What presents itself from the first creeping guitar lines in Blackened to the final drum attack has faded in Dyers Eve is a forceful lesson in how to combine hardness, melody, drama, anger, technicality and song-writing skills that enters a league of its own.

Even though I would point at Master Of Puppets as the best Metallica release, .And Justice For All is also up there and it depends on which mood I'm in when I choose to listen to one of them.
.And Justice For All is without doubt the band's most complex, challenging and progressive work. When dealing with this album it's pretty hard to neglect any songs, so let me give a short comment for each.

Blackened: What can I say, one mean Metal monster! Fantastic riffs, sublime lead guitar lines, incredible drums and James' angry vocals in a brutal mix.

With .And Justice For All we enter one of Metallica's most ambitious compositions. Ingenious in structure and featuring some cool deep bass lines and the drums from Lars are over the top brilliant, all those minor details here and on the rest of the songs really pushes the boundaries even further.

Eye Of The Beholder takes a more direct and high grooving path, nicely packed with heavy dry riffs, the tight rhythm section has an immensely dynamic forward pushing force.

I guess One doesn't need any thorough evaluation, words come short anyway if one should describe its brilliance. Everything just reaches a divine dimension with this candidate for best song ever.
Amazing solo, furious break, mellow acoustic parts, technical drums and the chilling story line so awesomely captured by James' emotional voice.

The Shortest Straw has that cool relaxed guitar approach, almost teasing in style, Kirk throws in a great soaring solo and the fast vocal parts enhanced the aggressive edge, not the most striking chorus but a great song anyway.

Harvester Of Sorrow brings more atmospheres into the picture, very dark indeed. The way it slowly grooves with immense vigour goes all the way to the bone, a brilliant song.

The Frayed Ends Of Sanity is yet another marvellous song, the advanced passages and thrilling variations makes it a rather difficult piece to comprehend, and there also lies its enormous strength and variability.

To Live Is To Dye is a very sedative but non the less powerful musical journey, even though there is a small fitting spoken part this song is about putting emotions into a musical language, a truly moving and magical composition, it just touches something deep inside of me. This song contains some of my favourite guitar licks and the way the different parts melt together is pure genius. It is in fact possible more or less clearly to hear the otherwise very vague bass sound in the slower parts, creating a solid basis.

Dyers Eve ends this breathtaking album with pure madness, with no doubt one of Metallica's most heavy moments. The despair in James voice is unbelievable and Kirk unleashes a shredding solo that takes no prisoners.

Just to make things even better all songs has been treated with intelligent and amazingly well written lyrics. Anger and frustration towards a world of corruption, war and injustice and the theme of inner struggles are aspects that shine through and it surely leaves an impression.

This amazing ride wouldn't have been the same if the musicianship weren't of world class. James' rhythm guitar work just sparks with technicality and has a fierce drive, not to forget his extremely suitable dark vocals. Kirk's lead guitars display some of his best work and I guess I have praised Lars drumming enough already. Unfortunately the bass plays a very withdrawn role both in style and sound so its rather difficult to judge, pretty solid work though.

The production of this piece has been heavily debated and with good reason. I think that the drums and guitars have the most amazing nerve-filled sound; the vocals also appear in just the right and hard way. And then we come to the bass that is placed too much in the background; you can only hear it very vaguely and from time to time, I seriously don't understand this decision and find it a shame to say the least. I would have liked a production with a clearer separation between drums and bass but seen in overall perspective the sound is still very good and nicely matching the hardness of the songs.

Conclusion: A profound, vigorous and overly thrilling masterpiece.

Written by Tommy
Monday, April 5, 2004
Show all reviews by Tommy

Ratings

Tommy: 9.5/10

Members: 10/10 - Average of 2 ratings.



