Metallica's magnum opus. (And Justice For All - Metallica)

Member Name: LordBonney

Product:	And Justice For All - Metallica
Date:	26/05/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: The best music from one of metals finest bands.

Disadvantages: The production. Its not great. It doesnt have the immediate appeal of other Metallica albums.

This was Metallica's 4th studio album, and their first album without bassist Cliff Burton, who was replaced by Jason Newsted. Its without doubt their most complex and creative album, and, in terms of the songs, their best in my opinion.

However despite that there is one huge flaw to the album. The production. Lars Ulrich sounds like he's decided placing wet cardboard over his drums will improve their sound, Kirk and James seem to have decided that the mid know on their amps should be turned right down, and they seemingly failed to turn Jasons amp on at all. This is the only reason I couldnt give the album 5 stars, no matter how much I wanted to. Musically its 5 stars, but when listened to on a low end system or headphones the sound really is poor.

That said once you get over the odd sound of the album you will be met by with some of Metallica's best and most complex tracks. Difficult to get into certainly, 7 of the 9 songs are over six and a half minutes, but amongst their very best and most rewarding once you 'get' them. Blackened starts things off with one of my favourite Metallica riffs, and things then only get better and better, with the album peaking on its most famous song - One.

Now made famous by Guitar Hero this song can sum the album up pretty well. Soft intro, with a really nice solo thrown in, a heavy chorus, then back to the acoustics, then a heavy-ish melody, and then all hell breaks loose. In my mind the best Metallica song ever. And its got some pretty stiff competition to win that award!

This probably isnt good for your first Metallica album, go for The Black Album (Metallica) or Master Of Puppets for that, but once you've got them and feel you want more, come and get this. You'll need to put some work in to get past the poor production, and the inticate songs, but you'll be rewarded if you put the work in.

Best Tracks - Blackened, Dyers Eve, One.

Summary: Not the most accessible of albums, but put the time in and you wont regret it.