Metallica - ...And Justice for All

 Epitome of Metal
Thrash metal legends Metallica created an album that quite nearly captured the essence of 'metal' with the recording of "...And Justice for All". The sound is heavy, aggressive, and unforgiving. The lyrics are angry, purposeful, comes to right through the medium of James Hetfield, who spews anger and frustration at the listener. The songs are quite long (the shortest being "Dyers Eve" at 5:14) which is, in my opinion at least, one of the hallmarks of 'proper' metal. The length of the tracks doesn't stick to conventions and is obviously not made for radio or TV, it's made for the listener, the one who buys the records and wants to get into it. Who wants to immerse himself (or indeed herself) into the music, the aggression, the experience.

And the things to immerse oneself in are plentyful. A couple of the best Metallica songs ever are on this recording, and maybe even one of the best metal songs period. I'm of course refering to the magnificent hymn "One". Wonderful. The riffs throughout the album are solid and have provided all metal guitarists with something to copy and rip off for the past 20 years.

The album is well produced bar a single thing. I think the drums of Lars Ulrich have never sounded better. The guitar sound is just right, both as rythm and as lead. Yet the vocals are just a hint too much in the background. Not much, but a bit.

I may be tainted by experience, seeing that I've been a Metallica fan for almost twenty years now, but I do honestly think that this is one of the best metal albums ever released. Should be on your shelf. April 23, 2008

 Awesome, despite production challenges!
I am very picky about production in the music I love to listen to. When an album/CD 'sounds' good then that adds a lot to the listening experience, for me anyway. It's the production of the Load albums that keep me going back to them often, and I cut them A LOT of slack for making those songs sound good. Anyway, the production of ...And Justice For All is certainly a strike against it. But, if you give this CD a couple of listens, you will realize how great the songs themselves are, and the production challenges seem insignificant. I would actually go a step further than that, and say that I wouldn't want this CD to 'sound' any other way...it's THAT GREAT!!! I agree with all who rate this as a must have album. April 14, 2008

 THIS ALBUM BROKE BARRIERS!
Truly one of the greatest metal albums...no greatest albums of all time. The 1980's were filled with bland synth rock and pop and ugh! Michael Jackson. Metallica with the release of ...And Justice For All sent a clear and (very) loud message to the music industry, things were going to be different in the 1990's. This album opened the door for so many musical acts in the 90's to be heard, this would not have been possible without the success of ...And Justice, it showed the record companies that they could sign musical acts that were not of the norm and that they could sell records. Without Justice we may have never heard Nirvana, Manson, Pantera, Slayer, Alice In Chains, Tool etc. This was truly something Metallica could be proud of, they lead the way, but sadly did not continue to carry that torch.
For me this album was like opening a door to another world. I had never heard such furious sound coming from musical instruments. I was instantly addicted to this album. I was stuck in the hair metal rut and didn't know that this other world existed. Justice opened the door for me to check out Megadeth, Anthrax, Testament, Slayer, Death Angel, Iron Maiden, Pantera, Flotsam and Jetsam and so many more great tru (not nu) metal bands. Eventually it lead me to hear grunge because I was looking for the heaviest angst filled music I could find.
Some say Justice was just an angry album, but it was also an intelligent album from the concerned lyrics of Hetfield to the break neck musicianship of Hetfield, Ulrich and Hammett. In the 20 years since, this album still stands as one of a kind, I have never heard anybody say, this album sounds kinda like Justice nor will I ever.
An album like ...And Justice For All only comes along once in a life time.
So for you kids out there who want to check out Metallica stay away from everything after ...And Justice (except for Garage Inc.). Listen to Kill 'Em All, Ride The Lightning and Master Of Puppets. If you want to get into metal and you want to go out and get the 10 best metal CD's ever, ...And Justice For All has got to be on that list. April 13, 2008

 Best metal album ever
I would first like to get the bad out of the way, the production. It does not give mush credit to lars drums pounding wise. With that out of the way I want everyone to know how great of an album this is. Whenever you start and album off with a song like blackened you know that this is going to be one of the greatest albums ever. The album itself is long with only TWO songs under SIX minutes! But the songs never get boring (except at the ninth minute of the title track) and with all the extreme music going on you will no doubt be entertained. This is also metallicas compositional masterpiece. Every song has the greatest musicianship of any album EVER! April 9, 2008

 Somewhat of a dichotomy for me
If memory serves, this was actually the first album I bought on CD. I was saddened by Cliff Burton's passing, but hopeful that Metallica could keep it together and produce yet another great album. And they really did! From the opening bars of "Blackened", you could tell that this was a new sound, new attitude, and a new level of intensity for their existing lyrical obsessions (war, politics, and social inequality). It was power speed metal that made me want to pick up a lead pipe and go smash an effigy of Lady Justice, douse the pieces in gasoline, torch them, and go read Marx until daybreak.

But then, this album also marked the transition point for Metallica. All of a sudden, they weren't "underground" any more. The song "One" was a major hit on MTV and the radio stations...and they were nominated for a Grammy. Jethro Tull ended up winning that year and in the ensuing controversy, it occurred to me that "what's this...a brouhaha over Metallica not winning a Grammy Award?! The Metal Militia tweaked over an insipid, commercial accolade? Lame..."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against the supposed anti-establishment bands being indoctrinated into the establishment if they want. It's all good and I want to see talented bands succeed and make money. But if you then go on to release a legion of dog albums afterwards and sell out so completely that you become tough guys for the RIAA crusade against mp3 copyright infringement, your credibility tanks a bit. There's a slight disparity between the early and "mature" Metallica, to say the least.

In any case, I don't mean this to be a rant. Regardless of the road these gents traveled after "...And Justice for All", this album is quite good and - along with "Master of Puppets", of course - represents the Metallica I knew and loved. March 28, 2008

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