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Comment by Eighteez (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 6, 2004

I disagree with this review in many ways. First of all, the production is HORRIBLE. Yes the bass is the worst part but the rest of it is so dry and thin that it is nearly unlistenable compared to the production of todays metal albums. And Justice For All is a good album. A 9.5 out of 10 is off the mark though. To rate it that high is to say that Ride The Kightening & Master Of Puppets are only .5 better. And that just isn;t so. I'd give this album a 7.

Comment by david (Anonymous) - Thursday, April 8, 2004

Hey somone who actually appreciates Justice for its complexity and dark mood. We have read enough comments on the thin aspect of the sound. After acknowleding that we can concentrate on Metallica'a last true moment of brilliance. Fantastic album and a landmark in metal history.

Comment by Monarch (Anonymous) - Monday, April 12, 2004

Ya know, it's kinda funny... I kinda like the pruduction on the album... it has this...I dunno...this grittiness to it that just spews metal. The band is soo tight in this album that they sound like one musical machine! Aren't the drums on this album just awesome?! I mean Lars is no Neil Pert... but jesus, the weird double-kick throughout the album just destroys (not to mention the tight and oddly-timed title track). There is something on this album that just charms me so much I can't help but say that it is my favorate Metallica album, and definately one of the top metal albums (second only to Opeth's Morningrise) in my book. People just need to listen closer to the music and stop listening with objective ears. This album is monstrously progressive, immessurably tight, and infinately melodic. My only complaint is probly the rather elementry guitar solos, but I still love 'em because they're so damn memerable... Oh by the way Eiteez, it isn't really fair to compare the production of an album released 15 yes ago to the production of an album today, and you can't rate an album by it's production...for example Nevermore's Enemies of Reality vs. Slipknot's Iowa, Enemies has horrible production compared to Iowa, but in my opinion it destroys Iowa when it comes to hard-hitting metal. just thought I'd point that out. ROCK ON!

Comment by Warlord (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 13, 2004

Eighteez, it´s not in the production! Polished doesn´t always mean good. I must say that i agree wwith Monarch on this one. This production just screams metal, even though it´s a real shame that you can´t hear the base. A fantastic album all the way and Hets best vocal performace imo. Maybe not technically but damn he sounds angry on this one. Dyers Eve just kicks ass!!! Metal up your asses!

Comment by Metallican (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 24, 2004

...And Justice For All puts Every single other metallica album to complete and utter shame Three words : Best Metallica Album

Comment by Sean (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 5, 2004

Ditto. Metallica's best work through and through. ...And Justice For All is my favorite song. Ever.

Comment by Pat (Anonymous) - Monday, September 20, 2004

Can't get enough of this one. I'm not sure if anyone else could relate, but for some reason this is the only Metallica album that doesn't give me a head ache once I get through the album. The guitar sound in the earlier albums is migraine inducing... namely Kill 'Em All. The band should follow Megadeth's lead and do a remake, that would KILL. Come to think of it, the thought is just orgasmic.

Comment by Pat (Anonymous) - Monday, September 20, 2004

Forgive the redundancy. I was adding text every few minutes.

Comment by Mike L. (Anonymous) - Sunday, October 31, 2004

This is by far the best Metallica album to date!...The album is a cross between progressive rock and balls out Heavy Metal!.....As for Eighteez comments , "What kind of drugs are you on?".......This album is an absolute 10 in my book!!!!

Comment by Pawwlik (Anonymous) - Monday, November 8, 2004

I like the sound as it is. I do not need the bass there. It's awesome. The guitar sound does bass by itself, if you listen closely. Only Master Of Puppets (song not entire album) has as well 10 for me as this whole album. No group was able to get such a brilliant guitar sound up to date. Even Metallica wasn't. Their today's sound is like a piece of shit. Justice atmosphere is all about the guitar sound and it's the best trash album ever made and noone was able to break this barrier up to date.

Comment by J Leeson (Anonymous) - Monday, January 10, 2005

Eighteez is about right i would say. also, i wouldnt say this is their best album. Ride the Lightning is their best album. NO questions!!

