Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Not my style of music but I get it. As I listened to it, I got a bit more into the musicality of it. So I’m going to bump my rating up to a 4. ‘One’ hits.
Fourth Metallica album and their fourth best. Has some absolute classic tracks, great riffs and cool themes. Production was not ideal. Should have let this shit breathe a bit. And obviously the bass is pretty much inaudible and that was certainly a choice. Still a strong cap to the decade that solidified Metallica’s place as metal royalty
Good music for cruising in a van.
Garfield. Imprisoning Me.
This is a weak four. "One" is probably one of the biggest reasons I like metal at all today, I listened to that song when I was six years old, and it's stuck with me as one of the best songs ever made since then. That said, there's only one song on this album that I feel like gets close to that level of quality ("...and Justice for all"), and otherwise, it's a solid thrash metal album. I'm not a big fan of thrash, and thus, found myself bored sometimes with this album.
The completely muted bass and last couple of tracks makes this a 4 star instead of 5 but it is without question their best album.
Quality guitar riffs, really good build ups
this was a pretty badass album, some songs were long but they packed some energy, gonna give 4 stars for benefit of doubt
Went into this album with a love for it already and that love remained. Not the best Metallica album but tells a great story through its songwriting. The riffs are powerful but where this album ultimately falls short is through the lack of complex bass riffs that the band was known for with their earlier works with Cliff Burton. Overall 7.5/10
A classic album by Metallica. Impressive instrumental work throughout the album. One is a standout masterpiece. I think the songwriting and lyricism here isn’t as impressive as some of the other albums in their discography
Lotta albums I like but don't fully love in this stretch. I almost feel bad for giving out so many 4's but that's firmly where all of these belong. Very good with moments of greatness.
Always amazing to me that metallica albums always sound so bad. I also realize I'm more of a casual metallica fan these days and I've generally had my fill about 3/4 the way through an album. This one is one of their best for sure tho.
Definitely a solid album. One is an amazing song.
Dramatic and heavy, but still fun to listen to. I enjoyed this album.
Not my usual style but good all around
Ha! One of my first "free" CD's from Columbia House. Absolutely love this album (first 3 are still better). I just wish they didn't clean out the bass lines. "One" is one of the coolest metal songs ever.
I didn't really like metal growing up. A bit like jazz in a way, the *real* fans seemingly do their bit to put people off by not liking the music in the correct way. It's fast, it's loud, it's frantic and I love it.
They should’ve just called this …And Justice for All, But Jason. This was actually one of the first two CDs I ever purchased with my own money (Ozzy was the same day). Metallica’s One was the first video I really remember sitting down and being in anwe after watching. It made me a Metallica fan at the time, though, admittedly, my love of Metallica has weaned over the years as they’ve gone more commercial. There are a lot of songs on here that still hold up even today. Blackened, One and Harvester Of Sorrow are still favorite tracks. To Live Is to Let Die was the last instrumental track they put on an album. If some one is looking to learn about Metallica, this albums is a great starting point yo begin working your way through. I just wish Hatfield and Ul-Dick would’ve actually allowed Jason Newsted’s bass to be heard on the final mix (they hazed him by turning his tracks virtually off).
You know I'm not a huge metal fan, but this album does contain my favorite Metallica song, "One". The combination of the song and video are definitely hit me hard and continues to do so to this day. That alone puts this up there for me.
Thought this might be a Metallica album too far for me but ended up enjoying it. I do think the more melodic sections improve their offering greatly - see One and To Live is to Die. The very concept of One, incidentally, used to fill me with existential terror. Imagine being alive but with no sensory connection to the outside world… *shudders* Anyway, some good melodic bits + good meaty riffs, and even a couple of choruses = 3.5 stars. Seems I’ve rounded down a couple of other Metallica albums so I’ll round up this time.
It’s definitely been over 25 years since I’ve listened to this album from beginning to end. If I had to choose, this would probably be my favorite Metallica album of them all.
Apparently I'm a Metallica fan And just never knew it before this project. They are so good and making music that feels so heavy and I like it's complexity and speed
Metallica’s darkest album by far and maybe their deepest pre Black album. The middle of To Live is to Die might be my favourite Metallica. One is obviously a masterpiece. Overall it’s too long and can drag. 8.7/10
Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal
Progressive, riffs, bassless
Great album, I listened to it a bunch as a kid. Really rocks, the guitar work is great and easy to get into. Really brings back memories, thinking that I was super cool listening to it when I was young. I'm sure I will listen to this a bunch more times and probably never get tired of it.
Not my preferred style but the guitar parts on here absolutely rocked. Kirk Hammet is a legend.
I don't know why, but I've been craving so much thrash metal recently. And while this album doesn't scratch that ich quite as well as others of this era, it's hard to go wrong with 80s thrash metal. Still a really damn solid album.
Metallica just rocks. The syncopation throughout their music has always been so crisp and I just really like hearing it in songs like Eye of the Beholder. One is definitely the best overall song here, but it was actually the only one I knew from this album. Still, it was a great album. Metallica makes metal music that is accessible, but the execution is just so good that it still stands above its peers.
Of all the Metallica albums included on this list, I was most excited to hear this one in particular. This is really the first proper album from them that I listened to, but I hadn’t heard it through to the end until today. This band had an incredible run in the 80s. That can’t really be argued. But the death of Cliff was rough. To replace him, the band got Jason Newsted. Who actually stayed with the band for nearly 4 times as long as Cliff did. And I think the work he did in his 15 years was strong. But, and I’m aware that I am beating a long dead horse here, I have to mention “the thing”. It’s one of the longest running jokes for fans of the band, and it’s almost as overplayed as Lars’ shitty snare on St. Anger. But I think the discussion around Jason’s bass on this record is justified. Or should I say, lack thereof. If you told someone who had no knowledge on this album that they were a three piece group with no bassist, they would probably believe you. Because it isn’t there. Like it’s remarkable how far they managed to bury his bass into the mix. I’ve tried really hard to hear it, and I have never been able to make it out. But I’m sure what he was playing was great. Thankfully the rest of the band is firing on all cylinders the entire time. Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning might be better written, but I still firmly believe this record contains the three main members performing at their highest level. Easily the heaviest and darkest they ever sounded, and it contains some of Hetfield’s best riffs. Lars is also on fire the whole time. Compare this to the black album, or anything that followed, and it’s like night and day. Blackened is still my favorite Metallica song to this day. It just gets started so quickly, and doesn’t let up. And, although this isn’t a new opinion, I think One is objectively the best song they ever released. Perfect blend of progressive and thrash metal, with Kirk’s best solo ever. I’ll admit that this album is a little repetitive. It features the lowest number of unique concepts of their 80s records. And you can tell they were starting to run out of ideas, and were in need of a switch up. Personally I don’t think the direction they went was any better in the slightest though. And they haven’t managed to release anything of the same quality since. Unfortunate that this is the last Metallica I’ll get the chance to talk about. But what is here is solid. This still holds up, and is just as good as their most acclaimed releases. Rating: 8/10
Would be 5 but can’t hear Jason
Peak Metallica and while I know I'm in a large minority here by saying, this is an easy top-two album from the group and represents the last quality recording they'd make. One would be their first and only popular song from the album, but it's also not their best. Regardless of the jumping the shark / sell out comments that come after this album, AJFA is highly representative of where Thrash was in the late 80s at it's peak with other bands like Anthrax, Megadeth, and Slayer. 4.5/5
Happy Birthday James! Thrash metal’s answer to Floyd…A nod to the Wicked Witch’s storm troopers…this is a good listen. A band with probably one of the best Junior tennis playing drummers out there.
