...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
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.
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
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.
A masterpiece of thrash metal. One of my favorite albums of all time. "One" might be the best metal song of all time.
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
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+
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.
\m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/ \m/
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.
All that's missing is Jason Newsted. Dyers Eve contrasts tragically with a song ten years later, "Mama Said."
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.
...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.
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.
Metallica is an iconic band in the overall metal style, there's no arguing about that. But let's try to be honest for a second: generally speaking, James Hetfield's delivery of his bland vocal lines is totally dull and unimaginative. Another guy actually *really* screaming his lungs out would have taken those songs up to another level. As for the music itself, it sounds way too paper-thin on this particular record compared to a lot of stuff that was later done in said genre, including Metallica's own "black album" (yep, a lot of critics were right: where's the goddamn bass?). So I guess that as far as albums go, you can keep *Master Of Puppets* and *Metallica* in your list of potentially essential LPs, if only for their cultural importance, and throw everything else into the "thrash" can. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 798 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 106 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 50 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 46 (including this one)
Very trippy sounding and definitely interesting. This seems like it could use another listen to really hear the words.
I don't know how many times I've listen to this album, but it's enough.
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.
Joya. Siempre es agradable recordar un discazo musical, de lo mejor del thrash.
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.
One of the greatest metal albums of all times!! the good times of metallica
Yep, exactly what I expected from one of the classic Metallica albums.
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.