chance.
Too thrashy for my taste. I am familiar with One. Quite liked a few folky intros and melodic guitar solos, but prefer more melody, stronger riffs and less angry vocals. However, I do like James Hetfields deep gruff voice!
Heavy metal is the first style of music I fell for, and it’s the one I always come back to. It’s the reason I followed this group. I have also used the term Selloutica unironically in the past. But seriously, why are there FOUR Metallica albums featured here? That’s more than Maiden, Priest, or even fucking Sabbath (all of which were my first loves before I discovered ‘tallica). Justice, with its sterile production and boneheaded progressive elements, is no essential as far as I’m concerned. The songs are overlong and half baked at the same time. I give it points for solid riffs throughout, but meh. D
One is great but the rest all sounds the same really. Gets a bit tedious over san hour.
Bar a few songs, not a Metallica fan. I like my metal but they just bore me. So here we go. 1 track in, in danger of bouncing off immediately. Played to perfection, just not particularly interesting. Title track appeals to my Prog-livities, much better. Eye of Beyolder- meh. One, lovely intro. An intro as long as several Wire songs. One is one of the few Metallica songs I already like going into this and it's obviously one of the greatest metal songs of all time, Billy Corgan also obviously loves this song and Siamese Dream very reminiscent of it. So, moving on, what's after that? Lots more meh, it turns out. Was literally mind wandering then I heard the line "loss of interest, question wonder", ha. I think this is getting a 2 because I need to like more than 2 songs in an hour of music. But One deserves more than that on its own. Shame it brought it's mates. Ah, damn. Dyers Eve is good, right at the end. Still though, I like less than half the album so it's gotta stay a 2. Went back to Megadeth to remind me thrash could be fun.
Tien jaar geleden zou ik grote fan geweest zijn, nu niet meer. Zeker geen volledig album.
I want to preface this with I do not enjoy heavy metal, so I will be biased in saying I did not enjoy this record. More enjoyable than heavier metal sounds, but still, was not for me. Typical progressions and sounds. Weak vocal accompaniments. Very predictable sound structure. Sonically it was fine for heavy metal.
It really does sound like a bunch of teenagers masturbating to their guitars and drums. The shrill sound that penetrates the head doesn’t do this album any favours, either. Metallica has released one good studio album, and this one ain’t it.
It was typical Metallica. Fairly repetitive with occasional frenzied guitar riffs. I like some of their stuff but not really this.
Struggling to remember why I was a Metallica fan. Flat and boring. The title track isn't even that good. One is the only gem here.
I knew exactly what this was going to sound like, and I wasn't disappointed. Well, actually I was very disappointed because I just find Metallica disappointing. A disappointing 1/5
His voice is pretty bad, like a kid trying to sound older than he is. Other than that I was not crazy about the songs, they weren’t that memorable and the ones that were memorable were ruined by his voice.
Four albums by Metallica in this list is just a joke. Even the editors make apologies for this one (“tinny sound,” “overprocessed,”). Clearly they’re the experts on this genre and this band. Other than a very few redeeming bits (the opening section of “One,” which sounds briefly like actual, you know, music), I just hear repetitive sound and structure, grunted vocals, sophomoric lyrics, thrashy breaks with quick flips back to speed (what editors call “riff salads”). For all the extremity, it’s quite paint by numbers.