Truly foundation, amazing piece of art. You can really see their classical music influences in this album.
The start of the steep downturn for Metallica imo. They ran into the trap of taking their current formula and extending each song out. When it works it works well, but some of the poor songs drag on and on and on - eye of the beholder totally ruins the great groove the album got into after the first two, and even those especially ajfa could have been a few minutes shorter. Some great riffs nonetheless, but the bloatedness and the mixing (whyyy would you remove the base) leave this album very far from 5* territory.
Babe wake up, we're listening to the Metallica album that has no bass. I also hate to admit it (as Lars Ulrich comes across as one of the most obnoxious crayon eaters in the metal music scene) but this album is pretty fantastic. Ulrich and Hetfield have fantastic synergy, the guitar solo's are some of my favorite's on this album, especially on 'One' and ...'And Justice For all'. These songs can go on for quite some time too, but I never find myself getting bored in the slightest. The Riffs are so strong, that they could honestly go on forever for all I care. However, the obvious flaw is all in the mix. The bass being sapped, on top of the garage mix of the whole album is one thing. This album feels like a huge album to played on big stereo systems and played to crowds of millions, but it sounds so flat at times. For example, a song like One, probably the best song they've ever written, shouldn't sound like it was mixed by the drummer. Without a doubt, this is my favorite metallica record in terms of songwriting, but the mix just isn't it sometimes.
Klassischer Metallica Sound. Gehört auf jeden Fall dazu!
ähnliche ahfang wie battery, schöne ahfang und nachane wird so voll ahzoge iwie findi d produktion um einiges schlechter? v.a. d drums sind easy wack s lied selber findi lackt chli ide melodie, d riffs sind sehrsehr geil TAKTWECHSEL SOLO E STUND sehr spannende ahfang vo justice for all finds mit master of puppets vergliche ener schwach bis jz, s het iwie weniger punch OUHHHHHHHH SHIT ES WIRD LANGSAMER MMMMMMM es muss wieder meh groove geh im moderne metal ich bin eifach immer horny uf die taktwechsel sorry boaaaah (maultascheeeeeen???) de ahfang vo one findi uhuere schön ja aber wieder fallts chli flat für mich, es tönt rifach chli z troche, au de breakdown, eo sehr sick isch, het nöd de glich impact hanis gfühl DARKNESS IMPRISONING ME ALL THAT I SEE ABSOLUTE HORROR ich liebs und passed sehr jz zum sehr heavy part the shortest straw isch für mich jz sochli \"ah voll metallica\" SHOOOOTEST STRÅÅÅOOOOOWW HÖRED UF MIT CREEPY GRÜSCH ICH BIN IM WERD AH die letschte 3 hend mi jz chli abghenkt. so chli cooli riffs aber alles andere isch vhli langwilig im gegesatz dezue hani ebe gfunde het master of puppets au vill anderi sache z büte gha, wie zB refrains wo catchy sind (oder wie catchy halt thrash metal chan sii) to live is to die findi sehr en geile ahfang hahahahahaha rifach die 4/4 durrezieh nach dem akustik intro RIESE RIFF ich ghör so ähnlichi riffs jz na in hardcore bands ohh und jz wieder gmüetlich hans sehr cools instrumental gfunde dyers eve DOUBLE BASS ja ich han vill kritisiert aber es isch trz es album mit vill sicke riffs und hie und daa paar highlights. wie gseit, de mix und drums helfed nöd dem ganze aber schwanke zwuscheme guete 3 undeme knappe 4
I really need to give them more of a chance.
The only Metallica to get more than 3 from me. If it weren't for the drumming, drumsound and drummer, I'd consider an even four, so it is a 3.5 upgraded.
Not a big Metallica fan, but this is my favorite of theirs.
For this genre a good album…7/10
Rad album, I love thrash metal that still makes room for some overblown melodic segments.
I was very not excited for this and it turned out to be my favorite Metallica so far.
Underrated and overproduced…
This is one of the greatest metal albums of all time. My only complaints are: 1. The mixing in the remaster is awful. I know they (Lars) cut the bass out of the original mix but the remaster is all kick drum as a direct result. 2. Half of these songs don’t need to be 7 minutes long 3. Kirk Hammet’s largely unorchestrated guitar solos. It sounds like he’s just winging it through most of his solos
This album tends to overshadowed by its production. I used to think of it as harsh - the sound not the assessment - but I have come to understand it through a different lense. There are some great rides on here that really cut. It's at times closer to Ministry than metal. Some songs go on too long for my taste. But it's definitely a statement.
Not their best album but a lot of fun.
Fucking Awesome
This album is the most technical out of all Metallica records. The problem with it, in my opinion, is not the production like everyone says. I actually think that the charm of it is in the fact that it sounds like it was produced in a garage. The problem is that, compared to Master of Puppets (which I personally think it doesn't have a single bad song), this album has some songs that feel like fillers, and those became popular (for example, Harvester Of Sorrow: nothing special about it, but fans love the shit out of that song). Songs like One, And Justice For All, Blackened and Dyers Eve are the ones that elevate this record. Anyway, this is Metallica at its best time in their career, and this album is great.
Excellent album, too bad the bass is lost in the mix
I remember the music video for One with all the war footage. great album and different from the other hard rock out at the time.
Classic Thrash from the giants of the genre. This Album is great but not without fault, some of the songs feel too long and Jason Newsteads bass is barely suitable most of the time. It does have killer tracks on it Harvester Of Sorrow, Blackened and the title track are excellent but it's One that stands out it was Metallicas first big hit and it is a banger.
Every song is a dark epic. Brutally powerful and quite overwhelming, as is its intention. Lars Ulrich's drum sound was unique and genre-defining, Hetfield's vocals (though for me, somewhat monotonous) reflect the disturbed, unending torment, anguish, and anger that embody the victims in these songs: damned, despised, dismissed. Much od the al;bum could be described as over-complicated, but I get the sense the band is feeling its way through uncharted musical territory, and when they hit the sweet spot between excessive indulgence and grand artistic statement, it's pretty sweet. At the time, really experimental, and WAY more serious than a lot of Metal that had come before and in that, paving the way for more extreme genres.
A great Metallica album marred by a terrible mix. As a bass player, I loved Cliff Burton era Metallica. That guy was the creative spark and joy of the band. A truly gifted player who tragically passed away too soon. And along comes Jason Newsted who filled in admirably and got burned by the mix of this record. One of the greatest middle fingers of one band member to another. The biggest losers are the fans though who were secondarily robbed of a great sounding record. The mix is awful in a few ways but having heard some Justice for Jason type remixes and "reclamations" it certainly would've been better with some audible bass rather than some muddy-sounding "barely felt" bass. I expect my review so far to be fairly standard and repeated here. I don't mind being a basic Metallica fan in that regard.
Banger, has my favorite Metallica song.
First time listening to a whole Metallica album. Really fun, got my adrenaline going at points. I like the points where the dip between playing intense and then pulling back the curtains to something more beautiful, and vice versa. Songs like One and To Live Is To Die do this very well. Glad I got to listen to it. Standouts: Blackened, One, The Shortest Straw, Harvester Of Sorrow, and To Live Is To Die.
