...And Justice for All (album)

December 2025 ...And Justice for All studio Metallica Metallica - ...And Justice for All cover.jpg A painting of a crumbling statue of Justice as a woman, wearing a blindfold with a sword in her hand and scales in her other hand. Ropes are tied to the statue, with paper money falling off the scales. 1988 9 7release date January 30 – May 23, 1988 One on One (Los Angeles) * Thrash metal progressive metal technical thrash metal 65:24 Elektra James Hetfield Flemming Rasmussen Lars Ulrich The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited 1987 Metallica 1991 ...And Justice for All studio Harvester of Sorrow August 28, 1988 Eye of the Beholder October 30, 1988 One January 10, 1989 ...And Justice for All is the fourth studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on September 7, 1988,release date by Elektra Records. It was Metallica's first full-length studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted following the death of Cliff Burton in 1986. Burton received posthumous co-writing credit on "To Live Is to Die". Metallica recorded the album with producer Flemming Rasmussen over four months in early 1988 at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles. It features aggressive complexity, fast tempos, and few verse-chorus structures. The lyrics cover themes of political and legal injustices, government corruption, censorship, and war. The cover depicts Lady Justice bound in ropes with dollar bills from her scales. The album title is derived from the last four words of the American Pledge of Allegiance. To further promote ...And Justice for All, the band embarked on the Damaged Justice tour, and released three singles. "Harvester of Sorrow" reached the top 20 in the UK singles chart, and "One"—and the band's first music video—garnered significant airplay. The album topped the charts in Finland and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada and Germany. In the United States, the album reached number six on the Billboard 200 and was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2003. ...And Justice for All was acclaimed for its depth and complexity, although its dry mix and nearly inaudible bass guitar were criticized. It was included in The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll of the year's best albums, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989, controversially losing out to Jethro Tull in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental category. Retrospective reviews rank it among Metallica's best works. It was remastered and reissued as an expanded box set in 2018. Background ...And Justice for All is the first Metallica album to feature bassist Jason Newsted after the death of Cliff Burton in 1986; Newsted had previously played on the 1987 Metallica EP The $5.98 E.P. – Garage Days Re-Revisited.Bennett J. Metallica – ...And Justice for All http://www.decibelmagazine.com/hall-of-fame/metallica/ Decibel dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130226012329/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/hall-of-fame/metallica/ February 26, 2013 June 9, 2013 Metallica had intended to record the album earlier, but was sidetracked by the large number of festival dates scheduled for the summer of 1987, including the European leg of the Monsters of Rock festival. Another reason was frontman James Hetfield's arm injury in a skateboarding accident.Wall 2010 10, 296 Metallica's previous studio album, Master of Puppets (1986), was their last under their contract with the record label Music for Nations. Manager Peter Mensch wanted them to sign with British record distributor Phonogram Records. Phonogram manager Martin Hooker offered them "well over £1 million, which at that time was the biggest deal we'd ever offered anyone". He explained that the final figure for combined British and European sales of all three Metallica albums was more than 1.5 million copies.Wall 2010 10, 296 Recording upright=0.8|thumb|alt=A middle-aged man wearing a black T-shirt holding a bass guitar and singing into a microphone|...And Justice for All was Metallica's first studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted (pictured in 2013). His bass parts are noticeably inaudible in the mixes. ...And Justice for All was recorded from January 30 to May 23, 1988 at One on One Recording Studios in Los Angeles.Beth Nussbaum January 1989 Lars Ulrich does Metallica justice http://archive.org/details/metal-mania-jan.-1989 Metal Mania October 28, 202533 Metallica produced it with Flemming Rasmussen. Rasmussen was initially unavailable for the planned start in late January 1988,Borivoj Krgin August 1988 Metallica: All for One https://www.yumpu.com/xx/document/read/63624962/metal-forces-30-1988 Metal Forces 30 42 0959-6461 October 28, 2025 so the band hired Mike Clink, who had caught their attention for producing the debut Guns N' Roses album Appetite for Destruction (1987). However, the sessions did not go well. Clink felt that he and the band were not comfortable working together, with Clink having less influence than he liked: "As much as I believe they wanted me to put my magic on the tracks, I think that they were used to doing things on their own and doing it their own way."Kennelty Greg September 9, 2020 Original ...And Justice for All Producer Explains Why He Didn't Work With Metallica https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/original-and-justice-for-all-producer-explains-why-he-didnt-work-with-metallica Metal Injection en-US https://web.archive.org/web/20251007132658/https://metalinjection.net/news/drama/original-and-justice-for-all-producer-explains-why-he-didnt-work-with-metallica October 7, 2025 live October 7, 2025 Despite this, the sessions with Clink were not completely wasted; rather, the band spent time warming up and fine-tuning sounds in the studio ahead of Rasmussen's arrival to start the record properly.Buskin Richard May 2011 https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-metallica-one Classic Tracks: Metallica's 'One' Sound on Sound 61313197 https://web.archive.org/web/20230316134238/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-metallica-one March 16, 2023 live January 18, 2013 Two cover songs were recorded—Budgie's "Breadfan" and Diamond Head's "The Prince"—for use as B-sides, as well as drum tracks for "The Shortest Straw" and "Harvester of Sorrow" which were kept.Trepieddi Sal November 28, 1988 Metallica: Platinum Metal Masters https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Music-Connection/80/1988-Vol-12/Music-Connection-1988-11-28.pdf Music Connection 12 24 14–15 1091-9791 https://web.archive.org/web/20240311092741/https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Music-Connection/80/1988-Vol-12/Music-Connection-1988-11-28.pdf March 11, 2024 live September 17, 2026 Rasmussen took over from Clink and joined the recording process six weeks in, in March. His first task was to adjust the guitar sound, with which the band was dissatisfied. Each song started with a click track and Hetfield's guide guitar part, mapping the song structure and tempo changes. From there, the band would record each instrument separately – Ulrich's drums, followed by Hetfield's final rhythm guitar parts, Newsted's bass parts and then vocals and Hammett's lead guitars in the final stages.A classic Metallica interview https://thequietus.com/interviews/rocks-backpages/metallica-from-rocks-back-pages/ June 9, 2008 The Quietus en-GB https://web.archive.org/web/20240515182807/https://thequietus.com/interviews/rocks-backpages/metallica-from-rocks-back-pages/ May 15, 2024 live October 7, 2025 Hetfield wrote lyrics during the recording sessions; these were occasionally unfinished as recording began, and Rasmussen said that Hetfield "wasn't really interested in singing" but instead "wanted that hard vibe". Metallica's recording process was new to Newsted, who questioned his impact on the overall sound and the lack of discussion with the rest of the team. He recorded his parts separately, with only the assistant engineer present.Jeff Giles May 1, 2013 Jason Newsted on Inaudible ...And Justice for All Bass Tracks: 'Water Under the Bridge' http://ultimateclassicrock.com/jason-newsted-on-inaudible-and-justice-for-all-bass-tracks-water-under-the-bridge/ Ultimate Classic Rock https://web.archive.org/web/20210126083958/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/jason-newsted-on-inaudible-and-justice-for-all-bass-tracks-water-under-the-bridge/ January 26, 2021 live June 11, 2013 The experience differed from his previous band, Flotsam and Jetsam, whose style he described as "basically everybody playing the same thing like a sonic wall". Mixing ...And Justice for All is noted for its "dry, sterile" production. Rasmussen said that was not his intention, as he tried for an ambient sound similar to the previous two albums. He was not present during the album's mixing, for which Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero had been hired beforehand. Rasmussen observed that, in his absence from the mixing process, Thompson and Barbiero used only the close microphones on