(Metal) Metallica - ...And Justice For All

[Raijo]

I own almost all of Metallica's first 5 cds (I'm missing Kill 'em All) and this is my favourite album of all of them.

Pros: -James Hetfield is at the top of his game vocally and lyrically
-Instrumentation is excellent and rather progressive in its style
-Kirk plays some of the best solos of his career
-Contains Metallica's best instrumental (IMHO) To Live is To Die.

Cons: -No more Cliff Burton and new bassist Jason Newstead's bass lines are turned down way to low
-Production is rather poor
-May be too heavy for some listeners :D

Track by Track:

Blackened: This song is a kickass album opener. It opens up with a cool sounding song opener in the style of Metallica's past song openers (Battery, Fight Fire With Fire), however unlike those song openers this one actually adds to the song IMHO. Where the classic sounding intros of Battery and Fight Fire With Fire seemed to be there only to deceive the listener into thinking that the song would be like the opener right up until the point where the real song begins Blackened's intro seemed to serve this purpose as well while fitting the song alot more then the aforementioned.

I digress to say that the track features excellent lyrics on the topic of the apocalypse and boasts awesome riffs and a kickass solo.
5/5

...And Justice For All: Again, great lyrics this time on the topic of corruption in the justice system. This song opens up with a mellow sounding riff before proceeding to unleash a fierce bass, guitar, vocal and drum assault upon the listener. This is one of my favourites and has an epic quality to it although because some people find it too long I will award it
4/5

Eye of the Beholder: This song has arguably the best lyrics on the album, "Indepedence limited freedom of choice is made for you my friend / Freedom of speech is words that they will bend / Freedom no longer frees you," to quote a passage. I really like this song although I have one beef with it and that's the way James Hetfield sounds in the verses, besides that I award it a
4/5

One: Metallica's first video and a song that despite its frequent radio airplay to me it never gets old. It is about a man who fought who lhas ost his speech, sight, legs, hearing, and arms at the fault of a landmine. This boasts the same epic quality as ...And Justice For All without seeming overly drawn out. It boasts not one not two but three excellent solos by Kirk Hammet, this is one of the best songs on the album.
5/5

The Shortest Straw: This song is definitely not the best song on the album, the only good thing about the song is the chorus which really sucks you in, besides that it is a relatively average song.
3/5

Harvester of Sorrow: One of the best songs on the album, Harvester of Sorrow boasts one of Metallica's greatest riffs ever along with Hetfield singing about someone who makes other people suffer because of his own personal anguish.
5/5

The Frayed Ends of Sanity: This is another good song with a thrashing sound about it. A really good song to bang your head to.
4/5

To Live is To Die: Metallica's tribute to their now dead bassists Cliff Burton. This is in my opinion Metallica's best instrumental, it has awesome solos and awesome riffs. This song is extremely heavy and seems to call out to the listener.
5/5

Dyers Eve: A very personal song adressed to James' parents and probably my favourite on the album. It has a thrashing quality to it and just makes you want to bang your head. It features a very fast double bass by Lars Ulrich (this is probably his best drumming on any song) and the best solo on the album and arguably one of the greatest Metallica solos ever.
5/5

Summary: I would have to award the album a 4.5/5 although I truly do feel that if any album ever deserved 5/5 it is this one.

[Raijo]

I wrote this review because I feel that there are a lot of Metallica fans who don't give this album a chance, preferring albums like MoP or RtL. Every classic Metallica album kicked *** but out of all of them I feel that this is the best.

Another incentive for me to write this review was when some guy on MX said he didn't even consider this Metal but instead he considered it crappy hard rock with the songs all sounding alike. This is his opinion of course but the fact that he calls AJFA hard rock and not metal kind of makes you wonder about his sanity :P.

Anyway this has been a little rambling so I'd just like to say be gentle with me as this is my first review.

[Zappa]

This was the beginning of the end for Metallica. Their first 3 records are pretty good, but this is just garbage. 1/5.

[Raijo]

What the hell? You're entitled to your own opinion but could you back it up more? AJFA being garbage is your opinion and you need to support it, write your own bloody review if it's so bad and you want to explain to the world why it sucks.

[hybridofsound]

This was the beginning of the end for Metallica. Their first 3 records are pretty good, but this is just garbage. 1/5.

Have you listened to this album? It's one of the best Metallica put out. Why is it garbage? Why don't you back up your statements. IMO this is 4/5.

[Zappa]

The songs are incredibly long, and repetitive. I get bored with every single one by the time they are nearing the midpoint, because they don't go anywhere. Hetfield's voice lacks passion, it just feels sort of flat and boring. Also, Hetfield's lyrics are full of silly metaphors, and don't seem very inspired. Kirk's solos aren't as good as anything earlier, and the riffs in the songs are less inventive and exciting as well. Basically, I find it to be Metallica disenchanted, a completely uninspired outing from a band past their prime.

[savarious]

AJFA is my favorite Metallica album and definetly their most proggy.

Nice review BTW.

[manuscriptreplica]

threadstarter: you don't have kill 'em all??? argh. get it
i like this better than master of puppets so its good. i'll eventually post my review (which i said i would do like a month ago).

one is one of their best songs EVER not jsut on the CD imo.

[manuscriptreplica]

Dyers Eve: A very personal song adressed to James' parents and probably my favourite on the album. It has a thrashing quality to it and just makes you want to bang your head. It features a very fast double bass by Lars Ulrich (this is probably his best drumming on any song) and the best solo on the album and arguably one of the greatest Metallica solos ever.
5/5

bwahahaha one of Lars' finest moments, but he can't even play it live.

