Rating: 
Summary: sweet ...
Review: dude if you dont like this cd you must be high some guy from tx said that this isnt metallica. now ill admit it isnt no puppets or lightning but its still extremely extreme. You, my texan friend, dont know what metallica is. the Black album and Load arent classic metallica. and im not 12
Rating: 
Summary: More for the true Metallica head
Review: The shortest song on this CD being almost six minutes long, I thought heaven was headin my way upon purchase of this CD. In some aspects it is. To Live Is To Die, last song by Cliff Burton, is a great epic track. Most of the songs here show true musicianship and complexity in the tempo shifts. You cannot deny Metallica's prowess as musicians. Problem with the album then ? Metallica created themselves a bit of a dilema in trying to continue in the Master Of Puppets style direction without the (arguable) driving force of that album - Cliff Burton. Jason Newsted is a talented player, but I don't think he was able to jump in the deep end as it were, and continue where Cliff left. Compared to Ride The Lightening, or even the more commerical Black Album, there's not one really amazing 'kick you in the teeth' riff here. There all good, don't get me wrong, but you'll only appreciate them if you're a true Metallica fan, or are into more complex riffs rather than catchy ones. Harvester Of Sorrow is okay, but it's certainly no Creeping Death. I guess maybe it was never meant to be, this is more a technical album. Even so though, production wise this CD is still sloppy. I'd invest in Cliffs work before getting this CD, as this one is only for the Metallica purist. Good, but compared to previous work - extremely flawed.
Rating:
Summary: REALLY REALLY shows their talent.
Review: If you thought Metallica would reach their peak on the 3rd album, think again. This album is so complex, all the songs range from 5 minutes to almost 10 minutes. Another fast 8 song album. This time, they don't f&*k around. One is the most popular song on this album, filled with 3, yes 3, great solos. To live is to Die is their best instrumental. Who could argue? This is the Metallica everyone loved in the 1980's. But then came the Black album....
Rating:
Summary: The LAST Metallica Album
Review: I have to wholeheartedly agree with everyone who said that this was their best album. It is the most technical (go Lars), and the songwriting is great. I say that it's their last album because, as far as I'm concerned, they haven't made anything since. I was very pleased to see that the review from Genevieve Williams at the beginning of these reviews, under Editorial Reviews, said that they took a commercial turn after this album because that's exactly what happened. I don't know who the people are on the subsequent albums that are calling themselves Metallica but they sure aren't the Metallica that I knew and loved. Indeed, it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if they had stayed on the path that this album was going in. Frankly, I think that with the success of the video for "One" they got a taste of commercial success and couldn't resist the temptation to "go for it" and sell out to the masses. Oh well, I guess that what they've made since "Justice" has found great success with the "middle-school crowd".
Rating:
Summary: Roars Like a Siberian Storm
Review: Metallica's penultimate work. Long, winding song structres that never seem forced, powerful lyrics delivered in a wonderful growl, and amazing guitars. The only downer on this album is Lars Ulrich's sometimes annoying and often unimaginative drumming - however, he does get the drumming right as often as he fumbles it. But it hardly matters, all other aspects of the album completely gloss over the drumming. On a secondary note, I love the production. Many people criticize the production, especially the nearly non-existant bass. I however, reguard this as a plus. This quiet, quiet bass brings the icy cold guitar riffs to the forefront, creating and effect much like a Siberian snow storm: bone chilling. I mean, the guitars are so cold (but never harsh, mind you) that they actually make my teeth ache! The only other band that has a similar PHYSICAL effect on me like that is The Who with Peter Townshend's amazingly textured and coloured guitar signatures... but back to Metallica. The icy production only ENHANCES the album concept: the abuse of Justice. One can feel the cold lonlieness of the man wrongly condemned by a Judge who has been bought out, one can feel the isolation of a cold Korean hillside just like the blinded, shattered solder did in the song "One". All in all a powerful album. Finally, drop me an email if you want to talk about my review or criticize it. Do not email me if you're just going to say, "hey man, Metallica rocks!" - I already know that. Mrpanzer@aol.com
Rating:
Summary: ...and metal for all
Review: this is one of the best metallica cd before load era (honestly, since 1996, metallica sucks). the songs are raw, creepy and heavy. and justice for all, harvester of sorrow, dyers eve and blackened are the best songs of the cd. one is a good song, but not on the level of the rest. frayed ends of sanity is good, too, but i don't like the intro. the only low point is eye of the beholder. if you are a metallica fan, you must have this album
Rating:
Summary: one of the most influential and important metal albums ever
Review: i don't know what this other guy is talking about saying it has shoddy production, the production on this album is the ideal that bands have been trying to achieve ever since, the heavy bass drum triggers, the ultra scooped guitars, the crisp highs and extreme low end, the layering, the subtleties, it is truely a masterpiece, what i wouldn't give to have flemming rassmussen produce my bands next album. as far as the songwriting as someone else said this album is epic, that is the best way to describe it, it's long, dynamic, doesn't get boring (it's hard to write a 9 minute long song that never gets boring). i've been listening to this album for the past 13 years and it still sounds as fresh as when i first got it, which i sadly cannot say for every release they made after this. this album is not properly credited as so but has been one of the most influential metal albums of all time, practicly ALL metal bands since have heavily triggered their drum sound to get this kind of heft and clarity, and needless to say the scooped sound became the trademark of metal after this album. needless to say this album is a wise investment for anyone into metal that for some reason hasn't actually heard it yet.
Rating:
Summary: incredible...simply incredible
Review: I listened to this cd for the first time 3 years ago, and i was devastated....i'd just listened to the most incredible works of art ever recorded on cd. Metallica takes music to a place that it's never been before, they simply dominated on this one. This is the blueprint for heavy metal, and even if you're just a hard rock fan, this cd will become important to you. This is the epitomy of Metallica culture, at it's most extreme...probably one of the best albums of all time. The fact that the songs aren't short mainstream soundbites is even more impressive.
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: After hearing the Black Album/Metallica and Fuel, I decided to get this album. It was a mistake. All the songs sound like they havent had much thought to it. Also, the songs are so long. Listening to a bad song for a long time is the worst possible thing. It might just be me, but I don't know. But I like Metallica and this is not like them.
Rating:
Summary: ...and justice it gave
Review: Very good. Nice. I love Metallica, and then came the black album, load, reload, Ugh. But don't pass this one up. Did I say it's very good? What I meant was it's excellent!!!
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