drums for the mix and none of the room microphones, causing the "clicking", thin drum sound. The bass guitar is nearly inaudible, while the guitars sound "strangled mechanistic".Popoff 2004 chap. 19 He saw the "synthetic" percussion as another reason for the compressed sound.Popoff 2002 183Kennelty Greg February 23, 2018 Metallica's ...And Justice for All Engineer Says Band Won't Remix Album for Reissue https://metalinjection.net/news/bummer-alert/metallicas-and-justice-for-all-engineer-says-band-wont-remix-album-for-reissue Metal Injection en-US https://web.archive.org/web/20250812195947/https://metalinjection.net/news/bummer-alert/metallicas-and-justice-for-all-engineer-says-band-wont-remix-album-for-reissue August 12, 2025 live September 17, 2026 At Hetfield and Ulrich's instruction, Newsted's bass guitar was made almost inaudible.jomatami March 21, 2015 Metallica's Mixer: 'Lars Actually Asked Me What Happened to Bass in Justice, I Wanted to Cold Cock Him Right There' https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallicas_mixer_lars_actually_asked_me_what_happened_to_bass_in_justice_i_wanted_to_cold_cock_him_right_there.html Ultimate Guitar en https://web.archive.org/web/20150322231540/https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/metallicas_mixer_lars_actually_asked_me_what_happened_to_bass_in_justice_i_wanted_to_cold_cock_him_right_there.html March 22, 2015 live August 19, 2025 According to Rasmussen, "After Lars and James heard their initial mixes the first thing they said was, 'Take the bass down so you can just hear it, and then once you've done that, take it down a further three dBs.' I have no idea why they wanted that, but it was totally out of my hands." In 2009, Hetfield said that the bass was obscured as the basslines often doubled his rhythm guitar, making the instruments indiscernible, and because his "scooped" guitar sound took a lot of low-end frequencies.Bienstock Richard July 3, 2009 December 2008 Metallica: Talkin' Thrash http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica-talkin-thrash?page=0,6 dead Guitar World https://web.archive.org/web/20131012091204/http://www.guitarworld.com/metallica-talkin-thrash?page=0,6 1–9 October 12, 2013 June 14, 2013 As per Newsted, the bass sound achieved had little low end to begin with,Karl Coryat April 24, 2023 With no disrespect to Cliff Burton, I think my picking brought a new tightness to Metallica. Cliff's sound wasn't very defined': An interview with Jason Newsted on the release of The Black Album https://www.guitarworld.com/features/jason-newsted-metallica-black-album-interview-1991 August 19, 2025 Guitar World en with Hammett adding that it interfered with Hetfield's guitar sound when blended, so they turned the bass down.Was Jason Newsted's Bass on Justice For All Intentionally Turned Down? https://blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-was-jason-newsted-s-bass-on-justice-for-all-intentionally-turned-down Blabbermouth.net November 3, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20251016001029/https://blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-was-jason-newsted-s-bass-on-justice-for-all-intentionally-turned-down October 16, 2025 live August 19, 2025 Newsted was not satisfied with the final mix and was unhappy that the bass was inaudible. Thompson was also unhappy, and blamed Ulrich for the decision; he tried to quit the project, but was blocked by management. Rasmussen said in 2018, "I'm probably one of the only people in the world, including Jason and Toby Wright, the assistant engineer, who heard the bass tracks on ...And Justice for All, and they are fucking brilliant."Grow Kory August 25, 2018 Metallica's ...And Justice For All: What Happened to the Bass? https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/metallicas-and-justice-for-all-album-what-happened-to-bass-715079/ limited Rolling Stone https://web.archive.org/web/20251013020304/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/metallicas-and-justice-for-all-album-what-happened-to-bass-715079/ October 13, 2025 live December 20, 2025 In 2019, Hetfield and Ulrich said they had mixed the bass low not to belittle Newsted, but because their hearing was "shot" following heavy touring and so they "basically kept turning everything else up until the bass disappeared".James Hetfield Explains Why Metallica's ...And Justice For All Has No Bass https://www.kerrang.com/james-hetfield-explains-why-metallicas-and-justice-for-all-has-no-bass Kerrang! August 12, 2019 January 22, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220122053028/https://www.kerrang.com/james-hetfield-explains-why-metallicas-and-justice-for-all-has-no-bass live September 18, 2019 Newsted said they did not fully understand at the time how frequencies worked in the mix. Fans have remixed the album using audio equalization or by adding their own bass parts, such as the ...And Justice for Jason project uploaded to YouTube.This is what ...And Justice For All would have sounded like with bass https://www.loudersound.com/news/metallica-and-justice-for-all-with-bass Metal Hammer December 20, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250713052001/https://www.loudersound.com/news/metallica-and-justice-for-all-with-bass July 13, 2025 September 20, 2022 live Rolling Stone Kory Grow noted how the bass parts were separated in the mix for the video game Guitar Hero: Metallica, which Grow believed some fans used for their own remixes. In 2013, Newsted received a remix of the album with the bass parts intact from a fan; while showing appreciation for the effort, he believed the right version of the album was released. In 2026, he said that the album should never be officially remixed.Jason Newsted Doesn't Believe Metallica's Justice Album Should Ever Be Officially Remixed: 'I Don't Think You Should Go Back and Mess With Things Like That' https://blabbermouth.net/news/jason-newsted-doesnt-believe-metallicas-justice-album-should-ever-be-officially-remixed-i-dont-think-that-you-should-go-back-and-mess-with-things-like-that Blabbermouth.net May 14, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260514205309/https://blabbermouth.net/news/jason-newsted-doesnt-believe-metallicas-justice-album-should-ever-be-officially-remixed-i-dont-think-that-you-should-go-back-and-mess-with-things-like-that May 14, 2026 live May 15, 2026 Composition Music 27% right We took the Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets concept as far as we could take it. There was no place else to go with the progressive, nutty, sideways side of Metallica, and I'm so proud of the fact that, in some way, that album is kind of the epitome of that progressive side of us up through the '80s. —Lars Ulrich, on the band's direction for the album 27% right This is completely sublimated rock, on a quest for a purity of form, light years beyond raunch or blues rock. Metallica turn heavy metal's melodrama into algebra. This isn't thrash, but thresh: mechanized mayhem. There's no blur, no mess, not even at peak velocity, but a rigorous grid of incisions and contusions. —Simon Reynolds, on the album's music A thrash metal and progressive metal record,Reyes-Kulkarni Saby November 2, 2018 Metallica Pulls Out (Almost) All the Stops With Deluxe '...And Justice for All' Reissue https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/metallica-and-justice-for-all-reissue-review-8483032/ September 4, 2026 BillboardHart Ron September 13, 2018 Metallica's '...And Justice for All' at 30: Metal Bands Reflect on the Album's Towering Legacy https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/metallica-and-justice-for-all-album-8474809/ September 4, 2026 Billboard ...And Justice for All is a musically progressive album featuring long and complex songs,Edmondson 2013 708 fast tempos and few verse-chorus structures. Metallica decided to broaden its sonic range, writing songs with multiple sections, heavy guitar arpeggios and unusual time signatures.Gulla 2009 104 Hetfield explained: "Songwriting-wise, [the album] was just us really showing off and trying to show what we could do. 