[the brass bass man]

Lyrically, this album is a masterpiece. In other areas such as the music itself without lyrics, i loved it but not as much as the lyrics

[Raijo]

threadstarter: you don't have kill 'em all??? argh. get it
i like this better than master of puppets so its good. i'll eventually post my review (which i said i would do like a month ago).

one is one of their best songs EVER not jsut on the CD imo.

Give me a break man, I acquired about 200 dollars over the Holiday and went and spent almost 100$ on albums, buying AJFA and RTL and a couple others that I had really wanted, I'm working on getting Kill 'em All but I my thirst for new Metallica material has been quelled for the moment. I want to get Rust in Peace or Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? first.

[brycey]

great review, the songs i've heard from this album have been great, so i'm probably going to buy it soon.

[Bullit]

This is by far away my favourite Metallica album: however, a few songs reek of filler (ie. beholder, sorrow and sanity), and the production is less than perfect. The fantastic songwriting more than makes up for it, though :thumb:

5/5

[Raijo]

Sanity wasn't my favourite but there's no way in hell sorrow and beholder were filler

[guitarded_chuck]

Not my favorite album. Described by James as "the complaing album". Still, 4/5 from me. Dyer's Eve solo kicks ***.

[manuscriptreplica]

Give me a break man, I acquired about 200 dollars over the Holiday and went and spent almost 100$ on albums, buying AJFA and RTL and a couple others that I had really wanted, I'm working on getting Kill 'em All but I my thirst for new Metallica material has been quelled for the moment. I want to get Rust in Peace or Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? first.

i got $160 for x-mas and spent it all in one CD store in about 20 minutes, im so hopeless

[ambush]

To Live is To Die: Metallica's tribute to their now dead bassists Cliff Burton. This is in my opinion Metallica's best instrumental, it has awesome solos and awesome riffs. This song is extremely heavy and although it has no words to it, it seems to speak to you.
5/5
.

Do I have some special version or something? This song does have words. Otherwise, good review, and good album. 5/5

[ambush]

This was the beginning of the end for Metallica. Their first 3 records are pretty good, but this is just garbage. 1/5.

Keep the ignorant comments coming Zappa. First it's Opeth who sucks, then Dream Theater, now this great Metallica album. Idiot. :rolleyes: You may be entitled to your opinion, but you're not backing it up, and when you do it's almost always a load of ****.

[Raijo]

Do I have some special version or something? This song does have words. Otherwise, good review, and good album. 5/5
Forgot all about the part with James talking in the background.

[Zappa]

Keep the ignorant comments coming Zappa. First it's Opeth who sucks, then Dream Theater, now this great Metallica album. Idiot. :rolleyes: You may be entitled to your opinion, but you're not backing it up, and when you do it's almost always a load of ****.

"...And Justice For All" is a bad album for the reasons I listed above. You must have missed my post. Opeth sucks because all of the songs I have heard of theirs ("Blackwater Park" and "Deliverance" albums in entirety) have a similar formula that gets really old. It's all loud, soft, loud soft. That kind of contrast isn't contrast at all when you expect it (from hearing the same form over and over). I really can't stand Mikael's singing voice. He's not the worst growler in the world, but he's not the best either. Dream Theater sucks because their music is overly technical wankery with no soul or excitement. I get lost in all the accentless notes and repetition. You can call me ignorant, but unless the definition of ignorant is "having opinions different from 'ambush''s," it isn't really accurate. I have listened to this Metallica album very many times, and was never able to get into it. I have listened to Opeth and can't stand them. I have listened to Dream Theater. I am not ignorant, I just don't agree with you. Also, I don't feel the need to back up my opinions all the time. I'm too lazy. You can assume I don't have a reason for disliking things, I don't really care. I suggest you stop being so defensive about what you like, because you will find that there are people who simply do not agree.

P.S. are you stalking me, Ambush? You seem obsessed with my opinions.

[BirdsOfFires]

Meh, I actually like this album, but calling Zappa ignorant is a little far fetched.

[ambush]

"...And Justice For All" is a bad album for the reasons I listed above. You must have missed my post. Opeth sucks because all of the songs I have heard of theirs ("Blackwater Park" and "Deliverance" albums in entirety) have a similar formula that gets really old. It's all loud, soft, loud soft. That kind of contrast isn't contrast at all when you expect it (from hearing the same form over and over). I really can't stand Mikael's singing voice. He's not the worst growler in the world, but he's not the best either. Dream Theater sucks because their music is overly technical wankery with no soul or excitement. I get lost in all the accentless notes and repetition. You can call me ignorant, but unless the definition of ignorant is "having opinions different from 'ambush''s," it isn't really accurate. I have listened to this Metallica album very many times, and was never able to get into it. I have listened to Opeth and can't stand them. I have listened to Dream Theater. I am not ignorant, I just don't agree with you. Also, I don't feel the need to back up my opinions all the time. I'm too lazy. You can assume I don't have a reason for disliking things, I don't really care. I suggest you stop being so defensive about what you like, because you will find that there are people who simply do not agree.

P.S. are you stalking me, Ambush? You seem obsessed with my opinions.

Sorry for the long post, please read.

Firstly, I don't care what others think about bands that I like. It just so happens that those three bands are at the top of my favorites list, but again, think what you want (I even said that you have the right to your own opinion in my first post). It's okay with me that you don't like those bands, why should I care that you're missing out on great music?

The only reason that I remember your posts specifically is because you're one of two people I know of that don't like Opeth, and this thread and the Dream Theater thread you posted in I read the same day that I posted in this one.

