...And Justice For All

Most emphatic "This one just wasn't for me" album so far which is a bummer because I always liked Metallica's most famous song, and I've actually liked most metal from other bands people have shown me. I think I like the idea of it more than the experience of a whole album's worth unfortunately. However I'm not blind to the obvious craft on display, and even if the songs do all sound very alike to me, I wouldn't consider that a knock if it was in a genre I could listen to all day (see my rating for Fatboy Slim). Also, and this is maybe the one thing that made me certain that my 2 star rating over 1 isn't just a sense of obligation but my own personal enjoyment: To Live Is To Die is breathtaking. This was another gym listen for me, ending with 15 mins of treadmill running that coincided with that track. And it's ironic that it's the slowest, most meditative one on the album, that basically any other song would have fit my usual uptempo running requirements better, but it completely gripped me and had me in a trance. I only looked up the background for it afterwards but i absolutely could have guessed that song is driven by real grief.

Love the instrumentals and enjoy the vocal style, occasionally songs feel a bit overlong

Not really my cup of tea

Sometimes I get a bit tired of the vocals, but the guitar i can never get tired of

listen, i want to love this more than i do, really. but it just blends into the same monotonous shredding way faster than i'd hoped for. 3 because it's sick af but not transcendent

LOL the "power ballad" album! Becuase "Puppets" was my 14-year old's introduction to metal, I think I might like it more... But I also saw the Justice tour in both the UK and US as a 16-year old, so all the stars!

Bangers from start to finish. It’s their first without Cliff Burton, so it’s rather bittersweet. But that doesn’t stop the boys from digging deep and coming back with another thrash classic. Despite everything, Jason Newsted works really well with the rest of the band, and I was never a fan of what they did to him on this record. I love the YouTube versions of these songs with the added bass. All that said this is a 10/10 highly influential and personal album for me. I would argue it’s last truly great album from their classic thrash series. Don’t get me wrong, the black album is great in its own way, but it’s not classic Metallica. This one is on that other level.

Love this Metallica record Maybe their underrated best album?

This surprised me, I didn’t think Metallica was for me but I enjoyed this. Lyrically not doing much for me, but the drums and guitars are undeniably fantastic

Not for dancing and partying. Sit down close your eyes and listen.

I don’t love Metallica but the hits are the hits. One is a great track that brings me back to guitar hero days and instantly failing on expert when the solo hits.

Positief: ze hebben een eigen unieke sound Negatief: ze hebben een eigen unieke sound. En hoe meesterlijk alle verschillende riffs ook zijn, uiteindelijk klinkt het voor mij allemaal wat hetzelfde op den duur. Bonuspunten voor one, want dat is toch wel echt 1 van de beste nummers ooit

klinkt als migraine

in de oneindige queeste om gitaren zo min mogelijk als gitaren te laten klinken is Metallica hier voor mij de mist in gegaan. Zowat ieder nummer heeft een gitaar die overproduced is tot een soort gemuteerd versie van white noise, met als begeleiding drums die iets vaag weg hebben van de potten en pannenset die bij ons thuis in de lade ligt. Verder dan dat zijn er ook geen andere instrumenten te vinden in dit album, ik neem aan dat deze ergens op weg verloren zullen zijn geweest. Metallica is goed in gitaarriffs, maar op dit album blijft het daar bij.

Maybe if it wasn't mixed/mastered so god damn flat and quiet I actually be able to enjoy this. They got good riffs once they turn the distortion off. "One" has the best intro, absolutely beautiful. Other than that, I don't like the vocals. However I will give them an extra point for being my mother's favourite band. 2/5

I have never liked Metallica and after this album i still dont. Track 9 To Live is to Die is typical of the album which is it is boring. Just plods along nothing to say or do. Other tracks have the plincity plinc played quickly. Not for me.

Honestly? You remaster the album and keep the drums tinny and the bass non-existent? Come on. There's One good song on this album and the rest... I get it that Metallica is one of the fundamental thrash metal bands (at least, its early stuff) but the songs should have been half the length, at least. This album is like the thrash metal equivalent of a tiresome jam band where they just go on and on and nothing interesting happens.

Finally something decent. Great album, probably my favorite by them.

1/5 just not my vibe, too loud and chaotic

Not my fav album by Metallica

music is love

More of a later Metallica fan as there earlier stuff wasn't as polished. Still this one's got Harvester of Sorrow and One on it, so it's got more juice than most bands have.

I'm a big Metallica fan, but, whereas many a fan may list Justice as their favorite, I rank it near the bottom. This album has some great songs, mind you - Harvester of Sorrow is one of my favs - but the album just sounds bad. There's no bass in the mix, and in several songs you can hear their fingers sliding on the strings and it's like nails on a chalkboard for me - sends shivers down my spine whether I consciously hear it or not. It's just not a pleasant listening experience for me.

Here’s an in-depth review of Metallica’s *…And Justice for All* (1988), examining its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and overall pros and cons. --- ## Overview Released on August 25, 1988, *…And Justice for All* was Metallica’s first studio album following the death of bassist Cliff Burton in 1986. It features new bassist Jason Newsted, though his presence is notoriously buried in the mix. The album marks a peak in the band’s technical ambition, expanding their thrash metal foundation with progressive song structures, political lyricism, and a colder, more complex sonic identity. --- ## Lyrics The lyrics on *…And Justice for All* shift notably from the horror-fantasy and personal angst of earlier albums toward sociopolitical critique. - **Themes:** War, corruption, injustice, censorship, greed, betrayal, and the failure of legal, military, and media systems. The title track condemns a hollow legal system; “One” is an anti-war masterpiece about a soldier trapped in his own body after being maimed by a landmine; “The Shortest Straw” addresses McCarthy-era blacklisting; “Harvester of Sorrow” deals with domestic violence and psychosis; “Eye of the Beholder” attacks censorship and thought control. - **Style:** James Hetfield’s lyrics are dense, wordy, and delivered with furious precision. There’s less use of the “yeah” or “oh” ad-libs than on later albums. The tone is grim, disillusioned, and moralizing without being preachy. “One” stands as the emotional centerpiece, its lyrical descent from memory to nightmare matched by a shift from clean guitars to thrash. **Pro:** Lyrically ambitious, mature, and thematically cohesive. **Con:** Occasionally verbose (“Dyers Eve” packs so many words into its verses that the rhythm feels rushed), and the anger can tip into monotonous bleakness. --- ## Music The songwriting is extraordinarily complex for a mainstream metal album. - **Structure:** Songs regularly exceed 7–9 minutes, with multiple tempo changes, odd time signatures, and extended instrumental passages. “…And Justice for All” (9:45) cycles through four distinct sections; “To Live Is to Die” (9:48) is a largely instrumental elegy for Cliff Burton. - **Guitars:** Hetfield and Kirk Hammett employ intricate, palm-muted gallops, harmonized leads, and arpeggiated clean sections. The riffs are angular and dissonant, often eschewing standard blues-metal patterns for chromatic runs and syncopated accents. - **Bass:** Jason Newsted followed Hetfield’s rhythms exactly in rehearsal, but his bass is nearly inaudible on the final mix—a famous and bitterly debated production choice. - **Drums:** Lars Ulrich’s drumming is aggressive and technically demanding, with extensive use of double bass, tom fills, and abrupt stops. However, the drum sound is trigger-heavy and clicky. - **Vocals:** Hetfield’s snarl is more controlled and melodic in places (“One” verses, “Frayed Ends of Sanity”) but still harsh. He rarely sings cleanly; instead, he uses a half-shout that became a template for later groove metal. **Pro:** Musically groundbreaking—bridging thrash and progressive metal before bands like Dream Theater or Opeth codified the style. **Con:** Lack of bass guitar weakens the low-end power, making the album feel tinny. The complexity sometimes sacrifices memorability for technical display. --- ## Production (The Most Controversial Element) Produced by Metallica with Flemming Rasmussen (engineer), the sound is **dry, bass-deficient, and top-heavy**. - **Guitar tone:** Sharp, scooped mids, highly compressed. Works for clarity in complex riffs but lacks warmth. - **Drums:** The snare is unusually metallic and thin; kick drums are trigger-happy and lack resonance. - **Bass:** Mixed to near-silence. Jason Newsted has said he played the same rhythms as Hetfield, but the band (reportedly Hetfield and Ulrich) intentionally turned him down in the final mix—allegedly as hazing and to achieve a more “punchy” guitar sound. - **Comparison to earlier albums:** *Master of Puppets* (1986) had far more warmth and bass presence. *Justice* sounds sterile next to it. **Pro:** The dry, trebly mix accentuates the album’s cold, mechanical themes—some argue it suits the subject matter. **Con:** Objectively deficient for a metal album. Live versions of these songs (e.g., *Seattle 1989*) sound vastly more powerful. Many fans have created “bass restored” bootlegs. --- ## Themes Central theme: **Systemic injustice**. Each track attacks a different pillar of authority: - Courts (“…And Justice for All”) - War machine (“One”) - Media censorship (“Eye of the Beholder”) - Paranoia and betrayal (“Frayed Ends of Sanity”) - Organized religion (“Leper Messiah” – though that track is technically from *Master of Puppets*, its spiritual successor here is “Harvester of Sorrow”) - Greed (“The Shortest Straw”) The album’s emotional core is grief. “To Live Is to Die” features a spoken passage written by Cliff Burton, and the raw anguish of loss permeates the record, often masked by intellectual rage. It’s a world-weary, cynical album with no redemption arc—only surviving, not thriving. --- ## Influence *…And Justice for All* was massively influential in several ways: 1. **Progressive thrash:** Inspired bands like Meshuggah, Opeth, Nevermore, and later Gojira to fuse technicality with aggression. 2. **Modern metal production (for worse):** The “scooped mids” guitar sound and trigger-like kick drums were emulated by countless 1990s metal bands, often poorly. 3. **Political metal:** Alongside *Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?* (Megadeth), it proved thrash could be politically intelligent. 4. **Drumming style:** Lars Ulrich’s staccato, stop-start patterns influenced alternative metal (Korn, System of a Down). 5. **Commercial bridge:** It reached No. 6 on Billboard, paving the way for the even more successful *Metallica (The Black Album)* in 1991. Without *Justice*, the shift from 1980s thrash to 1990s groove/prog metal would have been slower and less defined. --- ## Pros and Cons Summary | **Pros** | **Cons** | |----------|----------| | Ambitious, progressive songwriting | Severely lacking bass guitar in mix | | Intelligent political and anti-war lyrics | Thin, dry, harsh production | | “One” is a timeless masterpiece | Drums sound artificial and clicky | | Emotional weight of Cliff Burton’s death handled tastefully | Some songs overstay their welcome (title track drags) | | Influenced entire subgenres of metal | Hetfield’s lyrics can be overly dense | | Hetfield’s vocal performance is fierce and controlled | Lacks the warmth and dynamics of *Master of Puppets* | | Great guitar harmonies and complex riffs | Hazing of Jason Newsted reflected in mix is a black mark | --- ## Final Verdict **Rating: 9/10** (musically, lyrically, influentially) **Production: 4/10** (objectively flawed, though some defend its aesthetic) *…And Justice for All* is a flawed masterpiece. It’s the sound of a brilliant band wounded, furious, and technically overcompensating. The production is a notorious liability, but the songwriting and thematic ambition remain towering achievements in metal history. For those who can look past the absent bass, it’s essential listening—a dark, labyrinthine monument to grief and outrage.

