Photo: … And Justice For All Album Cover, Metallica
On September 7, 1988, the legendary album … And Justice For All by the American metal band was released. It's now celebrating its 35th birthday! What were the biggest highlights of the album?
Since its release in 1988, the album has had a lasting impact on the metal scene and is considered a milestone in the history of thrash metal. Metallica's fourth studio album, with its nine tracks, won over both critics and fans, especially after the high bar set by its predecessor, Master of Puppets, in 1986. Some of the songs are still regularly played live today and remain absolute fan favorites, notably “One” and “Harvester Of Sorrow.”
- Blackened
- … And Justice For All
- Eye of the Beholder
- One
- The Shortest Straw
- Harvester of Sorrow
- The Frayed Ends of Sanity
- To Live Is To Die
- Dyers Eve
The music video for “One” was Metallica’s first successful MTV video. Additionally, … And Justice For All achieved high chart positions worldwide and was the band’s most successful release to date, achieving platinum status within a few weeks. However, the production process was not as smooth as the high sales numbers (nearly 10 million copies sold to date) might suggest. Not only was alcohol a regular part of the members' routine, but they were frequently out partying, which required adjustments to the production schedule.
Sound and Production of … And Justice For All
The album was the first Metallica released after the death of Cliff Burton. Jason Newsted took his place on bass, while the usual lineup of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett remained. Mike Clink, who had previously worked with Guns N’ Roses on their album “Appetite For Destruction,” was initially set to produce the album. However, the collaboration did not work out as hoped and was not repeated.
A notable feature of the album is the sound of the final product, which has been widely debated and controversial. Jason Newsted’s bass was deliberately mixed into the background. The mix was intended to have few mids but plenty of highs and lows. As a result, in the bass range, mostly Hetfield’s guitar and the drums are heard, but not the actual bass. This decision was criticized by some fans for stripping the songs of necessary depth and dynamics. Nonetheless, this controversial decision gave the album a truly hard sound and made it a unique work. Producer Flemming Rasmussen confirmed that Newsted’s performance in the studio was definitely not the reason the bass is hardly audible on the album. According to him, Jason Newsted is “a great musician.”
As Metallica’s second most successful album, it's clear: the record is simply a classic. It was a turning point for the band, born out of many conflicts, disputes, and experiences. Its successor, The Black Album, would certainly not have been what it is if … And Justice For All had not pursued this technical prog sound.