'We've jammed six riffs into one song? Let's make it eight. Let's go crazy with it.2008 Metallica Look Back At ...And Justice For All MTV News http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592409/metallica-look-back-at-justice-all-metal-file.jhtml June 9, 2013 December 3, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131203135057/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1592409/metallica-look-back-at-justice-all-metal-file.jhtml dead Critic Simon Reynolds noted the riff changes and experimentation with timing on the album's intricately constructed songs: "The tempo shifts, gear changes, lapses, decelerations and abrupt halts". BBC Music's Eamonn Stack wrote that ...And Justice for All sounds different from the band's previous albums, with longer songs, sparser arrangements, and harsher vocals by Hetfield.Stack Eamonn April 18, 2007 https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/5f54/ BBC Review BBC Music, BBC News June 9, 2013 November 14, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111114054005/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/5f54 live According to journalist Martin Popoff, the album is less melodic than its predecessors because of its frequent tempo changes, unusual song structures and layered guitars. He argued that the album is more of a progressive metal record because of its intricately performed music and bleak sound.Popoff 2013 81 Music writer Joel McIver called the album's music aggressive enough for Metallica to maintain its place with bands "at the mellower end of extreme metal".McIver 2004 chap. 16 According to writer Christopher Knowles, Metallica took "the thrash concept to its logical conclusion" on the album.Knowles 2010 163 Loudwire stated that the album represents a release in the technical thrash metal subgenre.Rolli Bryan January 21, 2026 The 5 Best Technical Thrash Albums (Ranked) https://loudwire.com/best-technical-thrash-albums/ September 4, 2026 Loudwire https://web.archive.org/web/20260123132502/https://loudwire.com/best-technical-thrash-albums/ January 23, 2026 live Decades later, though, Justice remains a rightful totem of technical thrash. Lyrics Metallica - And Justice for All.ogg "...And Justice for All" The title track is based on an aggressive riff and a drum pattern by Ulrich.McIver 2004 chap. 16 Metallica - One.ogg "One" "One" was inspired by the novel Johnny Got His Gun and the movie of the same name. It begins with overdubbed guitars, which eventually convert to powerful riffing....And Justice for All by Metallica http://www.classicrockreview.com/2013/07/1988-metallica-justice/ Classic Rock July 10, 2013 January 6, 2014 January 6, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140106231649/http://www.classicrockreview.com/2013/07/1988-metallica-justice/ live The album title was revealed in April 1988: ...And Justice for All, after the final words of the Pledge of Allegiance.Dome Wall 2011 chap. 8 The lyrics address political and legal injustice as seen through the prism of war (including nuclear war) and censored speech.Popoff 2013 81 The majority of the songs raise issues that differ from the violent retaliation of the previous releases.Irwin 2007 63 Tom King writes that for the first time the lyrics dealt with political and environmental issues. He named contemporaries Nuclear Assault as the only other band who applied ecological lyrics to thrash metal songs rather than singing about Satan and Egyptian plagues.King 2011 chap. 25 McIver noted that Hetfield, the band's main lyricist, wrote about topics that he had not addressed before, such as his revolt against the establishment.McIver 2004 chap. 16 Ulrich described the songwriting process as their "CNN years", with him and Hetfield watching the channel in search for song subjects—"I'd read about the blacklisting thing, we'd get a title, 'The Shortest Straw,' and a song would come out of that."David Fricke David Fricke Metallica: From Metal to Main Street https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-from-metal-to-main-street-99742/ Rolling Stone November 14, 1991 November 13, 2018 November 14, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181114060642/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-from-metal-to-main-street-99742/ live limited Concerns about the state of the environment ("Blackened"), corruption ("...And Justice for All"), and blacklisting and discrimination ("The Shortest Straw") are emphasized with traditional existential themes.Irwin 2007 63 Issues such as freedom of speech and civil liberties ("Eye of the Beholder") are presented from a grim and pessimistic point of view.Brannigan Winwood 2013 chap. 8 "One" was unofficially nicknamed an "antiwar anthem" for its lyrics, which portray the suffering of a wounded soldier.Ray Michael Disco, Punk, New Wave, Heavy Metal, and More: Music in the 1970s and 1980s 2013 Britannica Educational Publishing New York 53 "Dyers Eve" is a lyrical rant from Hetfield to his parents.McIver 2004 chap. 16 Burton received co-writing credit on "To Live Is to Die" as the bass line is a medley of unused recordings Burton had performed before his death. Because the original recordings are not used on the track, the composition is credited as written by Burton and played by Newsted.McIver 2016 226–227 The spoken word section of the song was erroneously attributed in its entirety to Burton in the liner notes. The first line was actually from the film Excalibur ("When a man lies, he murders some part of the world.")Irwin 2007 23 while the second line comes from Lord Foul's Bane, a fantasy novel by American writer Stephen R. Donaldson ("These are the pale deaths which men miscall their lives.").Donaldson 1977Barkley 2009 47 The second half of the speech ("All this I cannot bear to witness any longer. Cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home?") was written by Burton.McIver 2009 227 Release and artwork thumb|upright=0.8|alt=A sculpture of Lady Justice holding a sword and scales.|The cover artwork depicts Lady Justice. It was designed by Stephen Gorman, who used the pictured sculpture in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as a model. ...And Justice for All was released on September 7, 1988,release date The Recording Industry Association of America lists the release date as August 25, 1988,https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=and+justice+for+all#search_section American album certifications – Metallica – And Justice for All Recording Industry Association of America July 28, 2013 May 15, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200515135606/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=and+justice+for+all#search_section live as does Metallica's official SoundCloud page and the streaming services Spotify and Apple Music.Armstrong Chuck When Was Metallica's ...And Justice For All Actually Released? https://ultimatemetallica.com/metallica-and-justice-for-all-release-date/ Ultimate Metallica December 20, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250621133920/https://ultimatemetallica.com/metallica-and-justice-for-all-release-date/ June 21, 2025 August 25, 2022 live According to Benoît Clerc, the album was released on September 5 in the UK by Phonogram/Vertigo Records and the following day in the US by Elektra/Asylum Records;Clerc 2023 119 author Mick Wall lists the date as September 5,Wall 2010 309 and Guitar World lists September 6. Metallica's website lists the date as September 7.Metallica Discography: ...And Justice For All https://www.metallica.com/releases/albums/and-justice-for-all-album.html Metallica.com en https://web.archive.org/web/20260501113012/https://www.metallica.com/releases/albums/and-justice-for-all-album.html May 1, 2026 live September 5, 2025 by Elektra Records in the US and Vertigo Records in the UK.Clerc 2023 119 The album was supported by three singles. "Harvester of Sorrow" was released as the first single in Europe onlyHadland 1998 74 on August 28, 1988,http://www.metallica.com/releases/harvester-of-sorrow.asp 'Harvester of Sorrow' release date Metallica.com August 15, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110820140413/http://www.metallica.com/releases/harvester-of-sorrow.asp August 20, 2011 with the cover songs "Breadfan" and "The Prince" as the B-sides.Hadland 1998 74 It reached number 20 on the UK singles chart.Clerc 2023 150 "Eye of the Beholder" was released as the second single in the US onlyHadland 1998 76 on October 30,http://www.metallica.com/releases/eye-of-the-beholder.asp 'Eye of the Beholder' release date Metallica.com August 15, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130117113854/http://www.metallica.com/releases/eye-of-the-beholder.asp January 17, 2013 with "Breadfan" as the B-side.Clerc 2023 144 The title track was released in edited form as a promotional single in 1988,Hadland 1998 72–73 but failed to chart.Bower Chad Metallica, ...And Justice for All – Album Overview https://ultimatemetallica.com/metallica-and-justice-for-all/ Ultimate Metallica December 20, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250910092133/https://ultimatemetallica.com/metallica-and-justice-for-all/ September 10, 2025 September 7, 1988 live "One" appeared as the third single on January 10, 1989.http://www.metallica.com/releases/one.asp One release date Metallica.com August 15, 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110805094328/http://www.metallica.com/releases/one.asp August 5, 2011 The US single had "The Prince" as the B-side, while the UK single replaced that with a live version of "Seek & Destroy" (1983), recorded in Dallas, Texas, on February 9, 1989.Clerc 2023 146–147Hadland 1998 79 After years of refusing to release music videos, Metallica released its first for "One".Metallica – "One" https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-greatest-videos-of-the-1980s-20131030/8-metallica-one-0777523 Rolling Stone October 28, 2013 January 5, 2013 November 1, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131101194508/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-the-10-greatest-videos-of-the-1980s-20131030/8-metallica-one-0777523 live The video features the band performing