i’ve been very firmly anti metal but this album was really helpful in me productively packing to move to the new house. was very motivating. unsure if i will revisit though. also album #150!!!!!

Now, I'm 25, but I get a feeling like a parent on this one. Like, the same impulse to be like, "don't get a tattoo, please don't get that nose ring, can you buy jeans without rips, please don't die your hair black. You look so nice in that shirt I bought you, please wear it." It's like I had a really nice kid that started getting dark and I'm trying to be understanding but it's really difficult and I'm a little concerned. The song "One" really brought this out of me. It is so clear that they are insanely talented but I struggle to understand just why they want to sound like that so unrelentingly, and for so long. It's perplexing and I'm probably wrong for asking them to sound more like something palatable to me. I can see how influential this is, I can see it, and yet I cannot enjoy it. I feel like art should not be so overtly negative and angry, that some levity is required, some mind toward hope, some range of human feeling. The lyricism is not grating because it sounds like that, but rather because it feels so immature in its sweeping condemnation of everything. Again my kid feels like they are performing 'anger' and I'm wondering if he should see a counselor. That said, their arrangements are impressive. I think you need to be moving to enjoy this, reserve for workouts, driving fast, and angry subway rides. In a crowd of other angry people, I can see it. But just sitting with a mind toward listening, its a bit difficult to stomach all together.

Again: Metallica doing what Metallica does.

Some great guitar work!

Huge fan of the "concept" on this one, although it's not necessarily a concept album. I can't think of any other albums that address the issue of justice being corrupted by capitalism, but honestly, as much as I think capitalism is mostly a net positive, this is a massive problem with it. and I think it's cool the whole album doesn't keep doubling down on this idea, it lets the idea bleed into other issues: war, censorship, and general psychosis. we get almost to a place with this one where, like jazz, I can't talk much for the compositions, but I can say I'm hooked on this one the whole time. I love the restlessness of the album and the lack of bass doesn't bother me too much, adds a more industrial flavor to it. I wish some of the songs and riffs on this one were a little more catchy and melodic. Eye of the Beholder is a standout for me. Good lyricism and a great riff. Again, it'd be a perfect song if that hook had a little more hook. Something about One just doesn't quite sit right with me. Probably the weakest of the bunch in my opinion. Interesting lyrics and idea no doubt, but not a fan of the execution. The album is super well done and a very interesting listen, I still think Kill em all and ride the lightning are better (I can't really speak for master of puppets, haven't listened in forever), but I don't feel like I'm really looking forward to the next track. They all blend a lot for me. Maybe I just need more listens. Don't think that's exactly a knock, just something I'm noticing. Album has held up really well over almost 40 years. Insane. Might deserve 5 stars for that alone.

OK album but not they're best work

If there was justice for all, these guys would be tried for killing off blues-based heavy metal. I gave them two stars instead of one because at least they know how to play an instrument.

i wanted to like this, but it's really just not for me. i didn't find any of the songs particularly musical. the shortest straw was okay.

My favorite Metallica album, perfect thrash metal album

I feel like this is an album I probably should have liked more than i did it just feels very jagged like stop starty. Especially with the lyrics, which took me out of it a lil

Well crickey these young men are quite peeved, aren’t they?

Hell yeah. Now that’s metal. Five flat.

The Metallica songbook is just a series of How To Play Guitar exercises for 4th graders to learn their first 5 notes, where half the quarter notes are triplets and "advanced" musicians play it double time.

Goes hard and will be added to the workout playlist but has the dumb guy stench all over it. I think it’s great.

One is the major standout on this album. The rest was good but it was just kinda chugging along in the background for me. I think another Metallica album might hit a little harder for me. One carries the rest to a 4 though.

nailing this as my second album when i've just recently in the past couple days been listening to more metallica ?!?!

Never been a fan of Metallica, there’re a few songs I recognize but never put it on my playlist or in rotation

Classic Metallica. A little more thrashy than my preferences but a solid album 3.5/5

Really, really strong beginning to the album. The rest is still good, but it doesn't hit as much for me as the first couple of tracks do.

Everything sounds the same

Not my genre. Not my preference. Instruments are played well, but I just don't want to be thrashed today.

I would love this if it weren't for the singing.

Most overrated band ever!

Finally I can peer this profile towards my actual musical taste, with the help of the cover band of the book called metal. And I’ve been waiting to fully listen to one of these albums

Grew on me after a few listens

There are some classic Metallica songs but can't get into this album. The heavy metal problem of no melody or rhythm bugs me

Anstrengend. Interessante Songtexte

They are better than most metal to me but that's not saying much

One is a really great song, and I am all for the protest nature of their lyrics. But neither of those things could save this from me generally disliking it. The songs feel pretentiously long, and aside from the one song I like, everything sounds so much alike. I know there’s a lot more nuance to their music than that, but it’s hard for me to pick out. This mostly just felt like headache material.

Не самый лучший альбом металлики. Но 4-й лучший (после первых трех) и последний прям "замечательный". Тяжелые, быстрые риффы, классные партии. Минус балл за то, что украли бас-партии. Рекомендую слушать фанатский ремастер с записанными бас-партиями, они тут неплохие. А так - отличный альбом, живая классика метала.

Classic

I have an issue with metallica where, after a while, all of their tracks sound like a variation of one core formula. And I don't hate it by any means, but I also don't think it's revolutionary by today's standards

Great metal album.

liked this one. some great riffs, blackened is a great intro track. and yes i know the story about why the bass is mixed into nonexistence but that doesn't mean i can't miss it.

The no bass, the increasingly knotty compositions, the generally darker tone, it being their last album before the Black Album, all of this is interesting in theory, but I find the album (outside of the bookends) just..... slightly boring.

not my fav Metallica, but hey better than a kick in the face from Cody

One est mon son préféré de Metallica. Maintenant, l'énergie est folle sur l'album, mais je trouve pas mal de sons en dessous du reste. Blackened ouvre très bien l'album et ...and justice for all continue bien. Mais à partir de eye of the beholder il y a trop de sons en dessous pour que ce soit un 5. Pour moi le seul 5 chez Metallica est Master of puppets et de loin.

did this one need to be on this list? like i get master of puppets or the black album. or ride the lightning? i mean, i dont need this one. fucking a is it long. also these dudes are shills. get the fuck out of here cornballs.

Dikke Metallica, vette nummers, af en toe wat houterig, maar dat is ook wel een stuk charme.

Good Metallica album

One je najbolja Metallica pjesma ikad. Album poprilično epski. Treći put ponavljam ovo nije moj tip metala ali da li je ovo barem njihov najbolji album? Možda, a možda je samo dosta blizu.

I've learned from doing this generator that I really don't like Metallica. I don't know if it's because of the music itself or because they always seem to remove any grit from the sound of the instruments. They just sound so tame, like they want to be artists but are scared of getting paint on their overalls. The lack of audible bass on this album is also a travesty.

