... AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

I've heard far too many times that "Master of Puppets" is Metallica's greatest album. While that is an excellent album fully deserving of a four or five star rating "...And Justice for All" is Metallica's finest (and most progressive) hour by far. Sadly, this was the first album not to include previous bassist Cliff Burton after his tragic death. As a result, this was the first album to include Jason Newsted on bass.

This is Metallica's fourth album released after the highly acclaimed "Master of Puppets". This is the last album in Metallica's classic thrash and borderline progressive metal years. This is my favorite album by Metallica, and this is essential listening for any prog metal fan. There isn't one weak spot here, and this is a great album that I'd recommend to anyone who likes prog with a heavier edge. If anyone is questioning Metallica's addition to PA, listen to this and then you will surely understand why this band is on ProgArchives.

THE MUSIC:

"Blackened"- After the short guitar feedback opening we have an intense riff with nice drumming from the double bass pedal master Lars Ulrich. After the proggy opening there are two distinct sections in the rest of the song. The guitar solo near the end progresses very nicely into the main riff and chorus. This is a great way to start off an album.

"...And Justice for All"- This starts out with a beautiful guitar melody and suddenly the whole band comes in playing the same melody except a whole lot heavier. This song is about a broken legal system, which proves these guys aren't your typical thrash metal band simply writing about death and hate. The chorus is awesome, and this is possibly the best song on the album. This should appeal to any prog metal fan.

"Eye of the Beholder"- The main riff of this song sounds very unlike Metallica. The singing is distorted in a weird way during the verses. I can't quite describe what these moments sound like, but it certainly doesn't sound like thrash metal. However, the chorus has that classic Metallica feel that only they can capture.

"One"- This is a classic Metallica song that most people recognize. Now, just because this song is famous doesn't mean you should be expecting something mediocre like "Enter Sandman". This is actually one of my favorite Metallica songs. It has a nice acoustic opening that just keeps building and becoming heavier and darker. At the song's climax it goes into a speed metal section with a technical shredding guitar solo from Kirk Hammett. Prog or non-prog, this has one of the best builds in modern-day music.

"The Shortest Straw"- This is much more standard metal song than some of the other songs here. After a nice opening you have a typical verse-chorus-verse. It has a great guitar solo near the end, and is one of my favorites from Kirk. It's less progressive, but very good anyway.

"Harvester of Sorrow"- Yet another song with a very strong opening. This doesn't have really any speed metal sections, and progresses well between the choruses and verses. The drumming is very good during the guitar solo, and the rest of the song.

"The Frayed Ends of Sanity"- After a very dark and almost doom metal opening we have a heavy riff and excellent drumming. This is one of the best songs on the album, and I highly recommend it.

"To Live Is To Die"- This is the proggy instrumental that can only be described by listening to it. This sounds a lot like Dream Theater's "Stream of Consciousness" .

"Dyers Eve"- Metallica usually ends their albums with the heaviest and most thrash song on the album, and they definitely did it here. This isn't very proggy, but is VERY VERY heavy. This is a straightforward metal song that I personally like, but someone expecting prog won't like this song as much.

Well, there you have it. One of the first prog metal albums ever, and is an essential album in any prog metal fan's collection. If you just like Yes, Genesis, ELP, Jethro Tull, etc., you may not be a fan of this, but anyone interested in Dream Theater, Pain of Salvation, Queensryche, etc. may be pleasantly surprised from what they think of as a typical metal band.

5/5 stars.