This is a good metal album. Overall I think it’s just a little bit too long. I think I prefer Master of Puppets and Ride The Lightning to this. Favorite songs were the title track, One, and To Live Is To Die
1. Blackened - 4 Didn't love the beginning of it, honestly. Pretty standard thrash, like the previous album. The song switches up to mainly instrumentals and bumps itself back up to a 4. Maybe just under. Close enough. 2. ... And Justice For All - 4 Similar to Blackened. Don't love the vocals, but the instrumentals are good. Especially the part starting around 4:45. 3. Eye of the Beholder - 3.75 4. One - 5 Fantastic and tragic song. Always has been. 5. Shortest Straw - 3.75 6. Harvester of Sorrow - 4.5 7. The Frayed Ends of Sanity - 3.75 8. To Live Is To Die - 4 9. Dyers Eve - 4
…And Justice For All by Metallica Thursday 6/20/24 2:14 S Tier————————— One …And Justice for All A Tier————————— Blackened Harvester of Sorrow B Tier————————— The Frayed Ends of Sanity To Live Is To Die Dyers Eve Shortest Straw C Tier————————— Eye of The Beholder
Not my favourite by them but 'One' is undeniably a metal classic.
Classic Metallica, songs can bleed together a little but with Classic like One and And Justice for All it's still incredible.
Didn’t have many of my favourite Metallica songs and it’s a little too long to get a 5
🤘🤘🤘
The multi-sectional feel of the title track pushes this album just the tiniest bit into prog metal. It’s still thrash, of course, but there’s a lot more going on creatively and expressively than just thrash. Also, the themes, like the music, are complex, with a lot of pessimism, political and war commentary, and explorations of death. This all weaves through the album and holds it together as a masterpiece, but “One” is the track that exemplifies the message of this studio document.
Intense Riffs! All kind of blends together for me, but pretty dang epic.
This one comes with A LOT of baggage. Puppets is one of the greatest metal albums of all time and the Black Album is one of the most commercially successful albums of all time. Justice is right there in between them in many ways. It is the first full length album after the passing of Cliff Burton, after their first real surge in popularity, after a monster amount of touring, first with Jason Newsted, first with a new label, first with a huge amount of money. It occurred during such a maelstrom of variables that they had never dealt with. Even with their treatment of Newsted and the near disappearance of the bass on the record, it is heavy sounding record(if a bit tinny). There are a lot of stories told as to why Lars and James effectively erased the bass from the album, but it had to have been difficult to make this album without Cliff. Sure they made the $5.98 EP, but that was a couple of covers one a one off. On the tracks themselves, they kept to many of the same themes that they had covered in previous albums but expanded in length and scope. Packing more riffs and changes while still keeping each song relatively tight. "One" became their breakout hit and this mix seemed to solidify a structure to their albums. It had enough "quiet" to make it onto the radio(the video did a LOT of heavy lifting in this respect as well) but still had the brash, thrash and anger. Something 'toned down' just enough to hook people in that might not have ever given them a second listen. ....And Justice is that middle child that desperately wants attention but is going to do it their own way. It is a stepping stone between stages in Metallica's career. Without it, metal does not come to the forefront in popular culture for several more years...if ever. A classic album. Give me the low end mix so I can hear the bass and I would give it an instant 5 stars.
Man, this was so close to being a masterpiece.
Aggressive, fast paced thrash. But it’s more than that, mega complex musically with insane guitar work. Lyrically more challenging as well, covering environmental and political topics. Only slight gripe is it is quite long and maybe doesn’t have as many “massive” songs as some other Metallica albums of that era.
heavy, progressive, jammy metal. always been my favorite metallica album, probably because it lays off the thrash just a tad to let in the prog. don't think i ever noticed how californian james sounds but it makes his vocal delivery iconic. one has some of the coolest progressive metal transitions ever in it. the one 2/3 through where lars introduces his drum beat and then the guitars layer in is so fucking cool. i think overall it's the little acoustic moments (often on intros) that make me really love this album. the lyrics are heavy, the music is often heavy, but the little moments when the songs contrast weight with softness are entrancing.
eq’ed really poorly, but when its cooking it sizzles.
It is a shame it is mixed the way it is-- but I still love it.
Like many, my introduction to Metallica was the black album. And Justice For All is like playing the black album at 78 rpm. The song structures are great; and the music keeps you guessing for a solid hour. I just wish you could hear Jason Newsted. There's a big hole in the mix where the bass guitar should be.
do you want 9 minute complex thrash metal? Um yes please! Ride the Lightning and Kill em All are slightly better imho.
This is a great album. I don't have the privilege of having heard or seen them especially in their prime, but I do love these early albums that are a little more "metal" than their later ones. Great songs on here, and the whole album flows really well.
3.5
Metallica is 80s thrash metal. 4 straight bangers ftom 1983 to 1988, each one getting more and more polished. This one features "One", their legendary metal ballad, allowing 'bangers to embrace their soft side.
I liked it. Not quite a five.
It is very impressive that this record came out in 1988. I know Metallica, but I didn’t know this specific record. The music thrashes and slays with gritty vocals and hard-hitting instrumentation. The drums are so tough and the guitars represent the genesis of metal music. This is a great album.
This album absolutely shreds. It did the best thing an album can do, it left me thinking I need to listen to more Metallica.
4.5 It's a good un
Good fun thrash metal record - not their best but the one with One - so can’t be too bad. A bit longish but not terribly long.
G o d damn do I love this album but I would love it even more if Jason Newsted's bass work wasn't taken from us. That's my only gripe. Everything else in the album is fucking legendary.
Great album. Needs more bass guitar though
I definitely was not allowed to listen to this one when I was growing up as a fundamentalist Southern Baptist in the eighties, but even I was aware of this force of nature, and, of course I had to learn those two licks from One (the pretty part and the rockin' part) years later. I've never considered myself a metal guy, but I have to love this early Metallica stuff, even through the Black Album. And Justice for All has a lot of crossover appeal for broader music fans. It's metal flavored metal. It's all the good stuff about thrash, delivered in a perfect package. We have the classical influenced guitars played at blistering speed, the growling vocals, double bass hits, apocalyptic lyrics. It's all here, and it was never better before or since. Four stars.
Exactly what I expected from Metallica's album
Great Album, but not their best
The music Is great even it this album doesn't have Metallicas biggest known hits. Only challenge is the track lengths which average roughly 7 minutes each.
One of the best metal albums
Do yourself a favour and listen to a version on YouTube with a correct bass mix, it sounds great. A difficult album to rate amongst the Metallica discography, the last of the pure Thrash before the 90s came and hit hard, and losing Cliff is very obvious here. Dark, brooding and full of grief, it's great music but not an album I can come back to regularly.
interesting ig not my fav genre
Classic Metal. The debate may rage about whether or not Metallic sold out (which I think is ridiculous), but l, regardless, it’d be nearly impossible to put together a coherent argument to say that THIS album is representative of sell-outs. Great throwback. Great album.
I liked the angst, frequent rhythm changes, and overall musicality.
I forgot how enjoyable Metallica can be
A transition from the epic melodic thrash of Master of Puppets to the all-conquering hard rock of the Black Album, this album has elements of both but isn't as a good as either. Still, it goes very hard - some huge riffs, some gnarly shredding, some awesome harmonic leads, some quiet somber moments that build anticipation, and tight tight playing throughout. One is really the only stand out song but the whole thing rips.
This record always kinda bored me. One and Harvester of Sorrow stand out. The production is freaking terrible - one of the thinnest sounding metal albums ever. There is no bass, no need to go into that story. Just listened to the remastered version - it’s better than I remember, sounds better too.