Comment by Mizuzack (Anonymous) - Friday, January 28, 2005

This is plainly my Favourite Metallica album. It's got everything. With slow and fast tempos mixed into one songs such as One and To live is to die, heavy songs such as dyers eve blackened and the rest of the songs are just awesome. And they all seem to piece together in this album. I always listen to this album because of its pure brilliance, and because my favourite song by metallica, to live is to die is on there. i agree with the review 9.5/10

Comment by slash (Anonymous) - Saturday, February 12, 2005

best alum ever written if yo disagree you are not listening carefully enoughor you just don't understand art when you hear it.

Comment by Jesse Kellestine (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005

To me this is the best Metallica album or even one of the greatest metal albums of all time. It is a very deep and vigoris album. James Hetfeild just seems pissed at the world and you feel that on this album. Kirk as a musical genious also unleashes some of his most exciting and furious set of guitar solos. Lars and Jason both deliver bone crushing rythems.As "Tommy" says the production could be a bit better but all together an jewel in metal history. So whatever your oppinion this is one of the most heartfilled, moodiest albums of all time...

Comment by Jesse Again* (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Eighteez seriously what is your problem with the production as Monarch said the production does provide a gritiness to it I do like it as is... And To Live Is TO Die is one of the greatest songs ever it takes you on a emmotional roller coaster...

Comment by Dutch Metallica-fan (Anonymous) - Saturday, April 9, 2005

10/10 for the album, 100/10 for One, that song is so awesome......

Comment by Kumar (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 8, 2005

One of the greatest works of art imo. I love RTL and MOP no doubt, but there is something in AJFA that is sheer brilliance. RTL...MOP...AJFA...no other musical band in history can match that. Metallica is my most favorite band on par with the Priest...hell yeah...Judas freaking Priest!

Comment by Master Of Puppets (Anonymous) - Saturday, June 18, 2005

Excellent first half, but the second half is kind of annoying with songs sounding like prequels of St. Anger. Still, tracks 1,2,3,4, & 9 are worth the listen. 8.5/10

Comment by brent (Anonymous) - Monday, July 4, 2005

i agree totally with your review ...and justice for all is (i think) metallicas finest work

Comment by Timmay (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 18, 2005

I, too, enjoy the production, in a wierd way... it's like a guitar symphony!! Songs like ONe and To live is to Die could have done with more bass tho. As for the best Metallica album of all time... I really couldn't choose between Ride the Lightning, Puppets or Justice. To me, they're all equal in greatness, and capture Metallica at their peak. I think that they're all better than Kill 'em All (which is still a great album), but I think Kill 'em all is better than the Black Album, which in turn is better than the rest of the gay bullshit they came out with in the 90's.

Comment by Deezy (Anonymous) - Monday, December 12, 2005

I have to say this is my favorite album of all time closely followed by megadeths Rust in Peace then master of puppets i am often torn between which is better metallica or megadeth and its these two albums that cause me the most unrest (countdown to extinction is my next favorite after master btw) so its always a tough choice but this album just keeps me on the metallica side of things just...

Comment by vicotnic (Anonymous) - Monday, January 2, 2006

the most depressive album ever? feckin fantastic! love the sound of the album.

Comment by SAVA (Anonymous) - Sunday, March 12, 2006

Together with "Master Of Puppets" and "Metallica (Black Album)", "...And Justice For All" is Metallica at BEST! Compare "St. Anger" or "Re-Load" ("Load" is actually good) with this three masterpieces - shame,really shame.

Comment by Rob (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 18, 2006

I like this album alot.However I can't give it a 10 of Metallica's work just becuse those ranks are only fitting for RTL and MOP.I would say a 9 works for me. MOP is hitting the nail on the head every time.In my opinion MOP is THE best metal LP Metallica ever made.Well actualy the best metal LP EVER made. This LP at times got a bit repetitive and quite frankly some of the songs are too long in that regard. However having been crtical I can say that "One" is one of the best songs I have ever heard."Blackened","Harvester"and "Dyers Eve" just kick ass all the way.Couldn't have done any better on those tracks. All the people that keep bashing Metallica and saying Slayer or Megadeth are better give me a break.Talk about rereleasing the same shit every time.The first 3 Metallica LP's kick the shit outta those other bands.Fuck man I think Pantera is far better than the the other two. RIP Cliff and Dimebag!