Not all of Opeth's songs are "loud, soft, loud, soft" (If I remember correctly.. Examples: "Still Day Beneath the Sun", "Patterns in the Ivy", "Patterns in the Ivy II", "Wreath", "Credence", "Epilogue", "Benighted", "Harvest", "Serenity Painted Death", "Silhouette", every song on "Damnation" album, etc.. and you're not going to find bands with a lot of songs with only loud or only soft anyway). Although a lot of them are, that's their signature, the growls and clean singing as well. Your argument isn't even valid though. Take pretty much any band, they have both loud and soft parts in most of their songs, how predictable! Maybe Opeth's loud/soft transitions are more noticable than other band's songs because of the growls? Either way, loud/soft transition songs are everywhere.

I'm wondering what songs you've listened to from Dream Theater, because most of them that I've heard have some great feeling and emotion. I can easily admit that they are almost too technical sometimes, before I was a fan and I had just heard a couple songs I labeled them as show-offs. But that's the kind of music they like to play, and I enjoy it now. Have you heard any Liquid Tension Experiment? It's a DT side project who are just as technical, but have a lot more emotion. If you're not too lazy, check out "When the Water Breaks" and "Kindred Spirits" (awesome emotional interlude in there).

I've made my points.. :wave: Too each his own.

[ambush]

Meh, I actually like this album, but calling Zappa ignorant is a little far fetched.

That comment is barely based on the post in this thread, it's the ones in other threads. He's definitely not as bad as most other people, or as bad as I used to be.

No hard feelings though. I'm sure I can't stand some of his music as well.

[Zappa]

I feel like Opeth's "signature" is more a "gimmick." They bore me, and that's the bottom line. My argument is valid. It would be valid for me to say "I don't like Opeth because they eat balogna, and balogna is totally the worst meat." Whatever my reason is, it is valid, because it's my opinion. Criticizing someone's opinion as "valid" or "invalid" is ridiculous. Even if I don't base my opinion on fact, it's still MY OPINION. Disliking Opeth doesn't make me stupid. Disliking Dream Theater doesn't make me stupid. Disliking "...And Justice for All" doesn't make me stupid. It makes me different from you in those 3 ways. I have heard a lot of Dream Theater. I gave them a chance, and hated them. You're not going to change my mind, I've been through the Dream Theater and Opeth arguments many, many times. I have very concrete reasons for disliking these bands, and I'm not going to throw them out just because you call me an idiot and roll your internet eyes.

[ambush]

I feel like Opeth's "signature" is more a "gimmick." They bore me, and that's the bottom line. My argument is valid. It would be valid for me to say "I don't like Opeth because they eat balogna, and balogna is totally the worst meat." Whatever my reason is, it is valid, because it's my opinion. Criticizing someone's opinion as "valid" or "invalid" is ridiculous. Even if I don't base my opinion on fact, it's still MY OPINION. Disliking Opeth doesn't make me stupid. Disliking Dream Theater doesn't make me stupid. Disliking "...And Justice for All" doesn't make me stupid. It makes me different from you in those 3 ways. I have heard a lot of Dream Theater. I gave them a chance, and hated them. You're not going to change my mind, I've been through the Dream Theater and Opeth arguments many, many times. I have very concrete reasons for disliking these bands, and I'm not going to throw them out just because you call me an idiot and roll your internet eyes.

Wow, did I say all of that in my post? No. You're making it seem like I said numerous times that your opinion doesn't mean anything and that only mine matters. I didn't call you stupid for disliking any of the bands. So.. what the ****?

If your reasoning is valid, then I suppose every argument ever made has been valid, since it was some persons opinion at one point. *rolls internet eyes*

Talking with you is a pain in the ***, you change most everything around and make it untrue. And finally, I'm not trying to change your mind, I'd be an idiot if I thought I could change a mind as stubborn as yours. Your opinion of my music is trivial. G'day.

[bobbysandoval]

Wow, did I say all of that in my post? No. You're making it seem like I said numerous times that your opinion doesn't mean anything and that only mine matters. I didn't call you stupid for disliking any of the bands. So.. what the ****?

If your reasoning is valid, then I suppose every argument ever made has been valid, since it was some persons opinion at one point. *rolls internet eyes*

Talking with you is a pain in the ***, you change most everything around and make it untrue. And finally, I'm not trying to change your mind, I'd be an idiot if I thought I could change a mind as stubborn as yours. Your opinion of my music is trivial. G'day.
1. Zappa is just stating that he is, of course, entitled to his opinion, as is everyone.
2. He's given more than enough reasons to back up his opinions, as he was insisted to do.
Talking with you is a pain in the ***, you change most everything around and make it untrue.
3. Show me where Zappa has done that.
And finally, I'm not trying to change your mind, I'd be an idiot if I thought I could change a mind as stubborn as yours. Your opinion of my music is trivial. G'day.
4. You're flaming his taste in music for no apparent reason.

Congratulations, you're illogical.

[Cowboy from hell]

Great review, only that i personaly wouldn't have give "One" 5/5 maybe 3/5, and all the others 5/5, maybe "1" has been soaked up by the music channels etc.

[I Play 4 Jesus]

dude i got 4 of five and i think And Justice For All is the bestcd. but the best song is "one" i can play that song with my eyes closed but unfotinatly some one stoll that cd from me and thats y i only have 4 out of 5

[I Play 4 Jesus]

Ambush u dont Know good music when u here it

[Metallicat]

One of the greatest cds...ever...definately a favorite. 5/5

[ambush]

1. Zappa is just stating that he is, of course, entitled to his opinion, as is everyone.
2. He's given more than enough reasons to back up his opinions, as he was insisted to do.

3. Show me where Zappa has done that.

4. You're flaming his taste in music for no apparent reason.

Congratulations, you're illogical.

1. I know he's stating that you dumb****, just like I stated that he is allowed to have his own opinion. So what's your point here?

2. You obviously haven't seen the thread I'm talking about, hence my saying "That comment is barely based on the post in this thread, it's the ones in other threads."

3. He said that I called him stupid because he doesn't like those bands, which I didn't. I said numerous times that I respect other's opinions.