Perhaps some bias as this may have been the first Metallica album I listened to as a teen, but this stands out to me as a top tier album from the band. An absolutely killer opening couple of tracks - heavy, technical, fast, and thrashy - great stuff. 'Eye of the Beholder' doesn't quite offer as much as the opening two, but delivers some seriously groovy breakdowns like something from 'Cowboys from Hell'. 'One' is the obvious crown jewel of this album, that has definitely stood the test of time. The iconic intro, thrashy breakdown and blazing guitar solo are always a joy to come back to. From here on out the album drops off slightly for me; less memorable tracks all around, though still an enjoyable listen. Throughout the whole album, the pace is sustained and it never feels boring. Lars' drumming really shines in this album, contrary to his less-than-favourable stereotype. It's tight, technical, and always delivers exactly what is required for the moment. By no means a perfect album, and not one I revisit regularly, but it does what it says on the tin and packs a punch of late 80's metal.
Yeeeeeeaaaaaahh yeeeeeah
Even with the fact that most of the tracks on this album start sounding VERY repetitive, it is a great album!
“…And Justice For All” by Metallica is a strong metal album. Compared to other artists of the same genre, this album is clean, refined, and artistically composed to retain the power and energy, but without overwhelming the listener. While not every track is a a hit, this album carried the single “One” which carries enormous notoriety and success.
This is progressive thrash and a real mautre development from what was arguably their most creative album, Master of Puppets in 1896. The only controversy is the mix. Virtually no bass (which is strange seeing as they'd hired a new bass player after a tragic death of their original) and its all very sterile and tinny. Stoill, the songs are very hard and very complex. Its long but its stil lexcewllent.
"one" is my favorite off this album
Actually liked this a lot! I was worried when Wikipedia said the bass guitar was barely audible, but I felt like there was enough bass in the guitar sound that it didn’t really bother me. And I l-o-v-e LOVED some of the hooks/song intros, they were just really clean and crisp and beautiful. And I was feeling kinda ragey this morning. 8/10 I hope I beat Lucas submitting this review
This is a good one that I own.
Hej anerkender at de er virkelig dygtige mssikere, men kunne de have fået en anden til at komme med one liners istedet for James, så var det nok en 5er.
Obviously awesome but shit recording, no bass and drums sometimes are just bad
I liked it but all the songs basically sound the same to me
Great
Great. I had only heard a handful of pre black album Metallica songs so was really happy to see this come up. Great stuff
All these guitar riffs, licks and solos, it's a massive wankfest... and I loved every minute of it! 🤘
Crunchy, fast, and unrelenting. It's a great album from a genre that doesn't really do it for me.
Classic
Metallica. For me nothing beats Metallica’s Black Album, however this is a close contender. Super intelligent music not just a head banging thump ,their lyrics are well written and meaningful
Ah, the sweet riffhammer of James Hetfield's right hand is on full display here. This never quite rose to the level of Master of Puppets or Ride the Lightning, but it's still pretty good for what it is. I listened to the "remastered" version -- Jason Newstead is still nowhere to be found in the mix. Someone once did a parody of "Blackened" about cooking fish. I wish I could remember it better. Anyway, solid four stars.
One is the best of these
Very melodic for Thrash metal
It's such a fine line between stupid and clever
I liked that a lot of the songs were very long in length. It gave each song freedom to explore different tempos, rhythms. melodies, and structures. After a while, the constant thrumming and no deviation the heavy rock instrumentation did get a little repetitive. Lyrically it was very angry and disdainful towards the abuse of government, parents, and war.
No one does metal like Metallica. This isn't their best work, but still good enough to earn 4 stars from me.
Classic
I’d say this album is a 3.5, but it’s more my jam so I’m going to round up to a 4
Thick, sharp, heavy as hell. Built around riffs, which is a good choice because most of them are great. Several of the songs and the album as a whole could definitely be shorter, but I still enjoyed it a lot. Metal isn’t always my thing but Metallica usually hits the spot. Best song: One
Pretty fucking flawless album. A little simplistic and corny, at its worst, but at it's best, there's nothing better.
Great playing
These boys can rip it.
This is one of the albums that got me into metal music. It's a fantastic album I just don't like Metallica all that much anymore. Still great and Dyers Eve is an amazing song. Shortest Straw has some Excellent riffs
Classic album
Prime metallica - pure aggression start to finish 4.5 / 5
Not their best but still great
My personal favourite Metallica album. Heavy, raw and so angry it seems to lose focus. I won't say this is Metallicas most important album. But it is their best. 9/10
Essential Album
This will be my final Metallica album to review. I’ve enjoyed reviewing their albums so far, (five stars for Master of Puppets, four stars for the other two) so I had high hopes going into this one. Of the Metallica albums on the list, ..And Justice For All is the one that I’m the least familiar with. It’s really interesting to listen to this album from the perspective of it being a bridge between Puppets and the Black Album. Justice has all of the things that made Puppets so great: driving, thrashing guitar arrangements complimented with pounding, frantic drumming. The lyrics are just as socially conscious, if not more so than what was present on Puppets, but the overall sound of the album feels like it’s moving toward the more accessible and melodic elements that made the Black Album such an important moment in metal. The highlight of this album is easily “One.” The lone guitar comes in so cleanly, with a slow sound that establishes the haunting tone of the song, before adding another guitar and some drumming. I love that the original guitar sound stays present throughout most of the song, establishing a really awesome melody throughout the first half of the song. The drumming and guitar that come in together when the song reaches its crescendo are absolutely perfect. The machine gun pace takes the song from slow haunting to a frantic nightmare. Lyrically, I love the narrative that “One” establishes as well. Come to think of it, I can’t think of any other Metallica songs that really have a narrative structure similar to “One.” This song does an incredible job of bringing the story of its tortured veteran to life, and I think it’s easily one of Metallica’s best songs. I think this is a great album, but the overall length and the length of some of the songs is a bit of a deterrent for me. I have nothing against longer songs or albums (Master of Puppets is almost just as long), but some of the songs just don’t use that length to go to any new places or build on their concepts. It’s a great piece of Metallica’s discography, and a great moment in the history of metal, but I can’t see myself listening to the whole album again.
i was writing and i closed the tab accidentaly :/.// i love blackened so fucking much the solo was amazing i love it i love it im sorry metallica i was not familiar with ur game ajfa is also really good, but it can't beat blackened i fear this is really good but it's getting a little boring i'm on eye of the beholder the gunshots at the beginning of one <//3, guitar on this is amazing i swear i know the darkness imprisoning me part i was gonna say i don't like the shortest straw but i love its pace, it is kind of boring though. 3:50 NEVERMINDHOLY FUCK i love it i love this so much harvester of sorrow kinda boring to live is to die i like, the guitar woah 3:35
Tight thrash metal showing why Metallica are so good. Really enjoyed. Light 8
Good old Classic Metal Songs
Metal classic. I like the gritty distorted guitar sound. Cool solos.
Classic. This stuff is way older than I thought. I was 3 when this was released.
LP
Good metal throughout.
Some forgettable songs, but when it hits, it really hits. ...And Justice For All and One in particular.
Pretty good
Constant barrage of anti authoritarian bangers. Feels a little one note.
Metallica is no doubt the epitome of "metal." They "are" what metal is. Honestly it is not my favorite genre. Made slightly worse, I don't love that constant underlying guitar riff, rhythme or whatever, that underlies all their music and makes them distinctly metal, and Metallica. At any rate I am aware of their mastery of craft and they put it all out there for their fans each and every time, which is worth a star simply by appreciation. All that said -- if you are into metal or a student of genre, this is a "must hear" album and is worth the time.