I don't really understand why I can't get excited about Metallica. I enjoy some riffs, bits and pieces here and there, occasionally an entire song. I've never listened to an entire Metallica album, in fact, looking at my listening history on last.fm, I didn't listen any Metallica at all between 2011 and 2023! I might just not be a fan.

mir zu heavy

I’m not a huge fan of super long songs

This album does a lot of things wrong, the most (in)famous being the near-erasure of Jason Newsted's bass, for reasons the guilty parties have been trying to explain for decades but never seem to be able to account for in any sort of satisfactory way. Beyond that, James Hetfield is a graduate of the Neil Peart School of Way Too On-the-Nose Socially Conscious Lyric Writing; the clunkers fly freely here. And yet. And yet. The ultra-dry, bass-less mix, combined with Lars Ulrich's insistent drumming, has a hypnotic effect; you are constantly hearing the *absence* of something, which is how this ends up signifying musically in a way that a "better" sounding album wouldn't. Similarly, the failure of the lyrics to rise above smoke-break bitching makes them *accessible*. There's functionally no metaphor, just blunt declarations of the way the world is. *No justice, no peace*. So where does that leave us? For me, this is thrash's *Raw Power*, a deeply flawed album that draws its meaning from the way it wears its flaws on its sleeve. Metallica certainly haven't done anything this artistically unified since (which is different from saying they haven't done anything of value since). And it helps that this is a pantheon-level Weight Room Album, whatever else it is. Calling it "perfect" would be wrong but it's good at being the rough beast it is.

Muy bueno!

Ook al waren ze hier Jason Newsted aan het pesten

Wat jelle zegt

Boring album, all songs sound the same...

Behalve one klinkt het allemaal hetzelfde en het duurt vreselijk lang

It was alright. Inoffensive. Mostly just Metallica stuff you've likely heard before in some way. Some cool solos, but ive never been a fan of.... I wanna say Lars' voice?

A veces brillantes...y otra insoportables. Metallica siempre.

One is honestly pretty good, I just can never see myself throwing this type of music on.

Classic Metallica, giving the "Metal" genre its name. Punchy and aggressive.

У Металіки був видатний стрік з чотирьох альбомів у 80х. Якщо уявити, що це єдиний їх треш-альбом, то я б поставив йому 5. А мені інші три подобаються більше за цей (я з тих людей у кого Кілл Ем Олл улюблений). Тут купа хороших рифів, є трохи прог вайбу. Одна з найкращих їх пісень. Хороший альбом, але, як на мене, є сильніші. Звук тут не найсильніша сторона.

Завжди любив цей альбом, напевно мій улюблений з "метал" альбомів металіки (бо наприклад лоад-релоад то вже інша ера, порівнювати їх важко). Довгі складні композиції, цікаві рифи і все таке.

Heard of Metallica obviously, but never this album. High hopes. Really cool guitar opening. Vocals are fine. Pretty catchy chorus. It just keeps going. Guitar in the back half is so cool. I really like the opening to and justice for all. Cool contrast of soft rock and heavy metal. Just an awesome musical opening. This is a cool song for all nine mins. Cool slow open to eye of the beholder. Much better songwriting on this one. Followed by one which is an absolute banger. Maybe the most impressive guitar solo that I’ve ever heard. So hard on guitar hero. And I like how it just goes right into the shortest straw. This song is classic Metallica. Sick guitar riff on harvester. Frayed ends is fine. Not my favorite but not a bad song. To live is to die is super cool. Awesome opening into really good heavy metal. This is a really cool song for 9 mins. Love how it comes full circle back to the soft rock open. Then it just cuts off. Very cool. Dyers Eve is fine. Nothing special compared to the rest but also not bad. Overall enjoyable album. I know it’s not their best but I’d did like it. 3.4/5 stars

Couldn’t finish the album, heavy metal music that brings me no joy, all the songs were far too long too

This kind of overly aggressive music is absolutely not for me.

5/5

No real stand outs, but I remember being intrigued by the One music video when I was younger.

Ja for pokker! Jeg er større fan af de to tidligere plader, der sker ikke lige så meget på denne.

For satan jeg synes at meget af det lyder ens - dog adskilt fede guitarsoloer hist og pist. 'One' og 'To Live is to Die' trækker ret meget op på den overordnede oplevelse, synes de er fede. Rasmus Ulrich må give fellow Ulrich, Lars Ulrich og Co. en kedelig tommel op. Mikro 3'er

*69 Jeg startede lavt og sluttede højere - der var momenter hvor dobbeltpedalen kørte mig fuldstændig i koma, men der er også et par genistreger. Trommerne kører faktisk ret nice på trods af Lars' renomme som metalschlager. Jeg ender en rigtig stor 3'er, og ved at der komme bedre Metallica-albums senere.

Det er altså ikke lige mig det her. Der er dele af numre, som jeg synes er ret lækre, men overordnet kigger jeg ret meget efter skip-knappen.

Utilgivelig og uværdig mixing af bassen. Derudover synes jeg egentlig bare ikke, at det er særlig godt. Det er lidt kedeligt, lidt teenage edgy, lidt ligegyldigt. Men 'One' var selvfølgelig med i Guitar Hero III, så det trækker rigtig meget op, for den kunne jeg nappe på ekspert-niveau. 2.4

Et av verdens beste album noen sinne. Peak Metallica, en av mine soleklare favoritter FUCK YEAH

And Justice for Jason!

If you like metal, this is the band that rules.

Favorite tracks: - Blackened - Eye of the Beholder - One

This is classic Metallica. This is the album that has One, which may be Metallica's best song. I feel like this one suffers a little bit being in the shadow of Master of Puppets. It would also sound better if they hadn't mixed the bass out.

Metal ist einfach krank. Anfangs dachte ich meine Anlage sei defekt. Aber der Schlagzeugsound ist so schrecklich.

One of the best Metallica albums, wish it had more bass. More political than I remember, but I haven't paid attention to most of this album in a long time. Love it.

Just really not my thing. Like, I can listen to it and recognize that there’s strong musicianship and that it’s very good for its genre. But man it’s unlistenable to me

I liked it more than I thought I would!

album #49 bit disappointed, to be honest! felt very two dimensional in comparison to their other works. if you like bass in your metal, I would avoid this. enjoyed it a bit, but not enough. ꩜ favourite track(s): to live is to die ꩜ least favourite track(s): ...and justice for all ꩜ album rating: ★★☆☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,040 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 29 ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 11 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 38

1. "One" 2. "The Shortest Straw" 3. "Blackened"

All killer, no filler. No bass either but there we are. This album holds a special place in my heart. I attribute my hearing loss to repeated listenings of One at full volume in my youth. 10/10, no regrets. Blackened is also a bonafide Rock Band classic.

Enjoyed the melodic metal. Really impressed by the intricate guitars and finger tapping techniques. Great tempo throughout for a steady head banging experience. Great double bass pedal action on the drums. Love a good time signature change here and there. Impressed with my first proper venture into Metallica. 5/5

Metallica are a very varied band. Their earlier albums are fine, if inferior to what the rest of the 'big 4' were releasing at the time. Their later stuff is poppy and ranges from middling to poor. And Justice For All is infuriating, because it's by far the best of their earlier works in my eyes, with the hardest, no-nonsense sound they would ever carry; and yet after this, they would reduce themselves to pop-metal.

Actually pretty fun. Strong 3 light 4

I like how quirky some of the riffs are but a lot of the songs felt too long with the repeating verses

great

Maybe it's because this is the third Metallica album I've had, maybe it's because I just want something else from heavy music, but I was really bored by this (yet I remember liking this in my teens). Zero bass and the drums sound just awful. One is at least somewhat interesting musically, but I just don't think Metallica are for me anymore.

Not for me but very Metallica. Some fun riffs

The third in a classic run of thrash albums. Not ride the lighting good but still great arrangements and anthems.

mt bom. um pouco maçante mas o pior é que eu gosto de metallica.

I love Kill Em All and Master of Puppets. Even if this record didn't have such god-awful production, I still think the songs are boring compared to the previous records.

The production on this isn't great (to the fault of Lars no doubt) but these songs are great. I could listen to Metallica all day

There's some potentially interesting ideas buried in individual tracks - some promising riffs, experimentation... but it's all realised better elsewhere and feels generally unfocused.

I can't deal with this album. It doesn't do it for me AND it doesn't sound good.

Early Metallica, it's good

Metallica's flawed masterpiece. Obviously, the mix sucks. Its thin as hell, the drums are way too fucking loud and they sound super sterile. The guitar tone is quite good but holy shit its dryyyyyyy and Id probably insult the bass too if I could hear it. In case you dont know what I mean, try to hear the any of the bass lines on this album. Good luck. Also, its bloated for no reason. Some songs drag for 1-2 minutes too long. In total, this album is 1h5 and It could be around 10 minutes shorter and be better. Even if the chorus is kinda catchy, did we really have to hear the 8 minutes of "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" ? No, id remove it. So why do I think its a 5/5 ? Because the songs are just that good. "Blackened" is Metallica's best opener on any of their albums, the title track is so damn epic, "To Live is to Die" is a beautiful instrumental dedicated to their former bassist, Cliff Burton, who passed away too soon. "Dyer's eve" is the most aggressive they ever sounded. And I forgot "One" holy shit what a song. One of my favorite songs of all time with one of the best guitar solo ever recorded. Probably one of the best songs of all time period. I strongly recommend learning any of these songs on guitar. The guitar work on justice is insane, bordering on prog metal territory, especially on "...AJFA". Bass/5

Some good crunchy guitars but no really my bag. It all sounded quite samey and reminded me of Beavis and Butthead

Intense album for sure, did enjoy. 6.1/10

I don't actively listen to Metallica anymore. We broke up years ago. But. I had too many good times that were soundtracked by this album to give it any fewer than 5 stars.