4. I don't even know what music he listens to, how can I even to begin to flame his taste in music?

Go back to sucking Zappa's dick now you noob.

[ambush]

Ambush u dont Know good music when u here it

Who's doing the flaming of musical tastes here bobbysandoval..

I'm done with this childish argument.

[Raijo]

Can everyone please drop this subject? I'd like it my review didn't break down into a massive flame fest.

[Zappa]

Keep the ignorant comments coming Zappa. First it's Opeth who sucks, then Dream Theater, now this great Metallica album. Idiot. :rolleyes: You may be entitled to your opinion, but you're not backing it up, and when you do it's almost always a load of ****.



didn't call you stupid for disliking any of the bands. So.. what the ****?
Never called me stupid, ambush? That's funny, because the quote I put at the top of the page clearly has the word "idiot" in it.


If your reasoning is valid, then I suppose every argument ever made has been valid, since it was some persons opinion at one point. *rolls internet eyes*

That was my point. Everyone's reasoning for forming opinions is valid, because opinions cannot be "wrong."

Talking with you is a pain in the ***, you change most everything around and make it untrue.

I don't have to change the things you say to make them untrue, I just have to disagree and say why. I have no twisted your words at all this entire time. In fact, it was only you who has ignored previous statements.

And finally, I'm not trying to change your mind, I'd be an idiot if I thought I could change a mind as stubborn as yours. Your opinion of my music is trivial. G'day.

If my opinions are trivial, why does your first post (the one I quoted at the top of this post) exist at all? You must have had SOME reason for randomly calling me an "idiot" and demanding that I give you answers as to why I dislike some bands.

[Raijo]

Never called me stupid, ambush? That's funny, because the quote I put at the top of the page clearly has the word "idiot" in it.




That was my point. Everyone's reasoning for forming opinions is valid, because opinions cannot be "wrong."



I don't have to change the things you say to make them untrue, I just have to disagree and say why. I have no twisted your words at all this entire time. In fact, it was only you who has ignored previous statements.



If my opinions are trivial, why does your first post (the one I quoted at the top of this post) exist at all? You must have had SOME reason for randomly calling me an "idiot" and demanding that I give you answers as to why I dislike some bands.

Thanks for reading the post directly above yours.

[ambush]

If my opinions are trivial, why does your first post (the one I quoted at the top of this post) exist at all? You must have had SOME reason for randomly calling me an "idiot" and demanding that I give you answers as to why I dislike some bands.

I called you an idiot for not backing up your statements. :thumb: If you're too lazy to back it up, then don't post anything at all.

[ambush]

Thanks for reading the post directly above yours.

Sincerely sorry for Zappa disregarding your post, and for us both ######## up your wonderful review. :) I said I was done with this, and I am. Hopefully this won't start up again.

[looozer]

I agree with Zappa on this one :thumb:

[Moniker]

There have been way too many "metallica rocks!" "NO! Metallica RULES!" arguments in the world. I think I will end this one.

[looozer]

I'm reopening this thread Eric. There wasn't a discussion on whether or not Metallica sucks, but rather on the validity of opinions as the basis of arguments. The only problem is that that discussion was relatively off-topic. While it is a healthy discussion, the topic of the thread is Metallica, so a "Metallica rocks \m/" or "OMG METALIKA SUX" would be more appropriate (blatant idiocy aside). So, I think that this is fine and dandy as is, but the discussion should be about the CD itself. Keep on topic and I'll keep this open. The discussion in this thread can go to AIM if needs be I guess.

[ambush]

I'm reopening this thread Eric. There wasn't a discussion on whether or not Metallica sucks, but rather on the validity of opinions as the basis of arguments. The only problem is that that discussion was relatively off-topic. While it is a healthy discussion, the topic of the thread is Metallica, so a "Metallica rocks \m/" or "OMG METALIKA SUX" would be more appropriate (blatant idiocy aside). So, I think that this is fine and dandy as is, but the discussion should be about the CD itself. Keep on topic and I'll keep this open. The discussion in this thread can go to AIM if needs be I guess.

Yea.. I said it was over. Nice avatar by the way. "RIE". No good points on my side eh?

Good album, yep. 5/5 (again)

*leaves thread*

[thrashfanatic2010]

i like this album because of the heavy parts and the melodic parts contrast each other very well, yeah the production is not quite up to par and a lil thin sounding but the music more than makes up for it , 4/5

[NoHero9]

amazing cd. At least 4/5. At least.

[DimebagDarrell]

i personally love this album admittidly it doesnt beat mop or rtl and the bass lines are almost unhearable but people saying this album is garbage is stupid it is a brillaint album and kirk actually is trying different solo styles [from wat i can tell] and ulrich is blinding so thats wat i think

4/5

[SubtleDagger]

This album has two major problems: for starters, there's absolutely NO bass. Turn your bass up and see if you hear a bass guitar without Lars' bass pedal deafening you first. Where the hell was Nustead?

The second problem would be that many of these songs are just way too long. "One" and "Blackened" I can understand, as well as a few of the first tracks, but there's just too many songs that go on forever for no reason. I'd give it a low 4/5, because it is still amazing.

[RockGuitarist501]

nice review. im goin to check out some more songs off this album. IMO, this cd gets a 4.5/5.

[Po0sH]

My fav metallica album, 5/5, love this album, each song is awesome

[Gernm18]

^ same here awesome album, great lyrics there's no fillers all the songs are great in their own way, the shortest straw is the one i like the least but it's still pretty good

and zapp u should S U C K a D I C K nobody cares about ur bad opinion keep it to urself, i dont get it how can someone like master of puppets and not ajfa

[superpeer]

After RTL the best, me thinks.

