... AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

This is Metallica's fourth album, and their last good one, so says the crowd. Thrashing harder than ever, and doing it with a renewed sense of complexity. While Metallica is a prog-related band, this, to me, is a complete progressive metal album. Where MOP thrashed, AJFA brutalizes. Hetfield hasn't gotten any better at singing, and none of them have gone too far ahead in the lyrical department, but this is a more outreaching album than its' direct predecessor. If you'll notice, the song lengths are a good 2 minutes stead, and this extra room allows breath, indeed. Whether or not it allows better judgment in composition is a vast opinion. I feel that it allows the (arguably) best member of the band (the guitarist) to shine magnificently.

I put a lot into, yet he isn't even close to one of my favorites. The drummer, ol' Lars, he does a fine job on skins, drums too! The rhythm section needs no worries, and spices the mix better than before. Oddly enough, though, as they polish their skills, they leave something to be desired in the mixing and producing. I'll admit that it could be worse, and is a far cry from St. Anger. While I feel the playing is more evolved, I find less to remember than on prior albums. Obviously, a lot gets placed upon One, and deservedly so, it's a fairly kick-arse album, in many facets. At the end of the day, nothing is disappointing, and some songs are just damn brilliant.

I spoke earlier of extended song lengths. I call this a double edged sword. In one way, it allows them more space to experiment with complex structures and movements, on the other hand, some tracks go on for far too long, especially the title track. the album closes with To Live Is To Die, and Dyer's Eve. I am fascinated by the former, and interested by the latter, of which captivates and thrashes valiantly, respectfully. A brilliant fully progressive emtal album, and a leap for most metal, in general. It isn't as memorable, save the "all star" songs, but is more experimental. A different side of the same coin, and worth just as much.

Best Song - One...........

Worst Song - The Title track, but still a hard choice.

***** Just stars

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