On par with their other albums, think we've had the three best ones, made in Metallica's creative peak. Is it a bit daft? Yes. Are the lyrics silly? Yes. Are there some naff sounding guitars and drums? Yes. Is it enjoyable? Yes. Eye of the Beholder and One are great. It all kind of blends into one, which isn't necessarily bad - just different. They have a very defined sound.
I love metallica, but I have to dock points because of the mixing of the album. How can you possibly call this and justice for all if there is no justice for the bass. Even if the bass were just doubling the guitar riffs, it would have made the guitar riffs so much more rich and thick. But oh well 4/5
Tandon Scale Rating: 4.25 Standouts: One, Blackened, And Justice For All Foot Notes: 1 hell yeah 2 I remember playing guitar hero Metallica nonstop for maybe 3 years in a row when I was a kid 3 loses some steam at the end but still a very good album Would I Listen Again: hell yeah Album Cover Rating: (1-5) 5 Album Name Rating: (1-5) 4
Sorprendeume para ben, non pensei que me fose gustar un disco de Metallica e a verdade, aínda que non son moi fan das cancións sen letra, estivo curioso
Hall of Fame rock studs, and this is a good one. Adrenaline sufficiently pumped. Full disclosure: while I certainly knew of this band, it wasn’t until my 14 year-old started cranking their music before I truly appreciated the work. I listened to the likes of Judas Priest and Deep Purple in the 70’s, but missed the boat with Metallica. I’m onboard now. There are times when it’s not only appropriate to spin this album, it’s therapeutic. Rock On!
I find it quite hard to distinguish between most of the songs that I have heard by Metallica upon first listen, obviously. That being said though, I still liked this album !
In spite of the treacherous roads that led to it (Cliff Burton's death, the band's lack of processing it, Jason Newsted's bass parts being inaudible), Metallica's ...And Justice For All still stands as a staggering achievement and the final step taken in order to become the monolithic heavy metal band of and for the world. Whether the buck stops here or the speed has accelerated, there is no denying that Metallica was here to stay for good. Favorites: Blackened, One, The Shortest Straw, Harvester of Sorrow, The Frayed Ends of Sanity, To Live is to Die.
Fine heavy metal album. One is the best song on the album
Not the best Metallica but good still
geil aber nicht so gut wie die Master of Puppets
One.... Gåshud...
Enjoyed this one a lot more than the black album. I enjoyed every track and would recommend this to people looking to get into hard rock or metal. Everyone is dialed in on this album - but it still leaves a little bit to be desired in terms sound variation. While songs sound different, after an hour they can blend into the same soundscape.
this was my first metallica. still remember hearing it on Hal Frediani’s floor in middle school (closely followed by Hal’s other new purchase, Parents Just Don’t Understand)
For those not inclined toward heavy metal, Metallica's "...And Justice For All" offers a surprising revelation. The album balances aggression with melody, showcasing a musical complexity that transcends typical metal stereotypes. The title track sets the tone with intricate guitar work and urgency, highlighting Metallica's ability to infuse melody into their music. This dynamic is evident in tracks like "One" and "To Live Is to Die," which reveal the band's depth and sophistication. Metallica's technical prowess, especially the guitar work of James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, is undeniable. The standout track "One" combines heavy riffs with poignant lyrics, showcasing the band's storytelling ability beyond traditional metal expectations. Even if heavy metal isn't your usual preference, the production quality and musicianship on this album are worthy of appreciation. Metallica's ability to merge melody with raw energy makes "...And Justice For All" a testament to their influence and innovation within the metal genre. In essence, this album serves as a bridge for non-metal fans, revealing the layer of musical sophistication and genuine artistic expression beneath the genre's loud exterior. Enter the Metallica realm with an open mind! 🤘🎸
Monsters of rock, undeniably.
Um... I like this one.
Le doy 4 estrellas porque este es uno de los casos de más sonados de la historia en cuanto a bajar el sonido del bajo, que lo deja prácticamente inexistente, una pena. Aún así grandes composiciones y grandes clásicos.
Solid Metal album, I do not regularly listen to metal although I enjoyed and I found it to be a good start to the genre
Great album. Much more political than I thought Metallica was but honestly haven’t listened to much of them. Will definitely be listening to more in the future.
Det har One, Harvester of Sorrow som er KÆMPE bangers. Men bortset fra det... Det er sådan nogenlunde, men lyder helt ærligt også lidt som Volbeat meget af deres andet katalog, ikke sikker på hvad jeg faktisk synes om vokalen. Men de to sange alene giver en høj karakter
Fängt schon ganz geil an. Die Lieder sind vielleicht alle etwas zu lang. Das ganze Album ist vielleicht auch ein bisschen zu lang.
"...And Justice for All" by Metallica, released in 1988, is a complex and ambitious album that marks a significant shift in the band's sound. The album is characterized by intricate compositions, socially conscious lyrics, and the absence of audible bass in the mix. Songs like "One" and the title track showcase Metallica's progressive approach, combining heavy riffs with intricate arrangements. The lyrics delve into themes of war, justice, and societal issues. However, the controversial absence of audible bass, which has been a point of criticism, impacts the overall balance and hinders the album's sonic potential. Despite this, "...And Justice for All" is a bold statement from Metallica, earning a solid 4/5 for its musical complexity and thematic depth.
good but not in the mood
This album is a classic and the driving riffs and drums have helped me get a lot of coding done. The bass mix is downright criminal, however. 8.5/10
Some of the best Djent metal in town. Some silly mixing choices, and I never get too deep in the weeds w Metallica lyrics personally, but beyond that its riff city and they all hit as hard as they come. Best: Blackened, …And Justice For All, One Cool moments: Blackened intro guitar, Eye of the Beholder fade-in intro, One solo ofc but honorable mention Frayed Ends solo. That one rips
This was an awesome album, makes sense why everyone wanted to pirate this back in the day. One was mindblowing. First time listening to this and really liked it.
way cooler than i thought it would be
Das erste Album nach der Burton Ära. Höre die früheren Alben tatsächlich lieber. Aber auf jeden Fall ein Nobrainer, Souveräne 4 von 5 Punkten.
Trash metal classic! Complex compositions compared to other Metallica albums.
Solid. Liked it.
Definitly not their best work. In their fourth album Metallica strays away from the raw power and aggression of Seek and Destroy and Master of puppets to a more artsy metal album. It's still thrash but more progressive ans it shows in the album lenght. Over an hour of Metallica can be overwhelming. But i still enjoyed it, and with one a stable of Metallica is on this album.
I was 10 when this came out. This was the album that got me into Metallica
8.5/10
Blackened - 7/10 Justice for all - 8/10 Eye of the beholder - 6/10 One - 10/10 The shortest straw - 7/10 Harvester of sorrow - 6/10 The frayed ends of sanity - 7/10 To live is to die - 8/10 Dyers eve - 8/10
I wasn't too sure what to expect from an album described as thrash / progressive metal, but I liked it - it's very musical in places. I really liked the almost an instrumental "To Live Is to Die".
Brings me back. This was my gateway to Metallica and changed how I listened to heavy rock.
Classic late-80s shredding. Has "One". Pretty dang good album.
solid album
When you think of the most famous metal bands you immediately think of Metallica, I left expecting more: don’t get me wrong this album is solid throughout with multiple hits. I didn’t find myself being blown off my feet by anything, tbh I wasn’t digging it that much. It was better than average but not the best.