[antiflagsetsfire]

I don't usually like to flame other people, but when you compliment Metallica...woops I mean metallica (they don't deserve to be capitalized) I just lose it. metallica is just absalutely horrible...nothing by them should ever deserve any compliments. They destroyed Napster and by doing that proved that they care more about the money than the do about the music. And also they just have no talent. I mean come on...have you actually listened to the song St. Anger. I did, and I regret every moment of it. It was a waste of 4 minutes of my life...

[Gernm18]

^ i think it was a waste of your minutes to type that answer

i can tell that u've never owned a metallica album so it's pointless to argue with an ignorant

[The Oracle]

I don't usually like to flame other people, but when you compliment Metallica...woops I mean metallica (they don't deserve to be capitalized) I just lose it. metallica is just absalutely horrible...nothing by them should ever deserve any compliments. They destroyed Napster and by doing that proved that they care more about the money than the do about the music. And also they just have no talent. I mean come on...have you actually listened to the song St. Anger. I did, and I regret every moment of it. It was a waste of 4 minutes of my life...

I don't want to turn this into another flame war, but I just wanted to respond to this. Mr. Anti Flag, it is, of course, your right to not like metallica, I know a lot of people who don't, that's fine. But to say they have no talent is a bit ridiculous. Metallica's first four albums (and a few songs off of 'Metallica') are brilliant, with many beautiful songs, lyrically and musically. And it seems to me you've really only heard St. Anger, because to base your reasoning for Metallica having 'no talent' on one horrible song is a tad bit asinine. Because, like I said, Metallica has so much early material that could be considered metal at its finest.

So, please, express your opinions, but don't make posts, such as the above, where you speak out of your arse.

That said... Raijo, nice review mate. AJFA is my favourite Metallica album after RTL and MOP. Besides having a nonexistent bass and a couple songs going a bit long, I don't see why the album gets hated on so much. Straw and Frayed Ends are rather filler-esque, I agree, but with songs like Blackened, AJFA, One, To Live Is To Die, and Dyers Eve, how could you not like this album? :D 4/5

[Mephisdan]

^^^To be fair reload is a decent album in itself too. The fact that its different to "regular" metallica i think means that it gets overlooked.

AJFA is quality though, no question of that

[sickgoregrind_666]

AJFA has loads and loads of great stuff, Blackened is a classic

Although my favourite Metallica album is RTL which in my opinion has not one bad track whereas AJFA does i.e the shortest straw.

[ilovenikki123]

i like kill em all

[Scythe404]

bwahahaha one of Lars' finest moments, but he can't even play it live.

http://www.livemetallica.com/show.asp?show=14

Scroll down, and you'll see the 20th track on the setlist to be Dyer's Eve. I was at this concert and Lars executed it quite decently. I also have the download off of this website so if you want proof i'd be more than happy to post the mp3.

[-HIM-]

i thought it was a good cd. ones the best song on it

[marilynmansondrummer]

This is the best metallica drumming album by far! You cant beat the drumming on harvester of sorrow! The double bass just kicks ***! Best metallica album for double bass definately.

[negativecreep408]

the shortest straw and frayed ends on sanity deserve 5/5, but to live is to die, ya its cool that its a cliff tribute or w/e, but it just sucks i mean all james does is whisper a poem from him a couple minutes into the song.

[Vortigon]

I could only be bothered to read the first page but I got enraged by some comments on there.
Firstly, this is Metallica's best in my opinion, as I enjoy the aggression and musicianship more than any of the others.
Also I don't understand why everyone says the production is so bad on this one, sure the bass isn't hugely prominent, but I can hear what it's doing, and I think it is good.
Shortest Straw doesn't suck! I think this song is hugely underrated by everyone, and it's solo is actually awesome, lots of neat little tricks in there all wrapped up into a fairly short solo.
Oh and Frayed Ends of Sanity = best song on the album for me, its just great, I don't know what else to say really, I love the climax of the solo, and the little pickup in pace on the verse riff a bit later. Great Stuff.
I don't really get why everyone loves One so much, it's pretty average I think, the first two solos are pretty nice, I like them, and I suppose the sextuplets are quite neat, but other than that it's boring.
Filler? Pah! I say. Nice review though, apart from bad-mouthing Shortest Straw. Bastard.

[ProgDave]

I absolutely love this album, and totally agree its the best album metallica have ever made, 5/5 all the way.

[Burdcheese]

My favourite Metallica album, though the production does get quite grating after a while

hence: 4.8/5

[Jamie FT]

...and justice for all is my fav 'tallica album

[beatlesrule]

i agree with zappa.
metallica has had better albums
2.5/5

[southofheaven666]

one word can sum up this album.......excellent

[csmerchant2]

bwahahaha one of Lars' finest moments, but he can't even play it live. actually he can. i was fortunate enough to see metallica live back in march. it was great, they played mostly old stuff, maybe around 3-5 of their newer umm.. crap. and if you go to the metallica website and look at the concert details, not gonna bother telling you which unless you want it. but on the concert notes, one of them is that it was the first time they had played dyers eve in its entirety. and i know i know, it took him that long to be able to do it but hey at least he now can. BTW great review, i agree at least 4.5/5

[LicensedToIll86]

I liked AJFA, but i'd have to say i definetly like RTL and MOP better. RTL had for whom the bell tolls, creeping death (fav. song) Ride the lightning, fade to black and master of puppets had battery, master of puppets, disposable heroes, and sanitarium. So Overall, i think those two albums are better although AJFA is a good album and that was a good review.