The bass omitting mix is bad. Sure, not every single song isn't a metal anthem... but dammit this is by far my favourite Metallica album with some of the greatest songs they ever made, bordering on progressive metal. With some of its obvious flaws, this is still a 4.5/5 (In my hear, it's a 10/5)

Malheureusement ce n' est pas mon style musical

At the start of this project, I didn’t fully understand jazz, but after the umpteenth album, it started to click. I might not be a “jazz guy”, going around wearing a trilby, snapping my fingers and whispering “yeah”, but I don’t audibly groan or roll my eyes when a jazz album comes up on this list anymore. I look forward to learning more about the genre. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about thrash metal. This is the third Metallica album that’s come up in this list for me, and I’m definitely not a “thrash metal” guy yet, and I’m doubtful I ever will be. To repeat myself from an earlier review, I just don’t understand the appeal. The hardcore fast-picked chugging guitar strum patterns, and the double-time thrash beats of the drums feel repetitive and boring. Each to their own, but it’s not for me. The best moments in this album, the moments that have saved it from a 1 star review if I’m honest, are those moments when Metallica deviated away from the mindlessness of thrash, into something more interesting. “One” is the obvious example. It’s a really good song. I actually know it best from hearing Rodrigo y Gabriella perform their brilliant flamenco version on acoustic guitars. The central riff is great, with some really nice harmonies between the two guitars in the first half of the song. The sudden changes in tempo and style work really well in this song too. Even when it goes full thrash in the second half, it doesn't fully lose me like other songs did. It’s likely due to the juxtaposition between the first and second half, a sort of evolution of the song over time, rather than just being full thrash from start to finish. “To Love is to Die” is the other song that stands out to me. Again, predictably, it’s the other song on the album that leans the least into thrash. Metallica are showing here that they can actually write some pretty great riffs and melodies when they want to. It feels like a sweeping cinematic, almost fully instrumental, break in the middle of all the thrash. Sure, it dissolves into thrash too, but like “One”, the sweet and sour mix of the two work quite well. There are glimpses of other moments that get my attention too, like the riffs that appear at the start and end of the title track. But unfortunately the rest of the 65 minutes of the album are largely thrash metal. Reading up on the background of this album, it’s absolutely mad that they lost out to Jethro Tull for best METAL performance at the Grammys! Yes, Jethro Tull, the prog rock band with a jazz flute front-and-center, beat Metallica for best METAL performance. What a strange time to be alive. I can appreciate that there’s substance here for sure. But when it comes to the actual listening experience, besides the moments I mentioned, it’s a chore to get through. And that’s just my own reaction to thrash metal. I guess I’m just not a thrash guy yet. If I’m honest, I'd prefer to be listening to Jethro Tull.

This shits ass lmfoa

The only downside of Metallica is their drums

The bass is missing. Not subtly buried or tastefully restrained — genuinely, almost completely absent from a record that has more kick drum than almost anything else in the catalog. Whether the production decision was intentional or accidental, the result is a record that sounds like it’s missing a limb. For someone who has spent this entire project paying close attention to what great bass players do — Jamerson, Entwistle, Jaco, Squire — the hollow low end is impossible to unhear once you notice it. Which is a shame, because the ambition is real. This is Metallica at their most compositionally complex — long, shifting, prog-influenced arrangements that move through time signatures and dynamics in ways that show genuine craft. “One” remains a remarkable piece of songwriting, building from acoustic fragility into full thrash assault with a narrative and emotional arc that most metal never attempts. It earns its reputation completely. The problem is that “One” towers over everything surrounding it in a way that makes the rest of the record feel like supporting material rather than a cohesive album. Coming to this as someone whose primary Metallica relationship is with the Black Album — stripped down, riff-focused, and immediately accessible — the density and complexity here creates distance rather than reward. Same landing as Megadeth, same honest reason. A three for the craft, the ambition, and one genuinely great song.

I wish there was a little more bass. But what it lacks in bass it makes up in thrash. It's arguably the greatest thrash metal album ever created and if I had to choose has Metallica's single greatest song...ONE is on here in all it's glory. I always say Master is my favorite Metallica album but on many days this is my favorite. While the death of Cliff punched a hole in the band that could never be replaced it helped turn up the ferocity and that's on full display here. A front to back metal masterpiece where they channeled their anger into something extraordinary. Blackend, ...And Justice for All, One, Harvester, Dyers Eve, etc...it doesn't get much better than this...

One is the best song by far but overall just not a huge metal/hard rock fan. Still a good album.

Its fine. Better than master of puppets

Darkness, imprisoning me

Some underground shit, if you consider yourself a metal head and you haven't listened to this then you are a poser. Go back to wearing your attitude era wresting shirts. Loser.

They can play no doubt about it. Other than "One" , this entire album sounds the same. It could be a Miles Davis style hard rock album. I respect the game, but just average to me. 6/10 Top song One

Una bomba, tiene uno de los mejores temas de la historia que es "One".

Its Metallica at their thrash metal best. One is an amazing song, and the instrumentals in To Live is To Die are an absolute headbanger. That said, for all the techniques used by the band, the album becomes monotonous the further you get in bringing what started as a solid 4 down to a 3.

classic metal rock n roll

I always enjoyed some aspects of Metallica. The musical aspects. The riffs are just great, I'm not here for the solos, but the riffs. Sorry to say, but also James' voice is not really it, but it does work for some songs. Track 1 is heavy and chaotic with many different riffs. 2 contains a combination between riff and clean guitar (an element I love in Metallica) 3 has many time changes . I like it. One is a classic. And a very good song. 5 and 6 are heavier track. Good ones though. Great guitars on track 7. 8 is a very moving instrumental piece. Really sent me on a trip. 9 starts with maybe the quickest riff on the album. To sum it up, it's a good album, even a very good one, but it's not really for me today... That's why it's 3

Started strong. Mid was okay.

Wonderful without an orchestra behind it

Hell yea Heard it before, will listen again. Not their best but still some absolute bangers on here 4

This reminds me of my brother

Classic - love it, even drums are weak ahaha

One of the best albums from these metal giants. Solid tracks from start to finish. It was One that turned me on to Metallica. The song just shreads.

few good bits but nothing noteworthy

4/5

Why are the songs so long? I feel like I've been listening to this album for forever.

i find metalica kinda boring.

This was a lot more "prog" than normal for Metallica and sometimes things went on for a little long, but this album is great. Also "One" and "Dyers Eve" are EPIC. Liked Songs: "Blackened" , "...And Justice For All" , "Eye of the Beholder" , "One" , "The Shortest Straw" , "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" , "To Live Is to Die" , "Dyers Eve"

Perhaps to avoid repeating themselves after two incredible albums with a similar thrash sound, Metallica's fourth album makes everything bigger. Riffs are knottier, songs structures are more complex, and everything is longer. It leads to some great songs; "Blackened" and "Harvester of Sorrow" are tight and gnarly slabs of thrash. But it ends up being too much. The main talking point here is always the bass, and the inaudible lower frequency does result in a very tinny sound that saps the music of its power. However, the bigger problem is songs that overstay their welcome. Songs like "To Live is To Die" just refuse to end, and by the end the album's runtime feels padded out by similar songs. It's telling that "One," far and away the best song here, is the most similar to their last two albums. I'm glad they tried something new here, but it doesn't reach their old heights.

metalheads are a mystery to me. i kinda liked “eye of the beholder”. nothing i’ll put on much.