A great album. Some of the most recognisable guitar riffs and good political takes
I think this is one of the better Metallica albums. It's well produced and some of the songs are exceptionally well written, like "One".
i mean, blackened and one are some of the greatest metal songs of all time, and the performances and riffs throughout the album are great too. but most of the songs just go on a bit too long. 3.5/5
Heavy metal \m/! Album starts out swinging, but after "One" it starts to feel very homogenous, although still good. To Live is To Die brings it back to the feeling of "One" with a few tempo switches that I really enjoy. Dyer's Eve is a good finish. Overall this is a solid 4. Blackened, And Justice, and One are obvious favorites.
Classic Metallica album. Really good stuff but it starts to lose me after a little bit. Still insanely good instrumentations on here. One might be one of my favorite songs of all time it’s so fucking good. Bit long for my liking
It was tricky to listen to this with new ears, since i wore down the tape when i was in grade 8. Still a great album. What i noticed with this listen is the vocals are so much more aggressive than mainstream music of that time, that it made me chuckle. the guitars are phenomenal throughout the album.
Ótimo
Loved this classic album, I really felt like a gladiator listening to this. Definitely more pumped up style compared to what I listen to but it’s really solid
I'm not really a Metallica fan, but "One" is an absolutely amazing song. The rest is a mix of thrash metal and prog rock. It's an impressive work, if a bit repetitive at times.
Incredible thrash metal. Every track on this is stellar, and I think One is a masterpiece. Unfortunately its somewhat let down by its production, especially the barely audible bass guitar.
"One" is such a banger
Sgoed
Metallica, altijd wel goed
I guess their last "metal" album? a little repetitive. But pretty cool. forgot how fun Metallica is
Great metal album.
Classic Metallica sound
Every single song was a head banger.
Better than Garage inc.
Great sound through out the album, all head bangers
Whoa, some effects sound great through my headphones. What a rollercoaster!
Goed
yeah this hits...
4.2.
Not the best Metallica album, but still full of commanding performances, towering monoliths of songs and a surprising hint of sentimentality. The album flies by without fault, even with songs gladly stretching over the eight minute mark, largely thanks to how dynamic the songs are. The arrangements are dramatic, but stuffed within an inch of bursting - just look at how energetic songs like 'Blackened' and 'One' are, not too decorated for them to lose the visceral edge of them. Just one question: why is there no fucking bass? The thing sounds like it was recorded in a tin can, and some of the weight of the record is really lost with the lack of a bottom end. Doesn't ruin the album but it does a damn good job of trying.
Good album for sure, more up a side street than up my alley but definitely in the same area. Enjoyed parts, I don't think I'd listen to the whole album again all in one go, I might enjoy it more if it was sprinkled through some other lighter metal....
This album carries a palpable sense of grieving, with each chord striking a note of melancholy that resonates with the loss the band endured. It's a sombre ode, a heavy metal requiem that reverberates with the agony and the relentless pursuit of justice, both in a literal and metaphorical sense. Flawed, ambitious, unbalanced, creative, sad and angry. Quite special.
Solid rock album. Great drums, iconic guitar, and intense vocals.
Nok mit sidstevalg at Metallicas første 4 albums. Stadig fed! De sidste 3 numre, megafed afslutning
Would have been at least 4.5/5 if they didn’t muck up the bass guitar in the mix. Cool riffs and structurally technical composition. This is rightly called the closest Metallica gets to prog metal. Highlight: the machine gun drumming in the bridge of One still gives me goosebumps.
I don't typically like Thrash metal because it mostly sounds like crazy people banging on their instruments bit there is no denying that Metallica are the masters of it. This album has some good moments and good music but by the end I felt as if I kind of had enough and was ready for it to be over. Which fits how I feel about Metallica in general. They're pretty good in small doses but outside of the black album they don't really have much I can listen to for any decent length of time.
Quite liked it
Probably the last good album they did.
I guess I finally get Metallica. Pretty solid album.
Some of the best heavy rock songs of all time, One by Metallica will always have a spot on my playlists and they keep that energy throughout the album. I will say sometimes the instrumentals lack until the end of the song, almost as if they remember in the last 2 minutes that "oh yeah, we're metallica" and start shredding.
The original Metallica sound.
It was okay
Early, hard Metallica. I thought One was the only good song on the album but I was pleasantly surprised.
Frenetic, tight metal album.
Its cool but I dont particularly love metallicas vocals
...And no reverb for anybody.
Arms and legs everywhere.
"Touring behind it, we realized that the general consensus was that songs were too fucking long."
Love this album - always have. Metallica spoke to me as a teenager and will always have a special place in my heart. Shame they don't like each other as much tho!
I listened to half of this on a run. Not a huge Metallica-head but Blackened really got me moving. One is also a classic.
Rating - STRONG 7 Best Song - The Frayed Ends of Sanity (10/10) Worst Song - Harvester of Sorrow (6/10) Thoughts: Immaculate instrumentals from Lars Ulreich on the drums and special shoutout to Kirk Hammett for the incredible guitar solos laced throughout the project. The topic of justice was portrayed very well in almost every song, whether it be politically or via other angles such as 'Dyers Eve' where James Hetfield talks about gaining justice over his parents for his closed-off upbringing. Even though every song was over 5 minutes long, reaching up to 9 minutes in some instances, no song overstayed its welcome, other than maybe 'Harvester of Sorrow', which is an impeccable feat in itself. This is a GREAT album with flawless production from front to back packed with songs that speak out for justice through different means, making my introduction into metal music a very welcome one.
my grandpa is a fan and i feel like i'm slowly transforming into him
An interesting look into the earlier days of thrash and metal. Not personally my style but still well executed.
siempre me gusto metallica, no te escucharia toda la discografia porque lo sentiria muy repetitivo pero la onda que tiene siempre me gusto. canciones favoritas: blackend, one 8.5/10
I started listening to this at 8 AM and it was a bit too much. A much better to listen to after noon. 4/5
I played this a lot when I was young. I still like it. On the other hand, I don't recommend this record. You had to be there when it was new to fully appreciate it. Master of Puppets was better. Most of the songs are too long. The singing is not that good. It's not very heavy by today's standards. Lots of people complain about the lack of bass, but it wouldn't be as tight and punchy with more bass. Favorite song: Battery
4.5
I think I'm more of a fan of individual songs than Metallica albums. After a while it kind of mushes together. Still, One is a top-tier song. Easy 4
Can you go wrong with Metallica? I prefer their 90s albums over their 80s ones, but this is still a solid album. One, in particular, is a fantastic song.
It's a Metallica album. It's fine. It sounds like a Metallica album, and I like it. Not sure it's groundbreaking, and I'm not sure there should be any more than one Metallica album on this list. Fours tars, because I like it and I would listen again and it's interesting.
Apparently this album has no bass, sounded pretty good without it. I’m not a huge fan of Hetfield’s vocals but One is a classic. It’s the guitars that carry this album. 4 stars
Might've been nice to hear a bit of Jason's bass...
Not Metallica's best but a good album nonetheless. "One" is a classic and "Dyer's Eve" a flat out fret race. Metallica certainly experimented some after Lightning and Puppets, not especially to my taste but I salute their bravery.
