Track Listing

1. Blackened
2. ... And Justice For All
3. Eye Of The Beholder
4. One
5. The Shortest Straw
6. Harvester Of Sorrow
7. The Frayed Ends Of Sanity
8. To Live Is To Die
9. Dyers Eve

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1057 in Music
• Released on: 2007-07-02
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 65 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
This record has so much good material that it's a shame the production is so shoddy. Song-wise, this is probably Metallica's most sophisticated album, exploring the theme of justice and perversions thereof with a vengeance. "One" is one of their best songs ever, building from a slow, edgy beginning into effortless overdrive. The title track is excellent and never boring, despite clocking in at more than nine minutes. It's the epic of the album, but all of the songs are long, displaying impressive chops and songwriting. Metallica took a commercial turn after ...And Justice for All, and it's interesting to speculate on what would have happened to their music had they continued in the direction suggested by this album. --Genevieve Williams

CD Description
Following the tragic death of bassist Cliff Burton, Metallica regrouped with Flotsam & Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted to record this ambitious double album. Metallica made their reputation playing complex music at superhuman speed, and when James Hetfield's lyrics caught up with his compositional skills, the band became a force to be reckoned with. Everythingcame together on 1986's MASTER OF PUPPETS, and JUSTICE picks up where PUPPETS left off.
Utilizing intricate yet crunching riffs, layered guitar melodies and intelligent lyrics,Metallica forged an identity as the leader of '80s metal. Hetfield's lyrics are often quite dark, touching on injustice(the title song), insanity ("The Frayed Ends Of Sanity") and his own troubled childhood ("Dyers Eve"). They also had a progressive streak a mile wide, as shown in the involved arrangements that often brought the song lengths close to 10 minutes. JUSTICE also marked a turning point for drummer Lars Ulrich, who began replacing his off-kilter playing with a more straightforward groove approach, and for the band, who made their first video (for "One") and thus scored their firsthit.

Customer Reviews

It's dark, it's bleak, it's angry and yes, it's complex.
I bought this album about 5 years ago and have been listening to it a lot (along with the rest of Metallica's back catalogue) ever since. I find it's one of those albums where your favourite songs can change with time. For example, when I first listened to it, I wasn't fussed on 'Dyers Eve' and 'Harvester Of Sorrow' because I was more interested in 'Eye of the Beholder'. But now I love 'Harvester...' and '...Eve' and tend to skip '...Beholder'.Obviously songs like 'One' are always going to be one of your favourites but you know what I mean.
Some reviews have said that the production isn't an issue, but I believe it is. Although the guitars and drums are loud, they don't have the same intense power that 'Master of Puppets' had. The drums should've sounded like they were being beaten to death. 'Vulgar Display of Power' by Pantera is a great example of a very 'metal' album having great production. You'll notice the difference. I still don't get why Jason's bass playing was 99% unheard. Basically, the album desrved better production because the work itself is (mostly) superb.
-Blackened: A progression from thier opening songs like 'Fight Fire With Fire' and 'Battery', thanks to that great, mid-tempo riff half way through. Kirk's solo work here is amazing.
-And Justice For All: Has it's moments but flounders here and there. Works better as a song which adds to the 'concept' of the album, rather than a stand alone song.
-Eye of the Beholder: Not that memorable a track really.
-One: A stone-cold metal classic, one of thier greatest songs. Metallica's melodies, progression, lyrics and musicianship all working at full throttle.
-The Shortest Straw: A good, angry, energetic song.
--Harvester of Sorrow-A fine slice of menacing, creepy metal. Disturbing lyrics. Like 'One', works perfectly. BUT, all the live versions in the 'Binge and Purge' box show how much better the studio version could have sounded (sorry to be a killjoy!).
-The Frayed Ends of Sanity: Like '...And Justice For All', has its moments, especially the riffs half way through, some impressive guitar work. And what a solo (again)!
-To Live Is To Die: Great, Cliff Burton-esque intro/outro but takes a little too long to get to it's better parts. 'Orion' from '...Puppets' was better paced. Still a really great track. Those few Burton lines spoken by James are still chilling (some of you no doubt know what I mean).
-Dyers Eve-A good ol' fashioned super fast, pissed off Metallica thrash out with some of Lars' best drumming. A punishing pace throughout. Featuring yet another blinding solo from from Hammet.A blistering high point to end with.
Overall, this features technically some of James' best rhythm work as well as Kirk's most jaw dropping solos, mixing very well with the epic song structures. For the newbies out there, get the 'Black Album' first. Then get the first three albums. 'Justice' should be the last one you get because by then you'll be used to thier epic song structures. If you get the 'Black Album' last, you may be shocked by the simplicity of the song arrangements and may never like it which would be a shame. But then again it may not work out that way for you, so to each his/her own. Just let this be a guideline from a certain point of view. Anyways, I've gone on long enough. Despite it's flaws, this is still essential. Let yourself be pulled into it's world and see for yourself.
P.S.This is REAL metal, not the current crop of nu-metal/emo clones and drones cluttering up the market at the moment. You know who you are!

