We all know the album. It’s one of the most legendary in all of thrash. Or really any hard rock, metal or popular music. And while we all know the lead off track ‘Blackened’, the title track, concert staple ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ and the legendary ‘One’. It’s the deep cuts on the second half of the record that makes it so special. The consistency of quality riffing, jamming and melody is really strong. Despite the albums shortcomings on production. Here’s a look at the deep cuts on the incredible ‘…And Justice For All’ album.
Eye of the Beholder
Technically the song is not deep on the record; it’s the third track. However, this song gets lost in the shuffle often. Barely played live since inception. And it’s a shame, as it’s one of the only songs that has any amount of bass on it. At least the remaster does, I haven’t listened to the original in a bit. The opening chug in the song also has a haunting element to it. Being relentlessly heavy, yet presenting a certain touch that’s not really found on a lot of Metallica songs. Lars’ double bass that comes in during the second half of the first verse adds an appropriate layer. And the shuffle rhythm on the chorus is actually a bit tricky to play. Not to mention Kirk Hammet’s bad ass solo. One of his more original moments. It’d be great if they threw this into their set randomly one night.
The Shortest Straw
Honestly, this might be my favorite Metallica song. It’s just freakin’ awesome. And to me it has everything that represents Metallica in it. The thrash opening that moves into the groove. Then back to the thrash beat for the second riff. It’s just so heavy. It hits that sweet spot that a perfect metal song can hit. Three major solid riffs are exchanged throughout the song. And it actually poses some fairly acrobatic drum fills from Lars. Of course, this album was the peak of their musicianship. If only Cliff could have been around for it. This track has certainly been played more than the track above live. But it’s still not played nearly enough. It’s perfect, break neck Metallica style metal up your ass.
The Frayed Ends of Sanity
This is a major favorite of the more than average Metallica fan. It’s certainly in league with ‘The Shortest Straw.’ The main riff is one of the most memorable and singable riffs in all of rock and metal. It just digs into your skin and brain. It sucks you right in. And it was a memorable track on the Metallica request tour. I love how Lars’ drums syncopate with the main into riff. He really plays with some minor syncopated rhythms. Proving that he’s really a pretty decent drummer at the end of the day. He just needs to practice more. Lyrically it’s also one of the darkest songs they ever did. You can really hear how Cliff’s death may have affected the song writing. Metallica aren’t lyrically bright or anything, but the album as a whole is probably their darkest lyrically.
To Live is To Die
A reminiscent song of what could have been. It’s obviously got Cliff songwriting in it due to the intro. He loved opening songs with a sort of madrigal acoustic sound. Then the song enters sheer brutality either by major thrash or mega heavy groove. This case it’s the latter. The mainly instrumental track is basically an arrangement of groove heavy riffs and rhythms. Until the acoustic moments that enter at minute five. It’s actually a peak of where Metallica would go in terms of their ballads as the 90’s approached. It’s peak Metallica melody before going back to the chugging mega-groove. If you like low and slow, this is the one for you. Loved that it was requested and played for the first time in it’s entirety on the previous tour before ‘Hardwired’.
Dyers Eve
Oh hell yeah! What a way to close an album. This may be the thrashiest song Metallica ever did. There are contenders: Whiplash, Battery, Damaged Inc., Fight Fire With Fire and Blackened. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard Lars’ double pedal so clean a fast as it is on this track. It’s a true workout. It follows the same formula that many of their other thrashy pieces do. Crazy heavy, fast intro that leads into the verse. Than they abacab it, almost. There’s this insanely bad ass riff after the solo that just make you want to break shit. Classic, epic Metallica.
So there they are. The deep cuts of Metallica’s ‘…And Justice For All.’ The cool thing about the album of course, is that the staples on it are just as good. Making it one hell of metal album, any way you slice it. Sometimes albums are majorly successful for a reason. And ‘…And Justice For All’ is a prime example of an album that deserves it’s success. What are some of your favorite tracks on the album?
Hey. I just found your site when reading about Metallica. It’s so rare to find a gem like this post about an album that 99.99999. % of the people I know have never heard of. After having re-found this album many many years after I first owned it, I can truly appreciate how Metallica’s older music was so high quality. In 1988 I never imagined that I would listen to these songs 30 years later and get joy from the experience. I’m a true old Metallica fan and what’s cool is that now I listen to the songs but they don’t sound old or boring after having heard them over a thousand times. I think it also helps that the rhythms were so complex yet they find a type of groove that is unique. Technical precision marries thrash and has a groovy baby. What’s also interesting is that there are certain Metallica songs that I adore like the Frayed Ends of Sanity and others that I could never stand like Dyer’s Eve. What is special about music is that even within a genre and favorite band, each song, each riff, each drum beat, means different things to different people. Keep metal alive through your posts. Goat horns.