80- luku, pitkä tukka ja farkkutakki. Mikäs se sit onkaan metallican paras levy, siinä kanssa hyvä kysymys. On tää sitä parhaimmistoa, mutta oisko black album kuiteskin parempi. Eiköhän sekin tällä listalla tule niin katotaan sit :D
Great players, double kick downstroke
- One is one of the greatest songs period - Not my favorite Metallica album, but certainly a great one - Falls off a tiny bit on the second half but still bangers
- It’s almost effortless for them - Not a lot stands out on this album, especially compared to their other stuff - Can’t see myself going back to this one -3.5
Classic pop metal. Absotutely holds up
it’s metallica
Thin sound, strange arrangements, 1988 trans am and moustaches and shitty beer. Nonetheless, it's rad guitars, amazing lead work, TIGHT playing, and even the aforementioned 'strange' arrangements and 'thin' sound kind of grew on me by the end. Def a decent record.
Compression, Compression, Compression! I love this album so I'm biased. The only reason it's not a 5 (not really, i just need to get my dig in) is I cant hear the fucking bass guitar!!!!! ;) "One" is an absolute master piece. Dyers Eve and Blackened are also amazing.
Blackened, Eye of the Beholder, One, Harvester of Sorrows, The Frayed Ends of Sanity and Dyers Eve. Amazing guitars and drums. Main complaint is the guitar riffs just all sound the same. Master of Puppets is better.
classy message. there are better Metallica albums. one, blackened, justice for all, to live is to die, dyers eve.
Really good start and finish but the middle felt sluggish. Great guitar and drums. FS: Blackened, Frayed Ends, To Live, Dyers Eve
Actually a good ass listen 9/10
Not their best album
My favourite metal album. Was honestly my favourite album when I was getting into music. Out of all the CDs my mum and dad had. This one for a time had a special place. I now look at my favourite, favourite types of music and albums, and themes and similar aspects are in this one. It’s like a metal genesis album. This is their best. Unfortunately the production isn’t the best. Apparently Plampin tells me they haven’t got the master tapes anymore so they can’t even remaster it. And that all adds to the concept in that almost other-worldly way. Metallica are a cheesy metal band. Metalheads hate them. Your nans heard Enter Sandman and she hates it. But if you ever want to prove where this band were at their peak (album before their bestseller, usually a telltale sign), listen to this album. Sot: Blackened And justice for all One 4.5/5
Very very good album, unique sound and loads of interesting songs
It’s good I’ve forgotten it it’s been a long time since I listened to it and also a very long time since I listened to it all the way through
Not a big fan of 'em, but this one is solid, The Shortest Straw is a banger
Pretty good
justice for jason
Relentless unadulterated heavy metal. You are on a punishing thrash ride from the first red-hot guitar lick all the way through ‘til the last.
Well that's Metallica for you. Pretty sure their style could be recognized by first notes on every album.
listened to this on a sunset walk around the neighborhood next to the sun and sail club and felt like an angsting teenager great experience
Classic. 'One' is absolutely amazing and always will be. Strong selection of songs with the true and true Metallica sounds to it.
3 days apart from each other (thank you randomizer), I've given both "Master Of Puppets" and "...And Justice For All" a good few (re-)listens and have to admit that this one really falls short in comparison. Both albums, like 'Ride The Lightning' before that are built along the same premise: 1) Start the album with a fast and heavy song 2) Bring a few of the epics (8 to 9 minute songs) interspersed with some slower songs 3) Bring out one instrumental 4) Finish with a fast and heavy banger But while Metallica went from the Thrash to more Black Sabbath-like rhythms, the songwriting remains great, it's the tinny and empty production sound that really stops this album from being a masterpiece. Without Bass, without soul, without input besides Lars and James.
Loud
Gets the blood pumpin, great hard rock with some awesome guitar riffs. Not my usual vibe but good for working out or to scream at.
guapísimo
It’s Metallica........has to be at least a 4* !
Had this record as a kid and haven’t heard in years. I love their harmonized guitars Cool guitar melody in “And just for all” I would’ve liked some more melody in the vocals for all these songs. I found myself feeling like I waiting for verses to end so we could get to the guitar solos. “One” is probably my favorite Metallica song and has so many great guitar moments. Intro for “living to Die” is awesome Least favorite is “shortest straw” and “frayed ends” Tough one to rate… 3.5 ..4?
Can’t believe we’ve had two Metallica records and they weren’t kill ‘em all or master of puppets. This was fun, some really cool riffs and grooves. Guitars sound amazing and huge throughout. love the solo on the title track and eye of the beholder. One is such a great song. Tempo changes were cool. I wish the drums were also huge sounding. one thing that kills me about metal is the sample replaced drums, even though I don’t think Metallica did that much, they still kind of have that sound with the paper-y little kick drum. I dig Metallica but I feel like it all kinda sounds the same. Its cool to see how they kind of paved the way for newer metal and hardcore bands, and by comparison Metallica is pretty soft and palatable and even pretty at times.
Not the best choice for a headache day, but I like the album.
Pretty fucking solid. Reminded me of learning guitar and playing One over and over again. The flips from classical to metal got to be a little silly on the back half of the record. Still very listenable. The remaster fixed the snare sound I hate but it's still smashed. Good album!
An outstanding thrash metal record that is lessened by an horrid production. This was actually my first time listening the 2018 remaster, and while the bass is a bit more clear in the mix, the production still feels terribly out of place in this album. That being said, this still is Metallica showcasing some of their best songwriting, and arguably the last of their great thrash metal albums.
Classic thrash during their height of creativity. Some very doomy tracks here, and some have a folky metal sound reminiscent of Led Zeppelin. We see some of their strongest like "Blackended" and "One" but also a few of their most mediocre of the period. I would not like "Eye of the Beholder" if not for the instrumental in the third quarter, and the only thing I like about "The Shortest Straw" is the speed drumming. There are plenty of highlights, particularly the 10-minute instrumental "To Love is to Die". There's some really awesome riff going on in every track, and the drums hit hard. It's overall an outstanding effort, with my biggest complaint being the barely audible bass and snares.
Stank face engaged. Absolute shreddage
Great album, hard hitting. Before they sold out
Complex, rhythmic, and energetic as hell. A great listen, although no track really stands out to me as being too unique or different from the others. Freaking awesome album art for 1988 too.
Lack of bass is so noticable, how this shit happen? Album good Cool heavy riffs and as well as some nice melodic sections. Very nice. 4/5 Favourite Tracks: Blackened, The Shortest Straw, Dyer's Eve Least Favourite Tracks: ...And Justice For All
Look, shit rules.
'One' alone warrants 3 stars. One of the greatest metal songs ever. Great face melting sols and Lars beating the shit out of the drums. Easy 4 stars. 'Shortest Straw' solo is fantastic.
On the day this was released I was junior in high school and I remember waiting all day for school to end so I could rush out by this album. Slightly mixed on first listen but soon after couldn't turn it off. It's been a while since I listen to this album, It's still a great album and probably the last great Metallica album. The songs are really strong and this has been talked about a ton, the mixing is horrible, it sounds even worse to me now then it did. I'm really glad I saw them multiple times on this tour and heard these songs live, they were there supposed to sound.
It’s no Master of Puppets, but it’s a good metal record and a classic. Fast, heavy, with growling vocals, but highly precise drum and guitar. It’s a record I always enjoy listening to.
It probably wasn’t a good idea to listen to an album like this while I was winding down for the night because I feel like I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would’ve if I listened to it while working or something. Regardless, this is still a classic album that shouldn’t have lost to jethro tull even if I got tired of it after One finished. I think I still prefer the black album over puppets and puppets over this.
I already like Metallica and their music, and this gave me a chance to listen to the album in full for the first time. It's excellent. Highly charged, tight as can be, and very well composed. The music video they put together for 'One' is haunting and really stays with me. Wow.
