METALLICA

(UNITED STATES)

...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

(1988)
LABEL:

ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT

GENRE:

THRASH

TAGS:
Low vocals, Opera-Rock
""And Justice For All" is the testament of a period, structured, virtuoso, during which Metallica has democratized a genre. A contested album but no less indispensable."
ZOSO (30.07.2008)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s) (1) Biography + (4)
In 1986, Metallica released "Master Of Puppets", which confirmed the hopes of a band on the way to becoming one of the greatest metal bands in the world. During the tour of "Master Of Puppets", on September 27, 1986, the bus of Metallica turns over and Cliff Burton will not survive it. In January 1988, the band went back to the studio to compose their new album "...And Justice For All".

The least we can say is that a little more than a year later, the Californians are still in mourning and that the shadow of Burton still hovers because the cover and the sound present a very dark atmosphere... While Metallica wondered after the death of their genius bassist, they come back stronger than ever. "Blackened" presents all the recipes of the old Metallica, with an overpowering riff and the lumberjack voice of James Hetfield... And while we feared (really?) an album in half-tone, this one turns out to be on overpowering Heavy Metal, clever mix of the previous albums and more structured tracks like the epic eponymous track, or "To Live Is To Die" (quasi-instrumental in the line of "Call Of Ktulu").

The album doesn't suffer from any dead time or any weakness in the compositions. More than the structure of the tracks themselves, it is the sound and the atmosphere that will confuse some fans. Indeed, the production sounds really rough, with dry and clean drums, light years away from the gas can used on "St Anger" and even from the warmer production of "Black Album", its successor. The guitars sound "live", with no apparent studio effects or retouching. Moreover, when Kirk Hammett takes out his pedal, the sound that results from it is quite different from the rest. The atmosphere is cold and it is possible to feel anger in the riffs. On some tracks ("And Justice For All" in particular) James Hetfield really seems to go to war with a powerful and raging vocal. The lyrics are mainly about war, and all other happy phenomena generated by the society. A sober tribute to Cliff Burton, almost no bass notes are audible on the album.

It is difficult to judge the qualities and faults of this album because the faults can become qualities for some and the debate is not ready to die. It is obvious that some listeners and even fans will be confused by this apocalyptic sound and this pessimistic atmosphere. Certainly next to its warm and melodic alter egos ("Fade To Black" and "Welcome Home", respectively on "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets"), "One" sounds colder, more complex, tortured, almost cerebral, but it is just as beautiful...

After this album, the band will release the "Black Album", symbol of Bob Rock's more commercial production, of a slowdown of the rhythm, in short of a new era. In view of Metallica's future, "...And Justice For All" stands out as the testament to a period, structured, virtuosity, during which Metallica has -if not invented- democratized a genre. This album will always be contested, but it is nonetheless indispensable.
- Official website

TRACK LISTING:
01. Blackened - 06:41
02. …and Justice For All - 09:47
03. Eye Of The Beholder - 06:30
04. One - 07:26
05. The Shortest Straw 06:36
06. Harvester Of Sorrows - 05:46
07. The Frayed Ends Of Sanity - 07:44
08. To Live Is To Die - 09:49
09. Dyer Eve - 05:13

LINEUP:
James Hetfield: Chant / Guitares
Jason Newsted: Basse
Kirk Hammett: Guitares
Lars Ulrich: Batterie
   
(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS    
Top of the page
   
(0) COMMENT(S)    
 
 
Top of the page
READERS
4.6/5 (17 view(s))
STAFF:
3.9/5 (18 view(s))
MY RATING
 
LAST NEWS
METALLICA: 72 Seasons
 
OTHER REVIEWS
EQUILIBRIUM: Sagas (2008)
PAGAN/VIKING METAL - If you like bands like Ensiferum, Finntroll or Korpiklaani, "Saga" is a sure bet for you and for all folk/pagan metal lovers.
HAREM SCAREM: Hope (2008)
MELODIC HARD ROCK - If you're a fan of AOR you won't let this latest album go by and if you discover the band, you won't be disappointed by this "hope" nor by any of its predecessors.
 
 
OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT METALLICA
METALLICA_72-Seasons
72 Seasons (2023)
4/5
3.5/5
AUTRE LABEL / HEAVY METAL
METALLICA_Hardwired…To-Self-Destruct
Hardwired…to Self-destruct (2016)
4/5
3.2/5
AUTRE LABEL / THRASH
METALLICA_St-Anger
St Anger (2003)
4/5
2.1/5
ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT / HEAVY METAL
METALLICA_Load
Load (1996)
3/5
3.1/5
ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT / HEAVY METAL
METALLICA_Metallica
Metallica (1991)
4/5
4.2/5
ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT / HEAVY METAL
 
F.A.Q. / You found a bug / Terms Of Use
Music Waves - Rock (Progressive, Alternative...), Hard Rock (AOR, Melodic,...) & Metal (heavy, progressive, melodic, ...) Media
Reviews, News, Interviews, Advices, Promotion, Releases, Concerts
© Music Waves | 2003 - 2025