Absolutely the Last and BEST Metallica album!
I may be slightly outspoken here when i say this, but this in my opinion is Metallica's best album.Why? 1)Heaviest(due to the production,sounds like about 100 guitars playin at once) 2) Thought Provoking lyrics 3)ONE!
I agree that production could have been better.If it was, i AM sure this would have surpassed Master Of Puppets as best Metal Album!You can hear the bass,namely on title track, but not that well.BUT Its sooo heavy,and the quality of songs make you forget that instantly!!!!
I have to say,this is definatley a grower,and all the best albums are,because you want to discover something new everytime you hear it!! I am still listening to it weekly,where as i am absolutely sick of Master Of Puppets album!It is the best Metal album ever,but it hasnt got as much depth,or darkness as And Justice does!
Highlights:
Blackened (best album opener,makes you want to lose your mind!)
Eye Of The Beholder (fantastic solo,use of tremolo bar!)
One ( solo anyone?? EPIC!)
Harvester Of Sorrow (The lyrics and when james growls!...Fantastic)
Shortest Straw( WHAT A SOLO!!!! WOWOWOWOW!!!Impossible to play!Hammetts Best Solo,Better than ONE's famous tapping solo!)
To Live Is To Die (definately the best Metallica instrumental,heart wrenching)
Dyers Eve (Metallica's last ode to Thrash metal!super fast,super heavy,super lyrics,SUPERB!)

The Strength Of Metallica
Despite many people saying how this album is weak and badly produced, they forget that just a year and a half earlier Metallica's bass legend Cliff Burton was tragically killed in a bus accident. Not only was he a phenomenon in the way he played, but was also a great friend of the other band members, and had been for a long time.
I find it completely amazing and inspiring that they could pick themselves up from this, and still be able to write a truly classic, incredible album as '...and Justice For All'.

An overview of the songs:

'Blackened'- an epic, thought provoking song, with a moving guitar harmonising intro, an immense main riff, and awesome lyrics. 10/10

'...and Justice For All'- a classic, with a soft acoustic intro, twin guitar pieces, more thought provoking lyrics, and an unbelievable solo. 10/10

'Eye Of The Beholder'- A less well known song, but fantastic nonetheless. Fades in with galloping riff, and goes on to harmonising guitar, and more awesome lyrics. 9/10

'One'- Do I Need To Say Anything About This Song? An absolute musical triumph, and a complete classic. Starts with moving acoustic intro and solo, and goes on with James' lyrics, showing the horrors of war. The song progresses into heaviness, with tapped solos curtesy of Hammett, harmonising, stacato riffage, and an epic finish. 23/10

'The Shortest Straw'- More lyrical genius from the mighty Hetfield, along with one of the most awesome riffs I have ever heard. 10/10

'Harvester Of Sorrow'- starts with heavy intro, with followed by brooding acoustic part that returns throughout the song. Proceeds with one of the heaviest riffs known to man, sinister lyrics reminiscent of 'Leper Messiah' on Master Of Puppets, another incredible solo, and super- fast harmonising. 10/10

'The Frayed Ends Of Sanity'- another less well known and played song, but still with all of the impact. 9/10

'To Live Is To Die'- A beautifully written song, with a mind blowingly complicated acoustic guitar intro, powerful riffs, interludes, a fast solo, more acoustic parts, harmonising, a heart- wrenching slow solo, more harmonising, and lyrics spoken by James, and Written by Cliff before his death. One hell of a moving track. 10/10

'Dyers Eve'- The most frenetic and mind blowing in terms of speed on the album, with an extreme solo, and even more extreme main riff. More amazing harmonies in the solo, and a great finish for a phenomenal album. 10/10

James Hetfield writes some of the best lyrics ever in this album, along with fantastic riffs, acoustic parts, and a slow solo in To Live Is To Die.
Kirk Hammett pulls off some simply unbelievable solos, proving his magnificent guitar playing, with fast sequences, two hand tapping, and epic harmonies.
Lars Ulrich, true to form, shows his fantastic drumming, with unbelievably fast double bass pedalling.

Metallica's astounding ability to create the best, most epic sounding, heart wrenching, and beautifully moulded songs ever written never ceases to amaze, and the fact that they did it after such personal tragedy makes this album all the more special, and shows their true genius, and commitment to music.

I'm tired of people slating this album for its 'bad production' and 'thin sound', and hope that in the future people will listen to it for what it really is: Damn good music.