[That Kid]

the shortest straw and frayed ends on sanity deserve 5/5, but to live is to die, ya its cool that its a cliff tribute or w/e, but it just sucks i mean all james does is whisper a poem from him a couple minutes into the song.

have you no soul? i guess its your opinion, but to me, that song just exudes emotion. especially since its a tribute to cliff, but even if it wasn't, i still think the softer part in the middle is very emotional. also the intro/outro riff. even the song structure is set up perfectly, like the riff at the beginning and the end is cut off just like cliff's life was and you can listen to the anger and sorrow in the entire song. well thats my two cents, i guess you can think what you want, but show some respect. dont just be like "ya its cool that its a cliff tribute or w/e"

[Five Magics]

I'm working on getting Kill 'em All but I my thirst for new Metallica material has been quelled for the moment. I want to get Rust in Peace or Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? first.

if you like ...And Justice For All, you will absolutely love Megadeth's Rust in Peace (which I would get first if I were you)

[Five Magics]

AJFA has loads and loads of great stuff, Blackened is a classic

Although my favourite Metallica album is RTL which in my opinion has not one bad track whereas AJFA does i.e the shortest straw.

man, the shortest straw is one of the most underrated Metallica songs ever. ...And Justice For All is their best album, period.

[RollerQueen]

I used to hate Metallica with a passion, going so far as to institute a ban on them in my car. I grew up and ended my 2-decade Metalliblock. I bought this, Master of Puppets, and Metallica. I now feel like the idiot that I was for banning them for so long. I remember reading "To Live is to Die" a while ago and admiring it but never knowing what or who it was from/by. I think it's more than just some dead bassist's whispered poem set to a mostly-instrumental song. It's a kickass song with some intelligent writing.

I'm digging Master of Puppets a little more than this album but both are awesome. James annoys me, as an English major, with his end-rhymes and overuse of rhyming couplets, but the lyrics are still a lot better than most of the metal I've heard. Good tunes all around and I'm glad to have lifted the ban.

[White Riot!]

and justice for all eats all of metallica's other albums

[RiceMonster]

Good Review :thumb: I love this Album defently a 5/5 (even though the production blows)
i think ...and justice for all and frayed ends of sanity bouth deserve a 5/5

[Kreator]

the production could be alot better. and metallica there shouldn't be 4 guitars in a song when both guitars are soloing. 4 guitars are too much

[metallicaman928]

theose words on to live is to die, isnt just hetfield blabbing about some ****... that was a poem writen by cliff burton,and seeing as this is the tribute song to cliff,it was only right putting his own words in there

R.I.P - cliff burton

"when a man lies,he murders some part of the world,these are the ailments which men miscall there lives, all this i can not bare to witness. may not the kingdom of salvation take me home"


thats what he wrote

[mexicanfloydian]

Nice review, but I think frayed ends of sanity deserves a 5/5.
I agree with your final rating 4/5. It's not an excellent album because it lacks of bass, and the production isn't great.

[metallifan18]

i own every metallica e.p. AJFA was the last album that they made where you can just put it on and listen to the whole thing. now they have their hits, and the filler songs. but i don't think metallica ever went bad. AFJA is a great album but not the best.

[Lumiere]

This album is phenomenally intense and angry.

It's not my favourite from the eighties thrash era, but it's one of. MoP beats it, IMO.

[[EoN-BluE-ApocalypsE]]

Did someone get owned?

lmao

[Spirit_In_Black]

This is my favourite metallica album
Blackened is my favourite metallica song closely followed by Dyers Eve
the riff to Harvester of Sorrow is my favourite metallica riff.
To live is To Die is my favourite instrumental (not just by metallica either)
This is one of the best thrash albums ever, actually its one of the best albums ever regardless of genre!

[Blanka Flip]

Keep the ignorant comments coming Zappa. First it's Opeth who sucks, then Dream Theater, now this great Metallica album. Idiot. :rolleyes: You may be entitled to your opinion, but you're not backing it up, and when you do it's almost always a load of ****.

He commented on Opeth too?! :angry: Its on now. *puts up dukes*

[Blanka Flip]

Never called me stupid, ambush? That's funny, because the quote I put at the top of the page clearly has the word "idiot" in it.




That was my point. Everyone's reasoning for forming opinions is valid, because opinions cannot be "wrong."




I don't have to change the things you say to make them untrue, I just have to disagree and say why. I have no twisted your words at all this entire time. In fact, it was only you who has ignored previous statements.



If my opinions are trivial, why does your first post (the one I quoted at the top of this post) exist at all? You must have had SOME reason for randomly calling me an "idiot" and demanding that I give you answers as to why I dislike some bands.

I really hope your happy after wasteing all that time and space for such a stupid reason...God. Thats pretty lame Zappa.

[Trooper]

The only reason I could see for not giving this album 5/5 is that you can't hear the bass. Although the album is still Metallica best in my opinion.
Deserves no less than 5.

[YDload]

I really hope your happy after wasteing all that time and space for such a stupid reason...God. Thats pretty lame Zappa.


Sounded pretty reasonable to me. Zappa's got a music journalist-like ability to explain why certain bands/albums suck, so don't discard his thoughts so readily.

[SubtleDagger]

The only reason I could see for not giving this album 5/5 is that you can't hear the bass. Although the album is still Metallica best in my opinion.
Deserves no less than 5.
Songs are too long and meandering, it gets boring near the end of the album, and not enough bass. That makes it a pretty easy 4/5.

[Blanka Flip]

Sounded pretty reasonable to me. Zappa's got a music journalist-like ability to explain why certain bands/albums suck, so don't discard his thoughts so readily.

I wasnt disgarding any of his opinions... Just how he went to that length to argue.