the song live in a hangar in Long Beach, California, scenes directed by Bill Pope, interspersed with footage from Dalton Trumbo's 1971 film Johnny Got His Gun. Metallica acquired the rights to the film, after which Michael Salomon edited the footage together.Clerc 2023 146–147 The video was controversial among fans, who had valued the band's apparent opposition to MTV and other forms of mainstream music. Slant Magazine ranked it number 48 on their list of the "100 Greatest Music Videos", saying that Metallica "evoke a revolution of the soul far more devastating than that presented in the original text".Cinquemani Sal 100 Greatest Music Videos (No. 50 to No. 40) Slant Magazine June 30, 2003 The album's artwork depicts a cracked statue of a blindfolded Lady Justice, bound by ropes with her breasts exposed and her scales overflowing with dollar bills, with the title in graffiti style. It was created by Stephen Gorman, based on a concept developed by Hetfield and Ulrich. Gorman used the Fountain of Justice in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, as a model. The image became representative of the album's themes.Clerc 2023 142 Ulrich stated: "It's about our court system in the US where it seems like no one is even concerned with finding out the truth any more. It's becoming more and more like the one lawyer versus another-type situation, where the best lawyer can alter justice in any way he wants."Clerc 2023 142 Critical reception AllMusic 4.5 5Huey Steve Metallica: ...And Justice for All http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-justice-for-all-mw0000196917 AllMusic July 13, 2013 October 25, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151025165631/http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-justice-for-all-mw0000196917 live Chicago Tribune 2.5 4Kot Greg Greg Kot December 1, 1991 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-12-01/entertainment/9104180330_1_star-cliff-burton-classic-status A Guide to Metallica's Recordings Chicago Tribune July 28, 2013 September 27, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130927224542/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1991-12-01/entertainment/9104180330_1_star-cliff-burton-classic-status live The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 3 5Larkin 2006 725 Metal Forces 10/10Krgin Borivoj Metallica – ...And Justice For All http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/album-review-metallica-and-justice-for-all/ Metal Forces Rockzone Publications Ltd 1988 31 August 9, 2013 August 27, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210827003653/http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/album-review-metallica-and-justice-for-all/ live Q 4 5Review: ...And Justice for All Q Bauer Media Group London Summer 2001 127 http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7767058&style=music&fulldesc=T April 29, 2013 February 24, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210224202303/http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7767058&style=music&fulldesc=T live Rock Hard 9.5/10Stratmann Holger de ...And Justice For All http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/6193-and-justice-for-all.html Rock Hard Holger Stratmann February 1, 2014 February 21, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140221024043/http://www.rockhard.de/megazine/reviewarchiv/review-anzeigen/6193-and-justice-for-all.html live Rolling Stone 4 5Michael Azerrad Michael Azerrad https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/and-justice-for-all-19881103 And Justice for All Rolling Stone November 3, 1988 August 15, 2011 April 6, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220406065625/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/and-justice-for-all-249897/ live The Rolling Stone Album Guide 4.5 5Brackett Hoard 2004 538 The Village Voice C+Christgau Robert Robert Christgau March 14, 1989 http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv289-89.php Christgau's Consumer Guide The Village Voice New York April 29, 2013 March 17, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150317154905/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv289-89.php live ...And Justice for All was acclaimed by music critics.Tim Louie http://www.theaquarian.com/2013/05/22/interview-with-newsted-returning-with-his-own-metal/ Interview with Newsted: Returning With His Own "Metal" The Aquarian Weekly May 22, 2013 June 9, 2013 October 12, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131012133504/http://www.theaquarian.com/2013/05/22/interview-with-newsted-returning-with-his-own-metal/ live In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone, Michael Azerrad said that Metallica's compositions are impressive and called the album's music "a marvel of precisely channeled aggression". Spin magazine's Sharon Liveten called it a "gem of a double record" and found the music both edgy and technically proficient.Liveten Sharon 97 https://books.google.com/books?id=4ffg2qNLJucC&pg=PA97 Spins Spin Spin Media New York 4 8 May 9, 2013 November 1988 Tom Moon praised the album in The Philadelphia Inquirer, writing that Metallica has "redefined its genre, creating music that is as consistently tense and arresting as the topics the sometimes convoluted lyrics address".Moon Tom Metallica: ..And Justice for All Review https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-album-reviews/187170981/ The Philadelphia Inquirer October 2, 1988 52 December 20, 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Simon Reynolds, writing in Melody Maker, said that "other bands would give their eye teeth" for the songs' riffs and found the album's densely complicated style of metal to be distinct from the monotonous sound of contemporary rock music: "Everything depends on utter punctuality and supreme surgical finesse. It's probably the most incisive music I've ever heard, in the literal sense of the word."...And Justice for All Melody Maker Reynolds Simon Simon Reynolds 36 64 37 September 10, 1988 https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/metallica-and-justice-for-all-phonogram Rock's Backpages December 20, 2025 subscription Neil Perry of Sounds magazine said the album was Metallica at "their most confident",Perry Neil Metallica: ...And Justice For All (Vertigo VERH 61/CD) https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/metallica-iand-justice-for-alli-vertigo-verh-61cd Sounds December 24, 1988 December 20, 2025 Rock's Backpages subscription while The Morning Call Len Righi called the album "a mind-boggling musical display that runs the gamut from thrashing power chords to classical melodies, plus salient lyrics to balance the scales."Righi Len Records https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-call-record-reviews-123019/187169736/ The Morning Call December 30, 1988 45 December 20, 2025 Newspapers.com subscription Billboard magazine predicted the album would satisfy fans and lack radio appeal with its "grim themes, curveball writing style, and general ferocity of playing".Album Reviews Billboard September 10, 1988 https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1988/BB-1988-09-10.pdf 64 December 20, 2025 worldradiohistory.com Borivoj Krgin of Metal Forces said that it was the most ideal album he has heard because of typically exceptional production and musicianship that is more impressive than that of Master of Puppets. In a less enthusiastic review for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau believed that the band's compositions lack song form and that the album "goes on longer" than Master of Puppets. Retrospective reviews The album's reception has remained positive in the decades following its release, with many describing it as one of Metallica's best.Attributed to multiple references: In a retrospective review, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune and said that ...And Justice for All was both the band's "most ambitious" and ultimately "flattest-sounding" album. AllMusic's Steve Huey noted that Metallica followed the blueprint of the previous two albums, with more sophisticated songs and "apocalyptic" lyrics that envisioned a society in decay. Consequence Robert Ham said that, despite its inaudible bass guitar, ...And Justice for All remains a "triumph", praising its complexity and the band members' performances.Ham Robert Metallica Rose From Tragedy to Deliver ...And Justice For All https://consequence.net/2019/09/metallica-and-justice-for-all-album-anniversary/ Consequence December 20, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20230202083249/https://consequence.net/2019/09/metallica-and-justice-for-all-album-anniversary/ February 2, 2023 September 7, 2019 live Pitchfork Sean T. Collins argued ...And Justice For All is Metallica's best album, praising the songwriting as Hetfield and Ulrich's "most complex and vicious". Author Benoît Clerc called the album a "monument of metal music", praising its "long, complex songs" and said it marked the end of an era for Metallica.Clerc 2023 127 Critics and fans primarily criticize the album's production and inaudible bass