Rating: 
Summary: The Last Metallica Album
Review: It's truly hard to believe that this brilliant piece of metal artistry was made by the same band that released the "black" album, Load and ReLoad. I mean, it's so perfectly written and performed that it may be possible that the reason they sold out is because they couldn't do any better than this.This release is the first to have Jason Newsted on bass guitar replacing the mighty Cliff Burton (RIP). While he had a good sound, he didn't do much more than match what James was doing on guitar. This was due to the fact that the songs were pretty much written, but Jason didn't really know what Cliff was up to. Still, it ended up being a classic thrasher. While this CD contains some slower tunes (that still have that heavy shred), it also contains some of the bands fastest songs to date. So fast, in fact, that they don't ever play them live because Lars bit off a little more than he could chew when he actually recorded it. What a weenie. Anyway, this release would be the last of a great legacy of thrash metal. They were the kings. Were... This is how I like to remember them. Not as revolutionary as "Master Of Puppets" and not as ground breaking as "Kill em All and Ride the Lightning", but still an example of what metal used to be when money wasn't the ONLY thing on ones mind. Regardless of who they turned out to be, this is a classic CD that needs to be in your collection.
Rating:
Summary: Greatest metal album ever made
Review: Along with Queensryche's Operation Mindcrime, this is the best album I've ever heard. And I heard a lot. It is hard to describe music. No matter how good a review you read, you still don't know what you're going to hear. But I must emphasize the greatness of this album. One of the great things about music is it evokes emotions. The emotion that this album evokes is clear to anyone who heard it: anger. This is the angriest album I've ever heard. I think the reaons it's so angry is probably because it was recorded after the death of Metallica's bassist and friend, Cliff Burton.
The fact that this album is so angry might turn some people off. If you don't like your music aggressive than maybe you won't like this so much. Maybe you won't, but maybe you will. Because this album isn't all about anger. It contains brilliant song writing and execution. This album is heavy, you should probably know that. After all it's a metal album. I'd like to talk about four things: the guitars, vocals, drums and bass.
The guitars - The guitars are very heavy. One of the best things about this album is the variation of the riffs. You won't hear the same riff repeated over and over throughout the whole song. And the riffs are awesome. They are sharp, tight, and very mean-sounding. Some people referred to them as sounding "dry". I think it's somewhat true, but in a good way. They evoke a very cold and bleak feeling, which suits the theme of this album perfectly.
The guitar leads are great. They are probably the most melodic thing on this album. They are very fast and skillfully played by Kirk Hammet. Every song has a great guitar solo that really contributes the song.
The vocals - James Hetfield's singing, if you wanna call it that, are the most aggressive non-growl vocals I've ever heard. Actually I refer to them as semi-growlish. There is definitely a bit of a growl in his voice, but still he sounds very clear. For the most part I think you'll understand what he says. Yeah, he sounds very angry and there is also a feeling of hatred in his voice, like all the things he's singing about really happened to him. This adds to the cold and bleak feeling of this album.
The drums - Many say that the drums were recorded too close, which makes them the most audible instrument on this album. I don't mind that at all, because I don't think I ever heard better drumming. The drumming is powerful, precise and also, very creative. They aren't just there to be the backbone of the song, they do much much more. It's hard to explain, there are all sorts of drum-fills that change the regular beat of the song.
The drumming also sound a bit mechanical-like, but in a good way ouf course.
The bass - There isn't much to write about the bass. Like almost every other review pointed out, the bass is almost inaudible. But you know what? This is, for the most part, a thrash metal album. I never heard a thrash metal album which you hear a lot of bass on. So this issue really doesn't bother me, and I don't think it should be such a big deal. About the song writing, I already said I think it's brilliant. It is very sophisticated and complex, but not to a point where it's hard to appreciate or enjoy it. There are nine tracks, and the average track length is about seven minutes, which is very impressive because these are, for the most part, fast-paced songs. The music never gets repetitive or boring. One last thing is the lyrics. The main theme of this album is Injustice and corruption. The lyrics are very thought-provoking, very clever and well-written. The subject of each song isn't obvious from the start. The lyrics however are not plain and ordinary, they are very interesting.
To me the music is always more important than the lyrics, even if this album had lousy lyrics I would have given it 5 stars, but I had to point out that this album has some great lyrics which not every band could write. Well, that about wraps things up. I truly believe this is Metallica's greatest achievement musically and lyrically, and considering how great Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets and The Black Album are, this is really saying a lot.
This is my number 1 metal album of all time. Every person with the slightest interest in hard rock or metal music should own it.
