Review Summary: Metallica's most mature record.
Before Metallica became the butt of every joke from metal heads around the world, they had a very respectable discography. Consisting of works like the thrash classic
Ride The Lightning and what many would consider the band's magnum opus
Master of Puppets, there were few who believed a slope in the band's work would come anytime soon. At the rise of their popularity, Metallica were sent a curve ball. Legendary bassist Cliff Burton, who played a vital role in the band, gaining co-writing credits on songs like
"For Whom The Bell Tolls", "Master of Puppets", "Fade To Black", and "Orion" ended up dying instantly after the band's tour bus crashed on September 27, 1986. Despite this tragic incident,
or perhaps because of it, Metallica ended up crafting their most mature record with their fourth LP,
...And Justice For All. While this would ultimately be the first controversial record from the band, alienating and mystifying some while angering others, the album shows a lot of Metallica's best experimentation. So, what makes this album so special from the rest of the band's early works?
Well, the first thing that stands out to you almost immediately is the album's unique perspective on instrumentals. I'll admit that when I first heard this album a month ago, I wasn't particularly impressed by it. It wasn't until I went back to listen to the two albums prior that I noticed a lot of the progressive tendencies that
...And Justice For All is known for. Longer songs that feature more intricate structures, with frequent switches between slow and rapid tempos, and some of the most impressive guitar work in Metallica's history. The vocals are put less in the forefront, but aren't needed often to punctuate a song's points. Album opener,
"Blackened", for instance, is probably the best opener in the band's catalog, with it's blistering solos and drastic changes in dynamics. The ability for songs to change so much creates a certain kind of momentum for the record, as surges and spikes in energy lead to extremely memorable experiences.
"To Live Is To Die" is quite the progressive piece for the band, constantly switching between different styles to produce an epic masterpiece. With it's soothing guitar tones, dramatic violin, and sometimes distant effects, there isn't much that can stand in the song's way from being one of the band's best efforts yet. The track even feels sludgy at times with it's heavy guitar.
"Dyers Eve" also stands as an excellent album closer, as it begins by slowing down to a crawl...until it explodes into speeding drums and frantic strings adding tension. Metallica doesn't suffer from this transition to unique styles of play though, as the band is still able to thrash quite often, just in a different way.
Metallica also pay particular attention to song lyrics. Whereas
Master of Puppets was inconsistent in it's material's meaning, often switching from songs about ruthless needless violence, to songs about the manipulative government and their mistreatment of soldier's lives, to songs about Lovecraftian beasts,
..And Justice For All finds lyricism as a tool to drive home a certain creative narrative with overwhelming consistency. Songs like the title track talk about the lost of true justice in america. Leading up after this,
"Eye of the Beholder" does a particularly great job of using the momentum of the previous track to weave together a cohesive whole, as the song talks about issues with censorship, and how a country founded on a hope for true freedom can so quickly hop on a bandwagon and crucify anyone with a differing point of view. Elsewhere,
"One" expands on the narrative off of
"Disposable Heroes" by putting listeners into the shoes of a soldier affected by his service, rather than a bystander on the sidelines commenting on the narrative.
"Shortest Straw" is riddled with meaning, as the song's title references Cliff Burton's death, which was caused as a result of him getting the shortest straw and taking top bunk, ultimately killing him during the crash. But the song is actually about the discrimination of Communists during the 50's, in which people with Communist leanings were sought as opponents to the United States and in the end were blacklisted. There is a reoccurring theme of the country's issues, but what makes it so well done is that Metallica doesn't spend countless track after track blindly pointing the finger at the government like a trump card, they actually explain their reasoning's and talk about issues both from the government and within society itself.
There are some issues with the album, however. The biggest would has to be the production and mixing. After the hiring of new bassist
Jason Newsted, the band sough Jason as the black sheep of the herd. As per usual, Lars Ulrich ruined the mixing by asking the producers to turn down the bass. Because of this, the bass is nearly inaudible, and makes the record feel very lifeless and vacant at times. This actually makes the rest of the instruments sound a bit flat as well, as the guitars seem to be lacking the ability to cover up the absence of such a vital instrument. Another problem with the record would have to be that some songs seem a bit to long for their own good. The title track comes to mind, as well as
"The Frayed Ends of Sanity". I also couldn't help but feel like, no matter how awesome
"Harvester of Sorrow" and "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" where, they didn't hold up well compared to the tracks before and after them. Not to say they're filler by any means. If anything, this is probably the closest Metallica has come to a perfected effort. But they just aren't as memorable and don't pack the punch needed to stand out.
Overall,
...And Justice For All is one of the greatest albums in heavy metal history. From it's take on progressive values, to it's superb ability to thrash, Metallica have really outdone themselves on this album. The mixing might not be the best, and some tracks feel to repetitive for their own good. But in the end, it doesn't even matter(hehe). This record stands on it's own damn well. Highly recommended!
Best tracks :
Blackened
...And Justice For All
One
Shortest Straw
To Live Is To Die
Dyers Eve