guitar.Attributed to multiple references:Moore Doug http://www.stereogum.com/1511282/metallica-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/ Metallica Albums From Worst to Best October 14, 2013 Stereogum August 23, 2015 October 23, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191023000707/https://www.stereogum.com/1511282/metallica-albums-from-worst-to-best/franchises/counting-down/ liveBowar Chad Metallica Albums Ranked https://loudwire.com/metallica-albums-ranked/ Loudwire May 23, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250501201355/https://loudwire.com/metallica-albums-ranked/#google_vignette May 1, 2025 August 4, 2023 liveAlderslade Merlin Every Metallica album ranked from worst to best https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallicas-albums-ranked-worst-to-best Metal Hammer May 23, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250404125710/https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallicas-albums-ranked-worst-to-best April 4, 2025 March 15, 2024 liveShipley Al Every Metallica Album, Ranked https://www.spin.com/2023/04/every-metallica-album-ranked/ Spin May 23, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250505214208/https://www.spin.com/2023/04/every-metallica-album-ranked/ May 5, 2025 April 14, 2023 live Ultimate Classic Rock wrote: "Just about any other metal band would be proud to call this album their signature work. But the thin production remains a big sticking point."Metallica Albums Ranked Worst to Best https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-albums-ranked-worst-best/ Ultimate Classic Rock May 23, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250513123933/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-albums-ranked-worst-best/ May 13, 2025 April 18, 2023 live In a more mixed assessment, music journalist Mick Wall was critical of the progressive elements and believed that, apart from "One" and "Dyers Eve", most of the album sounded clumsy.Wall 2010 10, 296 Colin Larkin, writing in The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (2006), noted that, apart from the praiseworthy "One", the album diminished the band's creativity by concentrating the songs with too many riffs.Larkin 2006 725 Conversely, Ulrich said the album's reception has improved over time and is well-liked among their contemporaries. Commercial performance Although Metallica's music was considered unappealing for mainstream radio, ...And Justice for All was highly successful in the US.Klaine Ted Metal Telepathy Mother Jones Foundation For National Progress 16 5 18 https://books.google.com/books?id=8OYDAAAAMBAJ&q=metallica+...And+Justice+for+All+sales&pg=PA18 July 27, 2013 September–October 1991 March 2, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230302144235/https://books.google.com/books?id=8OYDAAAAMBAJ&q=metallica+...And+Justice+for+All+sales&pg=PA18 live It became Metallica's best-selling album upon release,Hart Josh Metallica's ...And Justice For All to Be Made Available on Green Vinyl http://www.guitarworld.com/metallicas-and-justice-all-be-made-available-green-vinyl Guitar World June 14, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130623042000/http://www.guitarworld.com/metallicas-and-justice-all-be-made-available-green-vinyl June 23, 2013 dead peaking at number six on the Billboard 200, where it charted for 83 weeks.metallica Billboard 200 Metallica – Chart history Billboard May 11, 2013 https://www.webcitation.org/6GWtUSMdI?url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/310639/Metallica/chart?f=305&sort=timeon May 11, 2013 dead More than 9,700,000 copies have been sold in the United States since 1991, when Nielsen SoundScan began tracking sales.Young Simon March 9, 2023 Here are the astonishing US sales stats for every Metallica album https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallica-album-sales-us live https://web.archive.org/web/20230311130902/https://www.loudersound.com/features/metallica-album-sales-us March 11, 2023 March 12, 2023 Metal Hammer It was certified platinum nine weeks after it was released in stores, and 1.7 million copies were sold in the US by the end of 1988.Brannigan Winwood 2013 chap. 8 Since its release, the album has scanned more than 8 million copies in the US and, according to MTV's Chris Harris, "helped cement [Metallica's] status as a rock and roll force to be reckoned with". Classic Rock explained that with this album, Metallica received substantial media exposure, becoming a multi-platinum act by 1990.Moses, Michael Kaye, Don What Did You Do In The War, Daddy? Billboard June 5, 1999 111 23 13 https://books.google.com/books?id=tQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=metallica+...And+Justice+for+All+sales&pg=PA84 July 27, 2013 March 2, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230302144157/https://books.google.com/books?id=tQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=metallica+...And+Justice+for+All+sales&pg=PA84 live The group broke through on radio in early 1989 with "One", which was released as the third single from the record.Campbell 2008 320 According to Billboard, the accompanying Damaged Justice tour evolved the band into arena headliners, while significant airplay was garnered by "One" and by the group's first music video. ...And Justice for All achieved similar chart success outside the United States. It topped the charts in Finland, peaked within the top five on the charts in Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and remained on the UK chart for six weeks.http://suomenalbumilistat.blogspot.com/2014/07/syyskuu-1988-september.html Finnish Album Charts fi Timo Pennanen April 21, 2019 April 21, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190421120951/http://suomenalbumilistat.blogspot.com/2014/07/syyskuu-1988-september.html live The album managed to peak in the top ten on the Norwegian and Swiss album charts, as well as in Spain. It was less successful in Mexico and France, where it peaked at number 92 on the former chart, number 130 on the latter. ...And Justice for All received a three times platinum certification from Music Canada for shipping 300,000 copies, a platinum certification from IFPI Finland for having a shipment of little over 50,000 copies, and was certified gold by the de Bundesverband Musikindustrie no (BVMI) for shipments of 250,000 copies.http://www.musikindustrie.de/no_cache/gold_platin_datenbank/#topSearch Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Metallica; 'And Justice for All') Bundesverband Musikindustrie In the Interpret field, insert Metallica November 28, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131202022835/http://www.musikindustrie.de/no_cache/gold_platin_datenbank/ December 2, 2013 It was awarded gold by the British Phonographic Industry in 2013 for shipping 100,000 copies in the UK.http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx British album certifications – Metallica – And Justice for All British Phonographic Industry August 23, 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20140209224203/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx February 9, 2014 ...And Justice for All was surpassed commercially by the band's following album, Metallica (1991).Farr 1994 257 Accolades Rankings In The Village Voices annual Pazz & Jop critics poll, it was voted the 39th best album of 1988, having received 117 points within 12 top-ten votes.The 1988 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres88.php The Village Voice New York February 28, 1989 January 12, 2014 December 24, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161224162931/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/pnj/pjres88.php live The album was ranked at number nine on IGN's "Top 25 Metal Albums".Top 25 Metal Albums https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/20/top-25-metal-albums?page=5 IGN January 20, 2007 June 14, 2013 June 18, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130618042600/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/20/top-25-metal-albums?page=5 live Guitar World lists all of its tracks on "The 100 Greatest Metallica Songs of All Time".Guitar World staff The 100 Greatest Metallica Songs of All Time http://www.guitarworld.com/100-greatest-songs-by-metallica June 13, 2013 Guitar World June 7, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130705174923/http://www.guitarworld.com/100-greatest-songs-by-metallica July 5, 2013 Kerrang! listed the album at number 42 among the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time".Rhodes Al Kerrang! Metallica ...And Justice for All 222 Spotlight Publications Ltd. January 21, 1989 London, UK Martin Popoff ranks it at number 19 in his book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time, the fourth highest ranked Metallica album on the list.Popoff 2004 chap. 19 It is featured in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.Dimery McIver 2005 596 In 2015, Ultimate Classic Rock included the album in its list of the top 100 albums of the 1980s.Gallucci Michael DeRiso Nick Top 100 '80s Rock Albums https://ultimateclassicrock.com/80s-rock-albums/ Ultimate Classic Rock January 20, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20251216223630/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/80s-rock-albums/ December 16, 2025 July 12, 2015 Two years later, it was ranked 21st on Rolling Stone list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".Epstein Dan 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-w486923/pantera-far-beyond-driven-1994-w487081 Rolling Stone Wenner Media LLC June 22, 2017 June 21, 2017 August 10, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170810090739/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-100-greatest-metal-albums-of-all-time-w486923/pantera-far-beyond-driven-1994-w487081 live Grammy controversy The 31st Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 22, 1989, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. ...And Justice for All was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance. The band performed a five-minute version of "One" at the ceremony, marking the first time a heavy metal group had performed at the Grammy Awards.Wall 2010 314https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8k0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6726,3932153&dq Rappers ambivalent about inclusion in Grammys February 19, 1989 2D November 26, 2010 Lawrence Journal-World The World Company Lawrence, Kansas Richard De Atley Hammett recalled the band being "very nervous" playing for the Academy: "We were like diplomats or representatives for this genre of music."Wall 2010 314 Metallica was widely expected to win the award,Maura Johnston Maura Johnston Chris Molanphy January 21, 2014 http://www.spin.com/2014/01/25-most-inexplicable-wins-in-grammy-history/140121-jethro-tull/ 1989: Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Vocal or Instrumental to Jethro Tull, Crest of a Knave Spin February 1, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170218141551/http://www.spin.com/2014/01/25-most-inexplicable-wins-in-grammy-history/140121-jethro-tull/ February 18, 2017 live but controversially lost to Jethro Tull's Crest of a Knave.Rockin' on an Island http://www.tullpress.com/k30sept89.htm Kerrang! 258 Bauer Media Group September 30, 1989 September 5, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20110514210838/http://www.tullpress.com/k30sept89.htm May 14, 2011 dead Jethro Tull's win was controversial, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences was widely criticized for the choice.Stephen Holden Stephen Holden https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/14/arts/the-pop-life-884490.html The Pop Life February 14, 1990 February 5, 2026 The New York Times https://web.archive.org/web/20260104142656/https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/14/arts/the-pop-life-884490.html January 4, 2026 live Metallica added a sticker to subsequent releases of ...And Justice for All, reading: "Grammy Award LOSERS". In 2009, Ulrich said: "I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was disappointed. Human nature is that you'd rather win than lose, but Jethro Tull walking away with it makes a huge mockery of the intentions of the event." In 2007, Entertainment Weekly named Jethro Tull's win one of the 10 biggest upsets in Grammy history.2007 Grammy's 10 Biggest Upsets Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/gallery/grammys-10-biggest-upsets/ February 13, 2007 November 8, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20101108061504/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0%2C%2C20010795%2C00.html live At the following year's ceremony, the Academy separated Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance into two distinct categories: Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Metal Performance. Metallica won the latter award for "One".32nd Annual Grammy Awards https://www.grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards Grammy.com February 6, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260206165940/https://www.grammy.com/awards/32nd-annual-grammy-awards February 6, 2026 live Live performances Damaged Justice thumbnail|right|Metallica onstage during the Damaged Justice Tour, 1989 Metallica supported ...And Justice for All on the Damaged Justice tour, a large-scale arena tour across North America, Europe, and Oceania.Grow Kory Inside The Tour That Made Metallica Megastars https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/metallica-damaged-justice-tour-754946/ Rolling Stone April 20, 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20250114140031/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/metallica-damaged-justice-tour-754946/ January 14, 2025 November 15, 2018 liveWall 2010 315 The tour featured multiple sell-out dates. The stage dressing was also more elaborate than previous tours, featuring a large replica of Lady Justice adorning the ...And Justice for All album cover.Wall 2010 310 The tour turned Metallica into superstars. Guitarist Kirk Hammett noted that the length of the songs was problematic for fans and for the band: "Touring behind it, we realized that the general consensus was that songs were too fucking long [...] I can remember getting offstage one night after playing 'Justice' and one of us saying, 'Fuck, that's the last time we ever play that fucking song! Ulrich later recalled the band "started having a few conversations that maybe we had taken the progressive side of Metallica as far as it could go and we were all yearning for stuff that was little bit simpler and maybe a little more physical". Nevertheless, "One" quickly became a permanent fixture in the band's setlist. When performed live, the opening war sound is extended from seventeen seconds to approximately two minutes. At the song's conclusion, the stage turns pitch-black and fire erupts from around the stage. The live performance is characterized as a "musical and visual highlight" by Rolling Stone journalist Denise Sheppard.Sheppard Denise Metallica Bring 'The Full Arsenal' 3D Show to Vancouver https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallica-brings-the-full-arsenal-3d-show-to-vancouver-20120828 Rolling Stone August 28, 2012 June 10, 2013 September 15, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170915114148/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallica-brings-the-full-arsenal-3d-show-to-vancouver-20120828 live After the tour, the band began writing simpler songs, ultimately leading to the material found on Metallica (1991). Metallica played the title track in the opening show of the Sick of the Studio '07 tour, for the first time since October 1989, and made it a set-fixture for the remainder of that tour. A statue of Lady Justice is commonly placed on the scene, to be torn down as the song approaches its conclusion.Florino Rick Exclusive: James Hetfield of Metallica Reflects on ...And Justice for All http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/exclusive-james-hetfield-of-metallica-reflects-on-and-justice-for-all/10856255 Artistdirect November 7, 2013 January 10, 2014 September 12, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012235/http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/exclusive-james-hetfield-of-metallica-reflects-on-and-justice-for-all/10856255 dead In 2009, "The Shortest Straw" returned to the setlist during the World Magnetic Tour after a 12-year absence, and has been sporadically performed since.Hart Josh Video: Metallica Perform "The Shortest Straw" in Helsinki, Finland http://www.guitarworld.com/video-metallica-perform-shortest-straw-helsinki-finland Guitar World June 18, 2012 June 10, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130621231309/http://www.guitarworld.com/video-metallica-perform-shortest-straw-helsinki-finland June 21, 2013 "Eye of the Beholder" has not been played live since 1989; one such performance appears on Metallica's live extended play Six Feet Down Under.Bosso Joe Metallica to release The Six Feet Down Under EP http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/metallica-to-release-the-six-feet-down-under-ep-276768#null September 9, 2010 MusicRadar June 10, 2013 December 5, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131205024159/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/metallica-to-release-the-six-feet-down-under-ep-276768#null live "Dyers Eve" debuted live in 2004, sixteen years after it was recorded, during the Madly in Anger with the World Tour at The Forum in Inglewood, California.Prato Greg Dyers Eve https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dyers-eve-metallica Rolling Stone June 13, 2012 June 10, 2013 August 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140820044924/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/dyers-eve-metallica live "To Live Is to Die" premiered at the band's 30th-anniversary concert in 2011 at The Fillmore in San Francisco.Fricke David Metallica's Star-Studded 30th Anniversary Residency Includes Rarities, Curve Balls https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/metallicas-star-studded-30th-anniversary-residency-includes-rarities-curve-balls-20111208 Rolling Stone December 