Of Metallica’s incredible 5 album run, this is the one I put just a slight notch below the other 4. It’s great but the prog elements cause it to lack the focus of the others. Also, the bass. I know it’s a meme, but it needs to be mentioned. Still I give it a strong 4

Hell yeah

Not my favorite genre of music but these guys are the best at it

Sounds like shit a Lars can’t drum, but the volume of great riffs is absurd. Everything is maybe 20% longer than it needs to be though

Casually listened to aome Metallica for some time, but it’s going to be interesting to listen to a full album! Blackened was a great intro. Really got into the vibe of the album. It was nice and heavy without being overbearing. As an add on, that solo was fantastic. The title track again had some awesome music to it! I love been liking the driving rhythm guitar and bass. I liked that eye of the beholder had some more vocals to it! One is obviously great, it’s the only track I knew off the album before coming in, but a worthy one. The shortest straw was super cool, and the riff of harvester of sorrow was awesome! The Frayed Ends of Sanity was a cool name for a track, it was quite similar to the previous tracks though. To Live is to Die was very welcome! I liked how it was slightly softer at the start. Again, great solo. I really appreciated the more melodic guitar 3/4 of the way through. I thought Dyers Eve was a good closer! Overall, this album was good, but a lot of it was very similar to each other. 3.5/5 ⭐️ 113/1089

...And Justice For All. What an interesting album this one is. With their first three albums, Metallica had become already become thrash metal legends. If they continued on the trajectory they were on, they could've made some more of the most universally beloved metal albums of all time. Unfortunately, tragedy struck during the tour for Master of Puppets, as bassist Cliff Burton was tragically killed in a bus accident in Sweden. This was, by all accounts, devastating, and the future of Metallica was uncertain after the event. The band decided to continue onward though, and Jason Newsted was brought in as the new bassist. It was with Jason in tow that Metallica made and released their fourth album, ...And Justice For All in 1988. So, how did things turn out for Metallica with their first post-Cliff album? All things considered, it turned out very well. The band saw what was arguably the highest praise they'd seen yet, the album got nominated for a Grammy, the album sold well, and Metallica has gone on the become one of the most legendary metal bands in all of history. But is AJFA really that good of an album? Was this actually the album that the band needed to make? Yeah. It absolutely was. ...And Justice For All is fucking awesome! This is probably the band's most experimental album, and I think it's great. The willingness to use weird time signatures appeals to me greatly. And you know what? I think there are some aspects in which this album is actually Metallica at its peak. Take the songwriting for instance. AJFA is Metallica's most outwardly political album and I love it. Even the album's title is a reference to the ending line of the Pledge of Allegiance! The aggression and frustration with the injustices of the world and America especially are super relatable and are delivered with lyrics that really capture that anger. And the musical talents? Phenomenal. James's voice is at the perfect midway point between the rowdiness of the early albums and the "ooh yeah-yeah" stuff from the Black Album onward. Both James and Kirk hit some of the best guitar solos and riffs of their careers. Even Lars Ulrich is killing it on this album with some of his best drum parts! But what about the new guy? How does Jason Newsted do on his first Metallica album? Well, I wish I could tell you, but I think it's time to address the elephant in the room. The most notorious aspect of AJFA as an album is far and away the mixing. It's not great. The whole album sounds kinda dry and a little empty, but that's not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is that you can't hear the fucking bass at all on this thing! I guess James and Lars were still a bit on edge after losing Cliff so they weren't as ready to let James get in on the bassy action. And it sucks too because the bass parts on these songs are just as awesome as everything else! Why can't I hear any of it? So, yeah. That's where much of the controversy surrounding this album comes in. As far as my own take on it, I think the mixing definitely holds the album back a bit, but not enough to ruin the album for me. I still think this album fucking rules. I mean, think of the songs here. "Blackened" is cool as hell. The crazy-ass time signature changes are just the best. The title track is nearly 10 minutes of peak Metallica and I love it. "Harvester of Sorrow" kinda feels like a precursor to the Black Album and I think it's pretty good. "Dyers Eve" is a great way to close the album. The speed on this one is epic. And of course, I have to talk about the most legendary song on the entire album, "One." I don't think I could call ...And Justice For All Metallica's best album, but there is a strong case to be made for "One" being their best song. The haunting lyrics describe a war-torn veteran who's been put through so much pain that he wants nothing more than to be put out of his misery by God himself. It might be Metallica's most well-written song from a lyrical standpoint. And the music is just as thoughtfully constructed. The somber atmosphere of the song's first half and the aggression of the breakdown and final solos are perfectly balanced to create a song that hold your attention for the whole 7 minutes while also being a fucking headbanger. It may genuinely be a perfect song. I'm serious. So, yeah. That's ...And Justice For All. A fascinating album in Metallica's discography to be sure. Is it the band at their best? In some ways, yes, but overall, no. I think Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning are definitely better albums. But there's something special about this album here. Honestly, if the mixing was better, this could've been Metallica's best album. As it stands though, it's still very impressive, and I still really love it, but it is one step below the band's peak from an album standpoint... and by that I mean that this is a 9/10 rather than the 10/10s that are Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets. If only we could hear the bass. Light 5/5.

Solid. A little similar throughout the songs

Wooo boyyyy does that guitar sing and wail! Solos melt my face- an injection of gulf war adreline and monster energy.

I hate when a band only writes lyrics in the style of an advice column. Everything is directed outward with no introspection. Deal with your own shit and stop telling me what to do.

Keepin' it simple with a 9-song album, let's get after it. Metallica's foutrh studio album,"And Justice for All," went 8x Platinum, largely to the confusion of many Barry Manilow fans. Starts out quite strong with "Blackened." Metallica lets it be known quickly - turn down your volume if you're not prepared, and turn it the hell up if you're ready to sonically enter a mosh pit of slam-dancing. One of my favorite aspects of Metallica is the contrast between their classic heavy metal sound, and soft, but haunting riffs, as demonstrated on the intro of "One." Overall, the constant attack of guitar is a little too aggressive for my taste. That being said, even an unwitting opera-goer could recognize the beauty of an intricate Metallica riff, one that separates them from the rest of the pack.

Wow, my brother and I were just talking about this album… So crazy that I was looking forward to a metal album as a palate cleanser from Blur, but yeah, I definitely was. And at first it was delivering! I mean I love drums. But somehow this album failed to live up to its promise. It’s too long. It’s too fast. And the mix is wrong? Still. I gave blur a 3 I almost want to give it a 4 just to differentiate. But… no it’s a 3. And the honest Boolean rating is: no. I could have died without out hearing it.

Some great songs. Metallica at their best. However, I feel a lot is pretty repetitive, and dare I say, just noise in the background. I really thought this was going to be a knockout, but I was left waiting for it to be over. Surprised to be sure.

I mean points for the fact that this might have been really controversial at the time -it might still be. I appreciate the sentiment of anti-establishment and the critique of it. However, the lyrics are written as if a 14 year old just found out the world is unfair and corrupt. Plus, at first I was excited about the use of that thing when the song starts slow and the it explodes, but to my disappointment that happens in most songs. Most songs have the same monotonous structures, I felt that instead of listening to a mature project, I was listening to one of those one hour lofi YouTube videos to study, but for metal. Points for ‘One’ because the first two minutes are actually sonically interesting.

Listened to before? No Context? Follow up to Master of Puppets and first album after the death of Cliff Burton; complex musically and a break away from a lot of the "pop" songwriting formats seen on the likes of Master of Puppets. *Reviewed in a holistic format.* Man. Okay. The mix of this album makes me feel like I'm trying to spread cold butter over stale bread. I do not understand why they would make that choice. I don't even care about the light bass or anything—whatever. But what were they thinking with how dry the mix is. It made it genuinely painful to listen to at times. I don't understand how these bands have millions of dollars and access to the very best producers around yet still end up messing it up. This record was very high-concept, from the album cover to the over-an-hour-long runtime. That said, I didn't feel like it said much. Obviously, it's a very political album, and the lyrics tackle those sorts of topics—primarily, the subject matter of false freedom and false justice. But I can't really say that it said anything that made me think of things in a new way, or that it told a story that presented an interesting emotional or philosophical angle on anything described. Looking at other political albums, there's always a very specific angle. American Idiot is from the perspective of a young working class couple and their struggles with mental health, survival, and agency under the Bush administration. Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables satirizes those in power through absurd lyrics and attitudes mixed with harsh and unsettling descriptions. To Pimp a Butterfly tells a story interconnected by the formation of a poem and the struggles of Black music industry figures dealing with the ramifications of racism even after gaining cultural power. Rage Against the Machine mixes call-to-action with lyrics that go so in-depth into the nuances of issues that they can nearly function as history lessons. And in this album, Metallica says...there's no justice? Okay. I understand that, due to the genre, there aren't going to be as many lyrics, but I feel like that should just mean that each line carries even more weight. There are exceptions, of course. Parts of the title track are pretty good, such as the lines "Lady justice has been raped/Truth assassin/Rolls of red tape seal your lips." There's some pretty potent imagery and metaphor here, but moments like those are few and far between. I'd say that the only songs I thoroughly enjoyed were "One" and "Dyers Eve", and then "Blackened" was pretty good, too. "One" actually cuts to a pretty great emotional core, and with "Dyers Eve", the anger in his voice seems to be actual anger instead of just generic metal vocals. Then "Blackened" just has good riff and melody, but I don't like it as much because the lyrics just follow such a typical Metallica-cadence in the rhyme and flow. If this album had a better mix, I feel like there could have almost been an excuse for the lack of substance, because it would've given the songs more character. The dry mix makes all of the riffs sound like copyright-free metal. All the riffs also sound pretty similar, anyway. And yes, before anyone says anything, I do listen to metal quite frequently. The mix also makes the solos sound super out-of-place, and it just makes the vocals boring. It becomes very one-note. It's disappointing, as I do really like Metallica, and the idea of a political album from them should be very exciting. Sadly, the execution was way off. What I did like was the unconventionality of it. I appreciate the odd song structures as well as the longer songs. It would also work well as background music for a movie, and I mean that in a good way. It's heavy. It's dramatic and dark. In terms of mood, there isn't much improvement that could be made.

🤘

It's funny that heavy drums often help me focus. But not this album. I do like Metallica but have never known when to listen to them. It's not "at home" music, dunno why. I guess at the gym or on a run would be great. But it scrambles my brain instead of doing anything to focus it.