Rating:
Summary: KILLER ALBUM
Review: The first post-Cliff Metallica effort was the best without him. Justice is awesome without a doubt. This album is definetely the most angry and intense Metallica album on the market, and will make any fan of heavy music happy. Blackened is as good of an opening song on an album as you will find. ...And Justice For All may seem long, but it is full of powerful material. Harvester of Sorrow and Shortest Straw are among the heaviest songs I have heard by anyone, period. To Live is To Die shows great diversity, and Dyers Eve is just out of control. And, oh yeah, ONE! (if you don't know ONE, get this album immediately and see what you are missing). GET IT!
Rating:
Summary: Metallica's best
Review: Personally, i find this metallica's best album from a thrash point of view. Most of the songs are fast and furious, except for "One". Incredible tone by Hetfield (no bass required) and the rest of the band races neck and neck with him in the talent arena. Metallica really stepped up its viciousness and explored new themes on this incredible album.
Rating:
Summary: Damn good metal!!
Review: Screw the production quality, this is metal the way it should be played. I bought this cd having heard that the sound quality sucked. After the first listen I was hooked, so screw all those ratings saying that the production is crappy. This is damn good metal album, and definetley one of their best!! The best songs(in my opinion)are "blackened","one","harvester of sorrow", and "dyers eve". If you you've heard puppets and love that, I think this will do.
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME CD
Review: This cd is really awesome. It combines Metallicas full speed and hevainess, A perfect example of the mixture is Dyers Eve.
The best songs in this CD are Blackened, ...And Justice for all, One,Shortest straw,harvester of sorrow,frayed end of sanity, to live is too die,Eye of the beholder, and Dyers eve
Rating:
Summary: A metal classic
Review: ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL is a metal classic that shows Metallica being fast and furious. The album deals with the decline of the American Dream and the abuses of those in power. The title track, is an epic tune that clocks in at almost 10 minutes but never gets boring. EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, THE SHORTEST STRAW FRAYED ENDS OF SANITY are also rockin tunes that makes this album great. ONE is the standout tune on this album, and can send a chill down the listeners back. I think that one song here DYERS EVE, is an underrated song that sometimes doesnt get the recognition that it deserves. BLACKENED is the song that jump starts the album and prepares the listener for what they are about to listen to
Rating:
Summary: IT'S AN ANNNNNGRY ALBUM!!!
Review: This is my personal favourite Metallica album. It's angry and agressive and anti-authority.... just what every angst ridden teenager needs... not Linkin Park for crissake!! The track lengths may be around 10 minutes long, but you won't get bored with it because of the sheer variation in the riffs! Lead solos from the "axe master" Kirk just make the album even better! It's the first metal album i'd ever heard and it converted me!
Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Album
Review: Metallica's 1988 album "...And Justice For All" is a compelling and energetic musical outlook into the demise of the American Dream. Songs like "Eye of the Beholder", "Harvester of Sorrow", "The Shortest Straw", and "...And Justice For All" delve into the problems of the American government and how it destroys the fabric of society and blackmails it's citizens into silence. The legendary song "One" is a dark, tense anti-war song about a soldier who has lost all of his limbs and cannot speak, hear, or see. It will make the most staunch war supporter think twice before advocating war. On this album, no establishment is left uncriticized. "Dyers Eve" is an extremely fast and heavy suicide note from a boy to his parents. Each pleaful stanza begins with the lines "Dear Mother, dear Father." No two songs on this album sound alike, and all have an extremely deep meaning that the listener can think about for quite sometime. This album finds Metallica at the top of their musicianship. Not one note is out of place and Kirk Hammet's guitar solos are amazing. "Guitar World" ranked the guitar solo in "One" as the 8th best guitar solo ever. The result of the lyrics and musicianship is an epic album that both Metallica die hards and music lovers cherish.
Rating:
Summary: One of their best, and a real classic.
Review: "...and Justice for All" is one of Metallica's very best albums. This album, along with "Master of Puppets", is one of the definitive 1980's "Metal" records (not to downplay the band's other very good releases). Just as importantly, "Justice" also expands on the band's musical language, taking their fusion of the Classical and contemporary Metal words to a new level (for example, perhaps most sucessfully in "To Live is to Die", an intense theme and variation set). Few modern bands have managed this much musical content. Almost no "Metal" bands have even thought about it. The recording quality is as good as many vinyl Classical recordings, and while it does leave quite a bit to desire the music of this album (despite a somewhat homogenized quality) is extremely intellectually expressive and therefore highly recommended. An aside: Metallica is perhaps unique in their success of fusing (almost) Baroque forms and, like many Classical composers, sea-shanties, folk songs, etc. into a "modern" idiom. If you don't believe, you either aren't using your imagination or aren't using your ears. If you like 20th century composers like Paul Hindemith, you'll wind up liking at least a little Metallica one way or the other. I promise.
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