Metallica – …And Justice for All

Review

Metallica's fourth studio album, "…And Justice for All," dropped fiery hot on August 25, 1988. Known for its intricate compositions, this beast of a record delivers aggressive riffs, rapid tempos, and odd timing. Tracks like "...And Justice for All," "The Frayed Ends of Sanity," and "To Live Is To Die" showcase complexity that bucks convention with a delightfully wild progressive twist.

Diving deep into the socio-political abyss, the lyrics slice through heavy themes of injustice and corruption like a hot knife through butter. "Harvester of Sorrow," "Eye of the Beholder," and the title track tackle juicy topics like political decay and the futility of war with an unflinching edge. The album cover doesn’t hold back either, with Lady Justice bound in unraveling ropes, giving a visual punch to match the band’s cutting commentary.

Despite having a sound criticized for its thin mix—bringing to mind bass licks roaming in a ghost town—this album rides high on critical acclaim. It sauntered its way up to number six on the Billboard 200 and racked up 8× platinum, with the ground-shaking single "One" snagging the band their inaugural Grammy. With such a loaded discography, "…And Justice for All" towers like a supermassive riffy monument in Metallica’s arsenal, carving out its spot in heavy metal history. - Jaxx