Great opening track but I'm personally not the biggest fan of the choice of sound on this one. The drums are way too clicky and the guitars are somehow simultaniously muddy and dry sounding . Ride the lightning was way more iconic soundwise. Overall it feels very prog and experimental at times while I'm more a fan of their thrashier material. The songs also tend to go on for seemingly forever. Certainly not my favourite of their installations, but still solid and of course very influential for the scene.

Did not enjoy Songs too long

MEGAN TRAINOR MIALA RACJE

I’m hungover and the sound of this made me sick however I can appreciate the instruments when no vocals are involved

This is probably good heavy metal. But it is simply not something I enjoy.

Non il mio

Per me è veramente impossibile ascoltare metal, non fa per me. Il problema non è questo disco in particolare, è proprio il genere. Non mi coinvolge emotivamente

Day 251 Done classic thrash metal riffs here Highlights One Harvester of Sorrow The Frayed Ends of Sanity

Metallica er gøy, men dette er punktet hvor de begynner å spore av. Denne over Ride the Lightning liksom? Blackened, One, Dyers Eve, og tittelsporet er staples, men Ride er mye mer consistent og mye hardere. Har produksjonen alltid vært så rar? Synes mixinga er helt off. Det blir også ensformig med en time med de samme virkemidlene. Det hadde holdt med en enkel LP. Takk for meg.

80-tallsplatene til Metallica er egentlig ganske gode, men problemet med akkurat Justice for All er lyden på rytmeseksjonen. Det er liksom null punch og grøtete, det er sad but true. Liker at det er litt pretensiøst med tendenser mot prog, men 1 time er kanskje i meste laget.

Jeg likte dette overraskende godt, spesielt det at dem hadde fjernet bassen. (Nå er jeg og en av dem som liker skarpen på st. anger)

Move along, there's nothing (new) to hear here. Much like "S&M", this album does *not* belong in this collection, and I'd be surprised if the band even felt that this was some exemplar of their art. They're clearly in fine Metallica form throughout the extremely long album--apparently they hadn't decided to make short-form ear bleeds quite yet, one of the many reasons they never really made the airwaves--but I'm hard-pressed to say that there's anything particularly distinctive or noteworthy, although the "Fade to Black"-adjacent "One" was a decent choice for a single (with their first video!) on this album. As I listened to each too-long track, I couldn't shake the feeling that they made this album knowing that they were in this whole music-business-thing for the long haul, and they just had to turn out something every year or two, and then go on tour to play whatever they wanted. (Perhaps a bit too cynical, I suppose, since apparently a number of reviewers felt they had insightful lyrics, but I've always had a really tough time understanding much of what James Hetfield belts out, so I can only go on hearsay that they delivered smarter-than-average thoughts.) A shame to read about how the other band members basically mixed out the bass lines altogether--not the nicest way to treat their new bassist. And I *did* appreciate reading how Metallica was in its prog-metal phase, as it never occurred to me that that's exactly what they were doing, not that anyone really asked for a metal version of prog-rock.... The highlight for me, however, was reading about the absolute tragedy that befell them with the 1989 Grammy Awards. I laughed out loud to read that somehow Jethro Tull's "Crest of a Knave" beat out not just "...And Justice for All", but also Jane's Addiction's "Nothing's Shocking", AC/DC's "Blow Up Your Video", and (oddly) the song "Cold Metal" by Iggy Pop, for the Grammy Award for "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental". I laughed even harder when I sampled some of what the good old "Aqualung" boys offered up on "Crest of a Knave", which left me agreeing with all the rage heaped on the Academy for even including Jethro Tull at all in that category. But kudos to both bands for having a (sort of) sense of humor about it all, with Jethro Tull advertising in Billboard with a picture of a flute as a "heavy, metal instrument", and Metallica thanking Jethro Tull in 1992 for not releasing an album that year so Metallica could win a Grammy. Good times!

Good lowkey metal works for even these longer songs.

One time, a friend of mine who played the tuba told me he loved metal because it was the closest a popular genre came to classical music - the fast-paced figurations, the development of theme, the emphasis on instrumental virtuosity… Metal and the harder rock genres have never been the music I gravitate towards, but I appreciate them so much more ever since that conversation. I don’t know how often I’ll return to this album, but I’ll remember how it made my head positively vibrate, and I’ll remember thinking that Vivaldi would be proud.

Sick at home with a stomach bug, but the generator gave me my favorite Metallica album. Everything's coming up Millhouse! 5/5

One — легенда. Уцілому альбом звучить добре, особливо гітарні партії

This one has the thrashy elements that OG fans like along with the melodic nature that brought them into the mainstream. Only complaint is that it’s way too long.

Definitely Metallica

I have not really listened to that much Metallica and was under the impression that they were better than their peers and the acceptable side of thrash metal that everyone can get on board with. Maybe this is true of their later albums - but I found this a struggle and only marginally better than Slayer/ Anthrax/ Megadeath and way inferior to Iron Maiden/ Deep Purple (recent listens ). Its all very repetitive - very mechanical drumming and chuggy guitars and pained vocals. There is no fun or theatre to it.

…And Justice For All The contrast to Iron Maiden is stark, whereas that had melodic and rhythmic interest, this is almost completely moribund. I’ve always read that people think Lars is a poor drummer, and this album really hammers it home. It’s not helped by the drum sound and its strange position in the mix, but it is completely without any swing, groove or personality. I suppose the lack of bass doesn’t help, but I’m not sure it would make that much difference. Thematically it is as moribund as the music. I’m not sure how many times metal bands can re-hash the same banal observations about corruption and war - they don’t have much to say in the first place, but they sure keep saying it. The artwork is rather poor too. Enter Sandman is a fantastic song, as is Master of Puppets, but this is weak in comparison, and extremely repetitive and wearisome. 1. ⚖️ Playlist submission: One, I suppose

As with much Metallica I get flashes of brilliance before it immediately falls to the default of chug n thrash. Technically great but emotionally empty soloing. That's where Blackmore or Slash provide a bit of nuance. The opening track 'Blackened' is perfectly illustrative, starting with an excellent fugue-like synth intro before ceding to muted power chords; then tempo change to allow for lightning fast solo, interchangeable between tracks. It's a very similar story to 'Master of Puppets' where they rose above the crowd with 'Orion' but otherwise fell back to a morass of distorted power chords, and a vocal with very little nuance. Metallica has written some enduring classics - Orion, Enter Sandman, Nothing Else Matters amongst them - and when this albums at its best it explores that side of their songwriting - alas the gravitational pull is back to the formulaic pentatonic distortion.

The album that made me a teenage metalhead. Firstly, the cons. The mix is terrible - even the remastered version isn't great, and the 'Justice for Jason' mix online is much better. Lars's drumming is sloppy as hell, especially compared to modern standards. A few songs are a little longwinded in places. But goddammit the RIFFS. Bordering on prog but without ever getting pretentious. Several parts are among the best metal has to offer - Blackened's sneaky change of meter, AJFA's intro, One in its entirety, Dyer's Eve. Right on the 4/5 border for me. I'm inclined to think some of that is bias, so i'll stick with 4.

meh

This is Metallica at their most rigid and controlled, leaning heavily into long, intricate structures that feel almost architectural in design. The riffs are sharp and deliberate, and the songs unfold with a kind of calculated intensity rather than raw force. The production choices remain a sticking point and undeniably limit the impact, but there is still something compelling about how tightly constructed everything is. It demands attention and rewards it, even if it never fully lets loose.

This is the Metallica album that famously features no bass (cheers Lars!) while also being the first album with their new bassist Jason Newsted, which was totally disrespectful of Lars to turn it the bass all down. Though the album is so much more than just no bass in it. It features their most complex stuff up until that point and perhaps all of their discography, just about every song has twist and turns with it of course being multi-parted and all, with a menacing riff to accompany each 'part.' My personal favourite riffs being the main one in "Harvester Of Sorrow" and that odd stuttery riff that's in "The Frayed Ends Of Sanity." I believe this is the most that Metallica were ever political. With themes of injustice (hmm,) greed, anti-war, corruption and stuff in a similar vein being present. The whimsical melodies in "One" are quite lovely, I am big fan of the Metallica songs that have a similar dynamic, like cut from the same cloth as "Fade to Black" and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)." Just simply amazing Another song I'd like to mention is "To Live is To Die" which is very triumphant. It's a song dedicated to their previous bassist at the time and just one of the most unique players of bass guitar ever, Cliff Burton. The track just radiates bitter-sweetness from all around. It also features poetry and basslines from Cliff, so he gets a posthumous songwriting credit. I'm stuck in between giving it a 4 - especially after my un-expectantly long review of it - and 3, but I believe a strong 3 will have to make do. As the rating is brought down by loud sharp guitars that dominates for over an hour, which manages to fatigue me and my ears. This is still a good album. Highlight Song/s: "...And Justice For All", "One" and "Harvester Of Sorrow"

Some great songs, and maybe my favorite Metallica, but the production is garbage

To live is to die is a great song

sick fucking instrumentals

mt bom senti vontade de descer o cacete em alguém na rua enquanto ouvia 👍🏼

to live is to die é muito boa

Not the best Metallica

Good album

In 6th grade, I loved this album. Now, I can’t stand listening to it. Lars did this album a huge disservice. The mixing out of the bass sounds like shit. So this is getting a ONE. Do yourself a favor and listen to a version on YouTube with the bass mixed in.