Este me gusta mucho
This is the last Metallica album I really fuck wit. Shreds pretty much the whole way, and the solo in One will forever bestow the chillies
The more metal I listen to from this list, the more obvious Metallica’s incredible musicianship becomes. They’re operating at a higher level. Really intricate, beautiful music. They have an intense hard rock style but it’s not just brute force. There’s real craft behind these songs. You know me, I’m always attracted to the drums on an album. And jeez! These drums sound insane! That extra bass kick in there is so powerful. And the guitar solos! Some epic, stadium rock, guitar hero shit here! 🎸🔥 Wow - that transition from the melodic intro of “To Live is to Die” to the opening riff is really something! The whole song is stunning. I like Metallica though I probably respect their music more than I love it at the moment. But it's all new to me and I look forward to listening to more. Excellent album overall.
Now here’s a band I can really get into, at least when I’m in the right mood. I was a Black Album convert, never a huge fan of their earliest stuff or the woeful middle albums, but Dan has played their latest albums and they are a great return to form (but with modern production, yay). Anyway, sitting in traffic in a car on my own, I cranked this one and really enjoyed it. Apropos of my earlier musings on Megadeth vs Metallica - no contest. These guys make me want to bang my head. And they keep changing up their songs, but in a way that’s fun in an over-the-top way rather than just ridiculous. No further analysis needed.
Good album and would love to see some of these live but tbf not something I could listen to on regular basis anymore. Saved tracks: …And Justice For All, One, The Shortest Straw, The Frayed Ends Of Sanity, To Live Is To Die
Do I like metal??
I don't revisit this anywhere near as often as the two Metallica albums either side of it, but I really should, its a damn good record. Some songs are slightly longer than they need to be, but it never really gets boring and the high points are very high
Probably peak Metallica in my book, just tight, technical high speed metal wall to wall. On the downside it pretty much marks the turn to the all-serious, no-humor, self-important vibe that pretty much defined the band thereafter.
Very complex but good album. Some great guitar riffs. 'One' is one of my favourite Metallica songs. 4,5/5
Metallica’s thrash roots are still very much apparent, but this is a more thoughtful, complex, and experimental album. The uses of interesting time signature, arpeggios, and the suite like string structure all attest to Metallica’s desire to move beyond their music of the early and mid 80s. It is a resounding success.
Another heavy hitter from Metallica! Some classic jams on here, including probably my favorite from them, "One." Songs like that are few and far between, but they demonstrate that Metallica can do different things if they so choose. They don't often so choose, and on this album there's a decent sized chunk that feels like filler to me, the back half got a little monotonous. But still, the heft of the earlier tracks is undeniable. Certainly not a perfect album, and I can say with confidence this isn't my favorite Metallica album (Master of Puppets was a 5), but it still goes hard. Favorite tracks: One, Blackened, And Justice For All, To Live is To Die, Eye of the Beholder. Album art: Definitely a classic, one of my favorite from Metallica for sure. No mistaking the symbolism here, especially with the title. Strong statement. 4.5/5
FULL DISCLOSURE: I FUCKING LOVE METALLICA SO THIS REVIEW IS HEAVILY BIASED. Lars is a fucking BEAST on the drums as usual. This album has a lot of emotion because they released it only 2 years after Cliff died (original bassist). Will have to listen to this the next time I'm on a run & doing sprints. I have nothing bad to say about this album. I also like Kill Em All (86') and this is a crazy good follow up. Usually artists have a sophomore slump after a critically acclaimed first album, but these guys did their fucking thing. And that's why they're legends.
Classic Metallica, what can I say. Theres a lot you can unpack about the latter parts of Metallicas career from the 90's onwards, for the record I still love them dearly to the preset day but their history is definitely... complex. But any baggage caused by St. Anger is forgotton when that opening lead guitar part from Blackened comes in. Then you get One. I could spend paragraphs writing about how much I love one, mlodic, heavy, conceptual, creepy, all the performances are so bang on, Long enough to be epic but never outstays its welcome, the vocals are Hetfield at his absolute best. Hearing those guns, either on record, or especially live is just electrifying. And that guitar tone in the intro... wow. What a banger. I wont give it a 5 because if I was standing in a record shop and I could only buy this or another Metallica album I'd always go for the other once but its damn close.
7/10 there’s some good stuff here but there were also plenty of songs that sounded comically annoying I feel like they peaked with Master of Puppets, this just doesn’t sit right with me
Every band has that undeniably great album. And then they have the album that is debated, but ultimately crosses the line. The line of excess and overkill. The point of no return, as it were. For example, Yes had "Close to the Edge" as their undeniable great album. Their next album, "Tales From Topographic Oceans," is one that is debated by many fans about crossing the line of excess. (Personally, I love it, but I can see what they're talking about: double album, only 4 songs.) For Metallica, their great album is, of course, "Master of Puppets." The contested album is "...And Justice For All." The two big complaints are pretty obvious: 1) It's too long. Both the album itself, and some of the songs. "Harvester of Sorrow" is probably the one song I point to as being the best example of this, along with "To Live Is To Die." And yet, it's the shortest song on the album. But it feels like it's overstayed its welcome. Length of the album itself? "To Live Is To Die" os not as good of an instrumental as "Orion" from the previous album. "Frayed Ends of Sanity" is another one that just... goes nowhere. Looking at the LP version, you have sides that are 15 minutes long. It just seems like a waste. 2) The sound of the album itself. The bass. WHERE. IS. THE. BASS? Oh my GOD, this is such a perplexing album. You get a new bassist, and you canNOT hear him. The drums, however, are very prominent. Too prominent. The bass drum I hear in... um.... EVERY song. I don't think it's a hard thing to say all of the band members really peaked with "Master of Puppets." I mean, listen to them trying to play "Battery" years later, it never sounds right. I can't imagine what "Justice" would have sounded with Burton. But there's so much anger and grief in that album, it would have definitely have been different. Am I nitpicking at this album? Probably. "One" is one of their greatest songs they ever did, there's no denying it. "Blackened" feels like trying to take "Battery" up a notch, but I still dig it. It's the flaws that make it NOT be a 5-star album. But it is a raw, definitive thrash album. If only...
Metallica is one of the best at what they do and this album was pretty good, but not their best. A little too decadent - too many so 6min+ songs that could've been cut down. I got lost in the title track and To Live is to Die (as in, is this a new song or is it still going?), even though I like the former (latter was meh). One is still a brilliant song and one that I don't mind goes on a bit long. Blackened is one I'm not sure I knew well but quite enjoyed. Overall lots of anger, thrash, energy, and frenetic play - Metallica hallmarks.
Ahh… my first Metallica album. Well, the first one I bought at least. A friend had their earlier three albums and I had just started liking them when this came out. I never really got into the opening track “Blackend”, and it still doesn’t do much for me. The title track however is an awesome metal epic. I always like the fade-in of “Eye of the Beholder” and the enjoyed the flange-driven riff that drives the song. Then we get to “One”. Between the music, lyrics and that haunting music video this was and still is one of the best anti-war songs that I’ve ever heard. The rest of the album is some classic metal as well. “Harvester Of Sorrow” and “The Frayed Ends of Sanity” still hold up even to today’s more extreme metal. “To Live is To Die” kind of reminds of “The Unforgiven” a little at around the middle of the song. Metallica was good at writing intense album closers and “Dyers Eve” is no exception. I enjoyed revisiting this album after what’s been at least a decade. Not a perfect album but still one of Metallica's best.