8, 2011 June 10, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130227033000/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/metallicas-star-studded-30th-anniversary-residency-includes-rarities-curve-balls-20111208 February 27, 2013 dead "The Frayed Ends of Sanity", the last song on the album to be performed live, debuted live in Helsinki on the Metallica By Request tour in 2014.Grow Kory Metallica Give Fan Favorite 'Frayed Ends' a Live Debut, 26 Years Later https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallica-give-fan-favorite-frayed-ends-a-live-debut-26-years-later-20140529 Rolling Stone May 29, 2014 August 19, 2014 September 4, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140904065349/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/metallica-give-fan-favorite-frayed-ends-a-live-debut-26-years-later-20140529 live 2018 box set 30th Anniversary Edition 93/100https://www.metacritic.com/music/and-justice-for-all-30th-anniversary-expanded-edition/metallica ...And Justice for All [30th Anniversary Expanded Edition] by Metallica Reviews and Tracks Metacritic October 15, 2021 October 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211031200110/https://www.metacritic.com/music/and-justice-for-all-30th-anniversary-expanded-edition/metallica live Classic Rock 4 5Davenport Rich Metallica: ...And Justice For All Deluxe Box Set Review https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-and-justice-for-all-deluxe-box-set-review Classic Rock December 30, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250807040518/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-and-justice-for-all-deluxe-box-set-review August 7, 2025 September 20, 2022 live Mojo 4 5Metallica: ...And Justice For All Deluxe Box Set Review Mojo December 2018 103 Pitchfork 9.3/10Collins Sean T. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/metallica-and-justice-for-all/ Metallica – ...And Justice for All Pitchfork November 3, 2018 April 17, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190417124727/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/metallica-and-justice-for-all/ live Rolling Stone 4.5 5Grow Kory Review: Metallica's Breakthrough LP …And Justice For All Gets A Revealing Deep-Reissue https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-metallicas-breakthrough-lp-and-justice-for-all-gets-a-revealing-deep-reissue-753250/ Rolling Stone December 30, 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20230730014533/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-metallicas-breakthrough-lp-and-justice-for-all-gets-a-revealing-deep-reissue-753250/ July 30, 2023 November 12, 2018 live limited Uncut 4 5Metallica: ...And Justice For All Deluxe Box Set Review Uncut January 2019 37 In 2018, ...And Justice for All was remastered and reissued in a limited edition deluxe box set with an expanded track listing and bonus content. The deluxe edition set includes the original album on vinyl and CD, three LPs with a remixed and remastered version of the concerts performed at the Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, Washington, on August 29 and 30, 1989 (originally included in the box set Live Shit: Binge & Purge), eleven CDs of live tracks, demo recordings, B-sides, rough mixes, and radio edits recorded from 1986 to 1989, and four DVDs of unreleased footage of the band....And Justice for All (Remastered) – Deluxe Box Set https://www.metallica.com/store/and-justice-for-all-remastered-deluxe/REAJFADLX.html Metallica.com Metallica, Blackened Recordings March 27, 2020 December 18, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20191218095125/https://www.metallica.com/store/and-justice-for-all-remastered-deluxe/REAJFADLX.html dead Metallica announce deluxe reissue of ...And Justice For All September 6, 2018 Consequence of Sound January 12, 2019 Spencer Kaufman https://consequence.net/2018/09/metallica-deluxe-reissues-and-justice-for-all/ January 13, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190113182304/https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/09/metallica-deluxe-reissues-and-justice-for-all/ live Hetfield opted not to remix the album, saying: "These records are a product of a certain time in life; they're snapshots of history and they're part of our story ...And Justice for All could use a little more low end and St. Anger could use a little less tin snare drum, but those things are what make those records part of our history."Christopher Scapelliti February 21, 2017 James Hetfield Tells Why He's Against Fixing the Bass on ...And Justice for All https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/james-hetfield-tells-why-hes-against-fixing-bass-and-justice-all September 18, 2019 Guitar World en March 2, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200302033534/https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/james-hetfield-tells-why-hes-against-fixing-bass-and-justice-all live Pitchfork Sean T. Collins defended Hetfield, writing: "By refusing to soften the blow and reshape the record's sonic signature into something more ear-pleasing, this reissue correctly implies that the music stands the test of time as well as the words. It does justice to every nightmare note." The box set received acclaim. Rolling Stone Kory Grow described the remaster as "crisp and forceful", saying that its power lies in "the way the drums and rhythm guitar punches you in the face". Grow cited the "riff tapes" and the writing sessions as some of the box set's highlights. He also noted how the "rough mixes", which contained alternate guitar solos and vocal harmonies, were the closest fans would get to a proper "bass mix" of the album. Classic Rock magazine's Rich Davenport believed that the remasters made the bass "more discernible", adding a "warmth and fullness which enhances the moments" of the nine songs. The reissue reached number 37 and 42 on Billboards Top Album Sales and Top Rock Albums charts, respectively.https://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/tsl/ Metallica Chart History (Top Album Sales) Billboard November 19, 2018 March 2, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230302144234/https://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/tsl/ livehttps://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/rck/ Metallica Chart History (Top Rock Albums) Billboard November 19, 2018 November 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211117145446/https://www.billboard.com/artist/metallica/chart-history/rck/ live Track listing All lyrics written by James Hetfield, except for the spoken word section of "To Live Is to Die", posthumously attributed to Cliff Burton as it was adapted from four lines Burton authored.McIver 2009 227 Side one Blackened Hetfield Lars Ulrich Jason Newsted 6:42 ...And Justice for All Hetfield Ulrich Kirk Hammett 9:46 Side two Eye of the Beholder Hetfield Ulrich Hammett 6:25 One Hetfield Ulrich 7:26 Side three The Shortest Straw Hetfield Ulrich 6:35 Harvester of Sorrow Hetfield Ulrich 5:45 The Frayed Ends of Sanity Hetfield Ulrich Hammett 7:43 Side four To Live Is to Die Hetfield Ulrich Burton 9:49 Dyers Eve Hetfield Ulrich Hammett 5:14 65:25 The bonus tracks on the digital re-release were recorded live at the Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, Washington on August 29 and 30, 1989, and later appeared on the live album Live Shit: Binge & Purge (1993). Personnel Credits adapted from the album's liner notes,...And Justice for All Metallica liner notes 6-02567-69023-8 2 November 2018 Blackened Recordings and Metallica's website. Metallica James Hetfield – composition, lyrics (1–7, 9), vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar (4, 8), second guitar solo (8), production Lars Ulrich – composition, drums, production Kirk Hammett – composition (2, 3, 7, 9), lead guitar Jason Newsted – composition (1), bass guitar Additional musicians Cliff Burton – composition (8), lyrics (8) Production Flemming Rasmussen – production, engineering Toby "Rage" Wright – engineering assistance, additional engineering Mike Clink – drum engineering (5, 6) Steve Thompson – mixing Michael Barbiero – mixing George Cowan – mixing assistance Bob Ludwig – mastering George Marino – 1995 remastering Reuben Cohen – 2018 remastering Chris Bellman – 2018 vinyl lacquering Artwork James Hetfield – cover concept Lars Ulrich – cover concept Stephen Gorman – cover illustration Ross "Tobacco Road" Halfin – photography Pushead – hammer illustration Reiner Design Consultants, Inc. – design, layout Charts Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for ...And Justice for AllChart (1988–2021)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)16Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)12Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)25Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)40Canadian Albums (RPM)RPM Top 100 Albums http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8686&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 RPM October 15, 1988 September 25, 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20151208130819/http://collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.8686&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=sp19smnjn4io5g2nmhli5tdfo5 December 8, 201513Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)9Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)1French Albums (SNEP)130German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-768 Offizielle Deutsche Charts – Offizielle Deutsche Charts offiziellecharts.de November 9, 2018 November 10, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181110003149/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-768 live3Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/top-40-album-dvd-es-valogataslemez-lista/2018/45 Top 40 album-, DVD- és válogatáslemez-lista 2018. 