My favorite album so far

8/10

Great album. "One' remains an all-time great song for me and the other songs were great as well. I think I remember preferring the first half of the album over the second half.

i love metallica but this isn't my fav album

I can kinda see why a lot of people really like this album

Blackened and One are classic ‘tallica jams and they rule. Lars is making some choices as usual…snare sounds thin and weak. The St Anger snare is a direct opposite response to this one. Ultimate Shred Fest.

1 tími og 5 minuttir av Metallica-beat. Må jeg være fri...

Not a big fan of this album at all. The songs are repetitive, but i mean the guitar solos were great, thats the one thing that i enjoyed.

And Justice for All is a fairly good album, all things considered. But I really think the first three Metallica albums were better and the Black Album isn't necessarily better but it holds a special place in my heart since it was my entrance to metal. And Justice for All, while not being prog, is just a bit too proggy for my tastes. Kill 'em All was raw energy captured on tape, and Ride the Lightning + Master of Puppets was thoughtful raw energy. And Justice for All was just trying to be a bit too weighty and thoughtful comparatively. The songs are still fairly good, but just doesn't give the same feeling as the first three.

8/10 (4/5 stars) a. Blackened - 7.8/10; I love the guitar solo thats towards the end. I like the guitar a lot in this song. Some of the vocal parts got repetitive but overall good song. b. ...And Justice for All - 8.5/10; I like the instruments a lot in the beginning. c. Eye of the Beholder - 8/10; d. One - 9/10; e. The Shortest Straw - 8.7/10; f. Harvester of Sorrow - 7/10; g. The Frayed Ends of Sanity - 8.3/10; h. To Live Is to Die - 9.7/10; i. Dyers Eve - 8.2/10;

i feel like this is objectively good music but omg is it boring to listened to, the start and ending of each song is fine to listen to (in some places even good/great) but the 3 minutes in the middle of each song is so samey sounding it made getting through this album such a chore. Somewhat ironically One is the only reason I'm not giving this one star.

Liking the metal more than when I started this list

hay mejores de metallica

Metallica igjen. Intense vokaler akkompagnert av harde riffs. Det er mye bra å peke på her; eksempelvis den bortimot perfekte One og den fullkomne instrumentalen To Live is to Die. Virkelig tilfredsstillende, om man er i det rette humør. På grensen til fem stjerner, altså. Top 3: One, To Live is to Die, Dyers Eye

Surprisingly boring, especially the heavier sections. The more melodic parts sounded better.

I hate metal and I hate Metallica. On every single list this or Master of Puppets is put as one of the best albums of all time. An album needs to be high quality or innovative and this is boring and not good.

Metal does not get better than this

Never listened to a Metallica album before Blackned have a good intro. I think it talks about the enviroment and do it in a nice way, but its a very long song(nice riffs) Calm, but soothing riffs in ONE. I thinks this is tired believer ou new believer vibes. Gothic christian lyrics on the third song? And a very soothing sounds too(to live to die is a very true title also) one of the best in the album And i realised that i was skipping songs Good intro in the title album, nice work with the ritm, the voice and Justice for all. I think his voice is like listeing to an ogre singing Eye of the beholder sounds almost spiral? Lyrics talking about the system, but i can see as a wake-up call The shortest straw is basically a song about being poor Harvester of sorrow is okay lyrically speaking, but the intro is bom Kinda ompa loompa vocals in the intro( the frayed ends of sanity). The lyrics are okay(not bad, tired sinner vibes) A good album, but very long. Some songs are really good and anothers just sound alike

Great bangers!

metallica hat bessere songs

The album is pretty good but someone pointed out that the mix is shit. And once you hear it you can not unhear it…

Mmmm yeah okay that checks out!

did not really enjoy or finish.

One was the song that got me introduced to Metallica through MTV in the mid 90s. I didn't like them at first, but they grew on me with Load and Reload. Then I realized the error of my ways when I listened to their 80s discography, those are the only truly great albums. The thrash songs in Justice aren't as catchy or memorable as KTA or Puppets, i preffer the straight metal ones. The first half is great and from the second I only really like Harvester of Sorrow. The rest not at all. If it ended stronger i'd rate higher.

Mehr Abwechslung als erwartet

2.5

3.0

No justice for Jason Newsted, although the band's mixing decision was a dick move (far from the worst thing they'd bully Jason about), I do kind of get what they wanted the album to sound like. But I mean at that point, might as well have used some of Cliff's demo tracks and just put it on AJFA. AJFA is one of the core 4 (or 5 if you like the Black Album, I'm not giving my opinion on that today) Metallica albums of their peak era. I'm sure it was a coin flip to pick either Kill Em All, which did a lot to make Thrash Metal as big as it gets, over AJFA. Ride The Lightening is easily their best album, but I suppose AJFA's lyricism is "more sophisticated" because it's more political than typical metal albums of that time and era. It just doesn't feel right that there's just 1 Cliff-era album on this list. He was significant to the band's sound and helped them become the legends as they were rising up the ranks. This list is unfortunately not that deep into metal, and it sucks!!! As for the album itself, like every song is really really good. Maybe each one exceptionally show, aside from a few. Prime Metallica. You really can't go wrong with any song.

Can't find a version that isn't the remastered version. That snare would merely be obnoxious if it were in time. I've heard a lot about how Lars takes tempo as a suggestion but come on. I've heard amateur bar bands that couldn't count to four evenly still be better than this. Why would you put that out in front of everything? Tried again later and still couldn't stand that drum sound or get over the complete disregard for timing. At least the rest of the band seems to understand tempo.

I have a cassette of this, but it's not as good as master of puppets

Growing up, I was a huge fan of Metallica and would listen to them almost religiously. However, now that I’m in my 40s and going back and listening to this album, I realized that it’s just not good. Lars drumming is abysmal, the songs are 5 minutes too long, the overall feel of the album is just bleh. They’re absolutely one of the fathers of modern American metal, but this album, just doesn’t do it for me anymore.

More nonsense

Metallica er kult

Classic Metallica Album. One is exceptional, most of the rest is quite similar with extended guitar runs.

Didn't listen to Metallica for quite a while, but this is still a banger. 4 stars!

not the one

pretty nice for a metallica album. Especially the last two tracks

This was surprisingly boring. Might listen to One again some time, but that's about it.

Not a huge fan of the singing style and I thought the songs went on a bit, but I liked the guitar and the drums. I don't think I'll come back to it, but I did enjoy listening. Fav song: One Least fav: The Shortest Straw

Some good songs on here but getting really tired of the rock/ Metallica. Could have died just listening to one and done I reckon. Specific rating - 4.0 Fav song - one Least fav - to live is to die

The shortest song is over 5 minutes long and I don't think any of the songs have enough good content to make them worth being that long. Started to all sound the same at some point. Favourite song: One Least: Eye of the Beholder

There's an inverse correlation between Metallica's quality of songwriting and the quality of production. As production increases, songwriting decreases. That's Metallica. Anyway, this is the best album featuring Jason Newsted, stepping into the monster shoes of Cliff Burton. "One" is an all-timer metal song, even if the rest of the songs are just decent. That gets it a 4 in my book.

8/10

Mostly really good

This is some kind of nightmare. Sure, Metallica has a couple of popular and cool songs. But when you start listening to their albums in their entirety—it’s just THE SAME SONG playing over and over and over again. I just can’t tell if a new one has started or if the old one is still playing. They’re all exactly the same. And on top of that, they’re all equally boring. The same old tricks, the same song style, pointless solos thrown in at random moments. I really don’t get what’s so popular about this. Maybe it sounded fresh in the ’80s, but now it sounds awful and boring.

i’ll call this one “hissy fit.”

Used to love this album before a couple of dudes in a group chat pointed out the bad mix which sent me into a rabbit hole confirming... yes it was a bad mix. Now all I hear is the lack of bottom and I love bottoms.

Mix bad. Hurt ears.

Surpreendentemente chato. Não sabia exatamente o que esperar de um disco inteiro de Metallica, mas a última coisa que eu imaginava era tédio. E foi exatamente o que senti. Os riffs violentos e abrasivos rapidamente se tornam monótonos, e tirando algumas exceções específicas (como o começo de One que quase se assemelha a música), o álbum se resume a um exercício autoindulgente e infrutífero, que não sustenta seu próprio peso nem sua duração exagerada. Quando eu era criança eu gostava muito de One, mas até mesmo na minha jovem idade eu já percebia que o único apelo da canção era a sua linda introdução. Até na minha pré-adolescência, eu já reconhecia que as letras eram péssimas. Minha opinião só foi azedando ao longo dos anos, e vejo que o mesmo desdém que possuo pelas letras daquela canção é espelhado para todas as outras faixas do álbum. Além disso, o disco é completamente pobre em qualquer semblante de melodias harmônicas e agradáveis. Claro, esse é o propósito do brilhantemente nomeado sub-gênero de Thrash Metal, e consigo facilmente imaginar o tipo de pessoa que se apaixonaria por canções de quase 10 minutos que se resumem ao mesmo riff repetitivo sendo martelado impiedosamente acompanhado por ásperos vocais cantando letras insípidas e negadas de qualquer significado, sonoridade pobre privilegiada pelo adorno da mais terrível e super-comprimida produção que já tive o desprazer de ouvir. 1/5

Would be pretty good with more melodic vocals but I don't like "shouty singing" so overall it's only listenable.