Comment by Rob (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Oh yeah I forgot to add.. I don't expect anyone to agree but my opnion or review.It's just that it's MY review so with all due respect fuck off!

Comment by nemesis (Anonymous) - Thursday, August 3, 2006

I think the album is metallicas greatets [just barely edging out master of puppets] too bad you can hardly hear any bass [jason was no cliff but he was well above adequete] easily there most underated album and there last great album [best songs one-eye of the beholder-and justice for all] one is in my 3 favorite songs of all time it's beutifull brutal and depressing at the same time it features kirks two best gutitar solos hetfields best vocals and is a true epic going from melodic deathwish to brutal machine gun like thrash eye of the beholder is my second favorite track because of it's brutal chorus and melodic guitar solo the title track is also great because of a very beutifull [n a hard way]choris and well another great guitar solo [kirk hammets best work is on this album] blackened is a awesome opener two live is too die is a beutifull tribute to there falling freind cliff it features an accoustic intro a brutall mid section and a few lines of a poem that cliff made dyers eve is also an allmost classic that features aa great vocal by hetfield were he curses his family for sheltering him harvester of sorrow frayed ends of sanity and shortest straw are also decent numbers this is a must have even if the songs are all over 5 minutes long rating-10

Comment by Kumar (Anonymous) - Tuesday, September 5, 2006

I still get a jolt to my spine during the transition from 'To Live is to Die' to 'Dyers' Eve'....overall the album has a hypnotic effect.

Comment by METALLICA ROCKS (Anonymous) - Friday, December 22, 2006

Eighteez FCK YOU

Comment by Metalheadish (Anonymous) - Sunday, February 4, 2007

I'm afraid Eighteez is totally off the mark. It's obvious that you haven't really listened to this album. The sound is...stranger than Metallica's other albums, but the songs are incredible. 9.5 out of 10 sounds about right to me. This albums has been very underrated by people these days, but it is in fact a masterpiece. It's NOT strictly inferior to RTL or MOP. It's on par with them, worse in some aspects, and better in others. The bass thing is rather sad. A re-recording of it with better production would have been amazing.

Comment by michael (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 13, 2007

i rekon metallica justice for all is the best album yet u guys rock my socks keep up the good stuff

Comment by michael (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 13, 2007

hey again it michael i cant wait till the new album cums out i hell going to get it and yea i also think black is a good album as well and u should cum to perth and perform there

Comment by Sunny, IND (Anonymous) - Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Justice kicks Master of puppets ass

Comment by ThraX (Member) - Sunday, August 31, 2008

View Profile Comments: 135 Ratings: 0 Well I actually give this album a 9.9 rating, the only reason this album is not a 10 is because of the horrible production but the songs are top notch with stellar musicianship, this is my favorite Metallica album!....Metallica should remaster this album and redo the bass parts! Posted by ThraX Sunday, August 31, 2008

Comment by notrap (Member) - Thursday, April 2, 2009

View Profile Comments: 55 Ratings: 66 Always found And Justice for All a very special Album. I remember listen to "Harvester of Sorrow" or "Blackened" for the first time in rock radio station on the day this album come alive. Probably Metallica's more complex and progressive album to date...and yes...I like the production even without bass.. and remember that "One" was the first Metallica video. A huge worldwide success and certainty one of the best metal releases of all time 10/10...Masterpiece! Posted by notrap Thursday, April 2, 2009

Review by bogdan (Member) - Wednesday, September 1, 2010

View Profile Comments: 1 Ratings: 5 it s a perfect album. Pure clas, above anything else, except another albums from the best fuckin band in the world. Rating: 10/10 Posted by bogdan Wednesday, September 1, 2010