[issues]

excellent review...i agree with most of you here, 5/5. and this was not the beginning of the end for metallica, the black album was...to live is to die is my favourite of all metallica songs, RiP Cliff

[FxsX24]

DYERS EVE has been plaued live like 10 times and Lars used DB 7/10 times on it but james voice sucks live for that song

[Shadows]

He commented on Opeth too?! :angry: Its on now. *puts up dukes*
Hell yeah. I didn't really pay much attention to anything he said untill he got to Opeth. Insulting Opeth is stepping way over the line in my opinion. Although I will be interested to see what he says when I review Orchid next...

[bassman04]

I don't understand how anyone can say the Black Album was the beggining of the end for Metallica. It is a great album, but if you are a speed or thrash metal fan as opposed to the slower stuff on the Black Album, i can see way it may not be to your taste.

[issues]

I don't understand how anyone can say the Black Album was the beggining of the end for Metallica. It is a great album, but if you are a speed or thrash metal fan as opposed to the slower stuff on the Black Album, i can see way it may not be to your taste.

i think we can all agree that and justice was very technical. the guitar work was just amazing and the drumming would be hard to beat. Come the black album, everything slowed down and became definatly more mainstream directed. thats where metallica wanted to go with their music and to do that they had to simplify everything, and thats where they are now...some kind of monster.

[thrashfanatic2010]

i think it was a great album by tallica not the best but still great and yeah the production for some songs could have been better but the songs were great in itself

4/5

[Metal G]

ok, dude without the kill 'em all album, you need to get it, its totally flawless, legendary even, but i do like and ...justice for all i mean c'mon guys, it gave us 'one' and 'dyers eve' plus james' voice was incredible. but i have to admit, they should've quite after garage.inc. and this raises the question, why did newsted leave?

[Metal G]

OH MY GOD!!!!! the dude who said the black album was the beggining of the end for talica, what the hell? that album is legendary!

[issues]

its only legendary because they turned to mainstream

[ropperic]

The songs are incredibly long, and repetitive. I get bored with every single one by the time they are nearing the midpoint, because they don't go anywhere. Hetfield's voice lacks passion, it just feels sort of flat and boring. Also, Hetfield's lyrics are full of silly metaphors, and don't seem very inspired. Kirk's solos aren't as good as anything earlier, and the riffs in the songs are less inventive and exciting as well. Basically, I find it to be Metallica disenchanted, a completely uninspired outing from a band past their prime.


i would have to agree. although metallica is good in the weight room i would have to say THEY SUCK. i mean kirks solos are repetative and not as cool anymore. WE JUST NEED EDDIE VAN HALEN TO COME BACK AND KICK EVERY ONES ***

[theunseencasualties822]

Metallica plays it it can't be bad

[blackened_waters]

this is my favorite album ever. the guitars are heavy as hell, there's no newsted that u can hear, and it has no filler tracks. all songs on this album kick ***. 5/5.

[Po0sH]

This is one of my fav albums! It kicks ***!! 5/5

[owlandtree]

Yup, this was the metallica album that made me puke first. I never really took them seriously before "Justice", but I had fun with their rawness. Now they actually take themselves seriously. This album was the one that transformed them from fun to "Holy-steaming-cow-pie, they have just entered the realm of pay-the-bill's-chesse-metal"! 2outta5.

[issues]

i totally disagree...if anything that was the black album...this was the summit of their amazing career, and they've been going down hill since then

[alcoholocaust]

-May be too heavy for some listeners :D



Heavy? :lol:

Comon, the guitars and bass (can YOU hear it?) sound like absolute ****. They have no crunch whatsoever and are paper thin. When I play AJFA on my stereo only about 4 out of the 5 lights shoot up, and 3 for the guitar only parts. That isn't heavy.

[bassplayerKobra16]

metallica rulz and this album is no exeption 5/5

[razor666]

:evil: im not a metallica fan but the first 4 albums i just love :angry:

[The Bronx Are Here]

This was the beginning of the end for Metallica. Their first 3 records are pretty good, but this is just garbage. 1/5.

YOU *** WIPE :eek: EVERY1 WHO READS THIS RAISE THERE GLASSES SAYING THIS ROCKS :chug: whatever you listen to must be pulled out someones ****ing pen*s like neil morissey featuring the hair bear bunch :smash: ...AND JUSTICE FOR ALL ROCKS :wave:

[SubtleDagger]

Go away.

[The Bronx Are Here]

Heavy? :lol:

Comon, the guitars and bass (can YOU hear it?) sound like absolute ****. They have no crunch whatsoever and are paper thin. When I play AJFA on my stereo only about 4 out of the 5 lights shoot up, and 3 for the guitar only parts. That isn't heavy.


HAVE YOU CHECKED A NEW CONTRAPTION ON A STERIO CALLED.. I'LL SAY IT SLOW SO YOU UNDERSTAND

READ CLOSE

DON'T DRIFT AWAY

V O L U M E

USIN THIS MODERN DAY THING MAY HELP YOU APPRECIATE HOW GOOD THE ALBUM IS!

(P.S if you read this remember it's called v o l u m e ok use this new found knowledge well my friend whos lost his mind)

[SubtleDagger]

Seriously, stop posting.

[iliketoplaydrums10111]

Seriously, stop posting.

Why'd you get banned if I may ask?

[SubtleDagger]

Why'd you get banned if I may ask?
Racist comments. I'm back tomorrow.

[YDload]

HAVE YOU CHECKED A NEW CONTRAPTION ON A STERIO CALLED.. I'LL SAY IT SLOW SO YOU UNDERSTAND

READ CLOSE

DON'T DRIFT AWAY

V O L U M E

USIN THIS MODERN DAY THING MAY HELP YOU APPRECIATE HOW GOOD THE ALBUM IS!

(P.S if you read this remember it's called v o l u m e ok use this new found knowledge well my friend whos lost his mind)

The irony is that you are patronizing Zappa and alcoholocaust! Especially since this is old news.