Genialidad, instrumentalmente es una delicia escuchar todo lo que construyen En letras, no les dí detalle a todas, pero sé que buscan ser algo sombrías o serias, y eso calza mucho con los sonidos que producen, a la vez buscan sonidos muy delicados en ciertos momentos Reescuchable 100% y además de One, hay mucho más que tiene por ofrecer Metallica, está fue la forma de permitirme darme cuenta

The BEST metal album ever.

Z-Rock (106.7) in Des Plaines IL played premiered this whole record the night before it came out. I could only get reception in my car, so I sat out there the whole time listening. Fun memories, of fun times. Still a fun record.

Isnt my taste

not my thing

I still maintain that this band would be vastly improved with the removal of James Hetfield. Instrumentally, I like it. Hetfieldly, I hate it. I nominate “Harvester of Sorrow” as a theme song for my mom (passive aggressive martyr, but I love her, lol).

Sehr gut

Was expecting an amazing album, but this... this dragged on. Surprised I powered through it

It was after this album that Len Houmous gave Metallica the best of advice of their careers. Quit now, it’s downhill after this. They didn’t listen. They should’ve. 3.4 4/9 One

Meh, I like iron maiden better, this takes itself a bit too seriously

Likeee

This is the album that let the cat out of the bag. Metallica was in a league of their own. While you could hear the influences from other metal bands, Metallica took metal to new heights. This is a searing album from start to finish, but unfortunately it was the lead up to a different Metallica starting with the Black album. They grew up, but we didn't want them to.

One of the best from Metallica.

5/10, son pref =To Live is to Die

great album - so many classics and its influence is undeniable

i just hate this album

Thrashy metal goodness. Sure, could be bassier, tighter, thicker but it's pretty inventive, weird, and rocks rather hard.

Metal will never be my preferred genre, but this is just superior music. So tight and disciplined—and has a pop sensibility buried in there somewhere too. I know it is also political, though I wasn’t all that tuned into the lyrics.

Hmm

9.1

I can't say I really need to listen to this one, but damn it I will. There once was a time where I listened to this album, on repeat, on the school bus everyday, on my way to and from school.

Not my vibe

This album rips. Powerful guitars, powerful lyrics, and themes of false justice, righteousness, power, hopelessness, fear, and anger. The only thing keeping it from a 5 is Lars and James's insistence on all but eliminating Jason Newstead's bass from the mix. A strong 4/5

Classic metal. I especially liked the songs One and To Live Is To Die. I like the guitar solo in The Shortest Straw. The change in tone and rhythm.

Metallica is in the top 3 bands that have influenced me, and this album is definitely number 2 among all their discography.

muy buen álbum, mucha distorsión y potencia. me gustó mucho.

Not a Metallica guy

hart. c

Metallica has a distinct sound and power in their songs that is easily recognizable, but this was not my favorite album of theirs.

One alone deserved a high rating, such a GOATed song. The rest of the album is solid imho, just good ol' thrash metal.

Trop bon kif 🤗🤗

Fucking pristine

Sinceramente es la primera vez que veo que un álbum con solo 9 canciones dure más una hora. No es del tipo de música que escucho seguido pero definitivamente tiene su toque instrumental pesado que lo identifica.

"One" is one of my favor songs and guitar solos, I absolutely adore everything about it, so if it were that song alone on this album, it would still be a masterpiece 🎸

Great Metallica album!

Obligatory note about the mixing, they did Jason dirty here. Wild how they went from this to the best mixed album of their catalogue on their next project. Not their best, but solid thrash here before they went and changed their sound over the next few records.

Any work of art that conveys the message that capitalistic societies (especially in the US) are shite is of course welcome. But the language of metal (the chainsaw-sounding guitars, the ridiculous vocals, the confusion between a guitar solo and wanking off the guitar) is really not my cup of tea. Of course, one can appreciate the technical virtuosity but, together with the songs being way too long and having way too complex structures, the former also reinforces the feeling that this stuff stems rather from the worst self-referential prog rock of the 70s than from the healthy hard rock/blues rock of, say, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath...

Not as pleasant as it was 20 years ago. But still has its moment

The singing sounds like he's constantly mocking someone. Other than that - not bad.

There's no way anyone with an IQ over gravy actually likes this. I'd rather listen to Helen Keller learn to play the bagpipes.

I was underwhelmed by Metallica's self-titled (black) album. And just regular whelmed by their live album, appropriately(?) titled S&M. Both albums had a generally monotone energy level. Very consistently gritty, loud late-80s/early-90s hard rock. Does ...And Justice For All hold up against its successors? Well... sort of. It gets the same things wrong that S&M and the black album did, from the fairly weak melodies to the overabundance of "noise", of quantity over quality. But here, I feel the quality and quantity are on much more equal footing. Maybe I've warmed up to the band, or to the genre. I have no idea. But this stuff slaps just a little bit harder than the rest. Master Of Puppets is going to be killer. Blackened serves as an excellent high-energy opener. There's so much meat packed into 400 seconds that it's almost overwhelming. The blistering guitar solo, the attack behind the vocals, drums that are accessible yet fast and complex. As long as we get some variation later in the album, I could see myself revering Blackened as one of the all-time classic opening tracks in rock. The title song follows, showcasing a bit of a build-up in the intro. And it definitely needs its textural changes throughout. 9:46 is a pretty ridiculous length for a non-live, non-prog track. Into the body of the track: pretty grungy. You can imagine AiC or Megadeth doing a shorter version of this. At least until the the 6-minute mark, where Metallica insert this stunningly gorgeous self-harmonised guitar line for a semi-extended solo. (Maybe this does count as prog after all.) I'd be surprised if anything topped this song. Metallica aren't afraid of their time signature changes. And the 4/4-to-6/8 change is the most notable part of Eye Of The Beholder, along with the excellent guitar solo (these solos haven't missed yet. Hammett is a genius). And hey, remember how I said the title track couldn't be beaten? Well, I was wrong. Less than a minute into the biggie, One, and it may well be my favourite Metallica song. Those interacting guitar lines in the extended intro are breathtaking. The whole mix again gives a grunge-like feel, yet has more raw complexity than most grunge I've heard. And there's such a variety of emotions expressed here. Anguish, frustration, wonder, rage... Yeah. This and Nothing Else Matters easily make the Metallica Mount Rushmore shortlist. Harvester Of Sorrow is a hilarious name for a track. It almost outshines the music itself. Luckily, Metallica picks a solid riff and head-thumping rhythm, so the music is also pretty strong. And another great middle section with the self-harmonised guitar lines. Metallica seems to be really good at that; The Frayed Ends Of Sanity impresses me in much the same way. It boggles the mind with its ultra-fast melodies and consistent drumming (man, this stuff must be exhausting to play live). Another gorgeous solo – this time technically 10 minutes long – in To Live Is To Die. The outro feels like a relic from an earlier time. Led Zeppelin in acoustic mode, maybe. I kind of wish the album had ended there, because Dyers Eve (while still good) sounds like the Dizzy Miss Lizzy or Vital Signs to this album's Yesterday or Witch Hunt. No misses here. All bangers. But it's missing just a little something... 4/5 Key tracks: ...And Justice For All, One, Harvester Of Sorrow

I absolutely loved this. This album felt like cold calculated anger, and the songs almost to me felt like they were structured like rants, with pace changes and shifts. Although the songs are long, they never dragged for me and I was constantly engaged. I just loved this I don’t know I don’t have much to say, just good stuff.

One of the classics for thrash metal, but unfortunately this is just a genre I can only enjoy if I'm really in the mood for it. There's obviously a lot of impressive technical display here across everything... drumming, guitars (THAT SOLO IN DYERS EVE), vocals.... All top notch, but I've always been one to prefer more melodic songs and variety when it comes to instrumention, which isn't really the point of this genre to be fair, so I could probably give this a 3.5-4/5. Fav songs are the title track, Frayed Ends, and Dyers Eve

One of only a few albums that can justify 7+ minute songs.

Better than the previous metallica album I listened to.

Not my fav, but still good.

I just find Metallica to be so incredibly boring. There is no melody to be had. I could like the drums, but they overpower most of the songs, or maybe the rest of the instrumentation isn’t matching the drums?

Not my fave Metallica album but it does have "One" on it. 3/5.

I enjoyed this - it gave me the motivation to stay up late and finish some work. I felt like a raging badass while typing hunched over about how we can stick powders together better. I think it was the droning repitiveness of the guitars that got me into this state. I was suprised by "To Live is to Die": the intro and closing almost-classical guitar was very pretty but it got jarring quickly with so many disruptive musical elements - still I was hooked.

I am shocked by how much I enjoyed this album. I started to get lost in the thrashing and the monotony of the vocals around The Frayed Ends, but To Live Is To Die really pulled me in - what an enjoyable interlude for the album. 4/5

Good metal, but not terribly remarkable. Probably would have liked in more without a persistent headache, but I don't want to fall behind again.