45. hét Mahasz November 15, 2018 November 16, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181116001406/http://zene.slagerlistak.hu/top-40-album-dvd-es-valogataslemez-lista/2018/45 live22Irish Albums (IRMA)http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Metallica Discography Metallica Hung Medien November 22, 2021 October 5, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111005184905/http://www.irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Metallica dead48Italian Albums (FIMI)56Japanese Albums (Oricon)https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/168605/products/880893/1/ メタル・ジャスティス メタリカ ...And Justice For All Metallica Oricon November 22, 2021 November 23, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211123032958/https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/168605/products/880893/1/ live119Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)92New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)36Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)8Poland 7 1328 true November 12, 2020Portuguese Albums (AFP)9Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)Salaverri Fernando Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 1st September 2005 Fundación Autor-SGAE Spain 84-8048-639-28Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)5Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Metallica&titel=%2E%2E%2EAnd+Justice+For+All&cat=a Metallica – ...And Justice for All Hung Medien de June 12, 2013 December 6, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131206001515/http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Metallica&titel=%2E%2E%2EAnd+Justice+For+All&cat=a live7UK Albums (OCC)https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24423/metallica/ Metallica full Official Chart History Official Charts Company November 22, 2019 April 12, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190412140118/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/24423/metallica/ live4UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20181109/112/ Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart on 9/11/2018 – Top 40 Official Charts Company April 20, 20261US Billboard 2006 Year-end charts +1994 year-end chart performance for ...And Justice for AllChart (1994)PositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)https://web.archive.org/web/20151102014251/http://i.imgur.com/3GuDxzg.jpg The ARIA Australian Top 100 Albums 1994 http://i.imgur.com/3GuDxzg.jpg November 2, 2015 May 19, 2022 Australian Record Industry Association Ltd.77 +2002 year-end chart performance for ...And Justice for AllChart (2002)PositionCanadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)https://web.archive.org/web/20040812035533/http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html August 12, 2004 http://www.jamshowbiz.com/JamMusicCharts/2002_metal.html Top 100 Metal Albums of 2002 Jam! March 23, 2022 76 +2020 year-end chart performance for ...And Justice for All Chart (2020) Position Polish Albums (ZPAV)http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=1912 Najpopularniejsze single radiowe i najlepiej sprzedające się płyty 2020 roku Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry pl January 28, 2021 January 31, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210131165041/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=1912 dead 65 +2021 year-end chart performance for ...And Justice for All Chart (2021) Position Polish Albums (ZPAV)http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=2008 sanah podbija sprzedaż fizyczną w Polsce Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry pl February 1, 2022 February 1, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220201145112/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/aktualnosci.php?idaktualnosci=2008 dead 54 Certifications Certifications and sales for ...And Justice for All album Argentina Metallica And Justice Platinum 1991 1991 http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP https://web.archive.org/web/20110706084844/http://www.capif.org.ar/Default.asp?PerDesde_MM=0&PerDesde_AA=0&PerHasta_MM=0&PerHasta_AA=0&interprete=&album=&LanDesde_MM=1&LanDesde_AA=1980&LanHasta_MM=12&LanHasta_AA=2010&Galardon=O&Tipo=1&ACCION2=+Buscar+&ACCION=Buscar&CO=5&CODOP=ESOP July 6, 2011 Discos de oro y platino October 3, 2019 Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas es dead Australia album Platinum 3 1988 2024 March 8, 2024 "ARIA" ...And Justice for All Metallica 1988 album Canada Platinum 3 "canada cert" July 28, 2013 ...And Justice for All Metallica 1988 2025 album Denmark Gold 16264 December 5, 2025 ...And Justice for All Metallica 1988 album Finland Platinum 51,051 "finland cert" Germany Metallica And Justice for All 1988 2019 album Platinum 2 May 25, 2019 Italy Metallica And Justice for All 1988 2024 album Gold 13595 November 18, 2024 New Zealand Metallica Justice for All 1988 album Gold 2010-09-24 newchart November 20, 2024 September 27, 2010 Norway Metallica Justice for All 1988 1994 album Gold October 4, 2019 Poland Metallica ...And Justice for All Platinum album 1988 2021 February 24, 2021 Switzerland Metallica Justice for All 1988 2003 album Platinum October 4, 2019 United Kingdom Metallica And Justice for All 1988 2024 album Platinum 9238-2158-2 March 1, 2024 And Justice for All Metallica 1988 album United States Platinum 8 9,700,000 true Notes References Sources 30em Barkley Christine Stephen R. Donaldson and the Modern Epic Vision 2009 McFarland & Company, Inc. 978-0-7864-4288-1 Paul Brannigan Ian Winwood Birth School Metallica Death 2013 Faber & Faber 978-0-571-29416-9 Campbell Michael Popular Music in America: And The Beat Goes On: And the Beat Goes on 2008 Clark Baxter Boston 978-0-495-50530-3 Clerc Benoît Metallica All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track 2023 Cassell London 978-1-78472-893-9 https://books.google.com/books?id=gzh2zwEACAAJ 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 2005 Robert Dimery Joel McIver 1st Universe Publishing 978-0-7893-1371-3 Dome Malcolm Wall Mick Metallica: The Music and the Mayhem 2011 Omnibus Press 978-0-85712-721-1 Donaldson Stephen R. Lord Foul's Bane 1977 Holt, Rinehart and Winston 0-8050-1272-9 Edmondson Jacqueline 2013 Music in American Life: An Encyclopedia of the Songs, Styles, Stars, and Stories That Shaped Our Culture ABC-CLIO 978-0-313-39348-8 Farr Jory Moguls and Madmen: The Pursuit of Power in Popular Music 1994 Simon & Schuster 0-671-73946-8 https://archive.org/details/mogulsmadmenpurs00farr/page/257 Gulla Bob Bob Gulla Guitar Gods: The 25 Players who Made Rock History 2009 ABC-CLIO 978-0-313-35806-7 Hadland Sem Metallica: Fuel & Fire 1998 Collector's Guide Publishing Burlington, Ontario 978-1-896522-09-8 Brackett Nathan Hoard Christian David The New Rolling Stone Album Guide 2004 Simon and Schuster 0-7432-0169-8 Irwin William William Irwin (philosopher) Metallica and Philosophy: A Crash Course in Brain Surgery 2007 Wiley Pennsylvania 978-1-4051-6348-4 King Tom Metallica – Uncensored On the Record 2011 Coda Books Ltd Great Britain 978-1-908538-55-0 Knowles Christopher Christopher Knowles (comics) The Secret History of Rock 'n' Roll 2010 Cleis Press 978-1-57344-564-1 Larkin Colin Colin Larkin (writer) 2006 The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Oxford University Press 0-19-531373-9 4th 5 McIver Joel Joel McIver Justice For All – The Truth About Metallica 2004 Music Sales Group 0-85712-009-3 McIver Joel To Live Is to Die: The Life and Death of Metallica's Cliff Burton 2009 Jawbone Press 978-1-906002-24-4 McIver Joel To Live Is to Die: The Life and Death of Metallica's Cliff Burton Jawbone Press 2016 978-1911036128 2nd Popoff Martin The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time ECW Press 2002 978-1-55022-530-3 Popoff Martin The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time 2004 ECW Press Toronto, Canada 978-1-55022-600-3 Popoff Martin Martin Popoff Metallica: The Complete Illustrated History 2013 Voyageur Press 978-0-7603-4482-8 Wall Mick Mick Wall Enter Night: A Biography of Metallica 2010 Orion Publishing Group New York 978-1-4091-1296-9 External links album 6571 ...And Justice for All Category:1988 albums Category:Albums produced by Flemming Rasmussen Category:Elektra Records albums Category:Metallica albums Category:Vertigo Records albums Category:Progressive metal albums by American artists