[SubtleDagger]

The irony is that you are patronizing Zappa and alcoholocaust! Especially since this is old news.
Also, turning up the volume does not make it any heavier nor fix the bad mixing.

Double irony.

[YDload]

Also, turning up the volume does not make it any heavier nor fix the bad mixing.

Double irony.

Right. If you want to hear the bass in AJFA in all its glory, you either had to go see Metallica live during a tour where they were likely to play most or all of the album's songs, or get a master tape and some mixing boards to filter the bass out and up.

[SubtleDagger]

You mean, if there was hypothetically bass on the master tape. I'm kind of starting to believe Jason when he said that they edited his parts out. I sure as hell don't hear anything.

[YDload]

Could they have just duplicated the overall effect of the bass by taking a guitar track and overdubbing it one octave lower? Could they really be THAT cheap and crafty?

[SubtleDagger]

That would imply a bassy effect. There's no bass anywhere. It sounds like vocals, drums, two guitars, and that's it. Regardless of how far your bass is cranked.

[headbang89]

dude, i was listening to this album when i came across this forum thing, and this album is so fricken good, it never gets old, all the songs are so good!

rock on

[appreciate_it]

you say beginning of the end?
Not that the black album has grossed more money than nearly any album ever or anything.. nah you know, they we're gone.
Maybe they might be fading now, but 1982- 1992 were the best years. saying they were dead in 1988, you haven;t got your facts right in my opinion.

and metallica admit that AJFA is the has the less amount of bass than any of their albums.

[SubtleDagger]

The reason I sort of consider this the beginning of the end is because they were running out of ideas. This is basically everything they did before taken to an extreme. Really long songs, incredibly fast riffs, a loss of substance. It still is a good record, sort of a last hurrah, and not bad by any means. It didn't go downhill here, that would be on their next record.

I just feel that the bass problem is depressing. They take all the bass lines out after Cliff dies. I just don't understand that. If anything, you'd want to make them stronger.

[Bartender]

you say beginning of the end?
Not that the black album has grossed more money than nearly any album ever or anything.. nah you know, they we're gone.
Maybe they might be fading now, but 1982- 1992 were the best years. saying they were dead in 1988, you haven;t got your facts right in my opinion.

and metallica admit that AJFA is the has the less amount of bass than any of their albums.

They're obviously talking about artistic, not commercial, decline.

And just because they admit it has less bass doesn't make the lack of bass any more acceptable.

[VaporFace]

This album sucks for many reasons. Metallica is nothing more than chinssee MTV fodder. The first 3 albums were watered down thrash metal. While I do not find it amazing that people like this garbage, look at Poison lot's of people loved them, it is a bit sad to realize that this is what goes on in our country. No wonder every other country in the world wants to bomb us...."Just look at what the Americans find entertaining." Justice is a glorified skid-mark. A wart on the a@@ that is the Top 40 music industry. 1/4 out of 5 stars....Hey you can start a fire with the album, it's good for something.

[The Bronx Are Here]

when you talk about a wart on an a$$ are you referring to your own sad self, what gives you the right to call metallica such a hideous thing, they've been around for 20 years+ dosn't that show that they are probably the most succesful band on the planet as they have been around that long and not lost any respect (not including st.anger, they may have lost some then) so shove your comments in your pipe and smoke that instead of using AJFA!

[issues]

you say beginning of the end?
Not that the black album has grossed more money than nearly any album ever or anything.. nah you know, they we're gone.
Maybe they might be fading now, but 1982- 1992 were the best years. saying they were dead in 1988, you haven;t got your facts right in my opinion.

and metallica admit that AJFA is the has the less amount of bass than any of their albums.


as said above....not comercial end, for that it was just the beginning...but as artists i just think the black was a compramise on what was their first four albums. i read this some where, ever since metallica started working with bob rock, their music has gone down hill, IMO. they started working with him for the black album.

[The Bronx Are Here]

FINALLY. somebody who actually agrees with me that ...AJFA was not the end. Cheers.

[PsYcHo0001]

I think that is the best album they ever made!!! I´ve got all ten but this is really the best!!!! 5/5

[opeth_oasis]

AJFA was the ONLY good metallica album

[metallica_only]

bwahahaha one of Lars' finest moments, but he can't even play it live.

you obviously dont reconize the true glory of lars' drumming skills. he can definatly play it live. cunning stunts......i saw them live in pennsacola nov. 9th, and he played it fine.i alson have the audio of the performance.pleade excuse spelling and grammer errors.

[EdwardTheGreat]

Whilst this album rules, many people never quite 'get it' because they dont listen to it enough, and give it a chance. You know songs that take a while to grow on you? Well this album is like that, and as such many people never appreciate it for just how good it is. Shame really cause its great after that.

[EdwardTheGreat]

"AJFA was the ONLY good metallica album"
only good Metallica album? Master... was one of the top heavy metal albums of all times, and some of the other albums come **** close to that masterpiece, this being one of those.

[LoveMuscle]

awseome album,

only thing wrong is that the bass guitar need more volume. :smash:

[hotbufguy]

I also think this is the best album they have. I am actually doing a little concert thing this weekend fr the song one on guitar in front of about 2000 people. It will be great. I am doing it just like the concert where the pyro's go off, except i wont use pyro's i will use M80 fireworks. lol

[opeth_oasis]

only good Metallica album? Master... was one of the top heavy metal albums of all times, and some of the other albums come **** close to that masterpiece, this being one of those
its my opinion mate and metallica dont exactly appeal to me the way they used to, now they are becoming sellouts

[timbrie]

yjtjytjyt

[timbrie]

one was so heavy and loud my stereo broke down and that stereo was only 1.79 hours old

[timbrie]

"'one"" is so heavy!! my speakers exploded.
when i was listening to it in my car my windows broke AND a dent was in me car