When you ask a typical Metallica fan what their best album is, chances are their response will be either Master of Puppets (i.e., the correct answer) or The Black Album (i.e., the wrong answer).
Granted, Metallica has their fair share of classic/great albums, but broadly speaking, those records above tend to be their most popular (with apologies to Ride the Lightning). But occasionally, you’ll come across a fan who claims And Justice for All is their best album, in which case you have encountered someone who appreciates the more challenging/progressive aspects of Metallica’s sound. And that album truly finds the band at the height of their powers on that front, featuring elaborate heavy-metal compositions that really pushed the boundaries of their patented thrash sound as far as it could go. It’s an impressive listening experience (nearly inaudible bass notwithstanding), not just due to all the technical excellence on display, but also because of the striking lyrical content/themes related to political and legal injustice and all the disillusionment accompanying it. James Hetfield’s reputation as an iconic vocalist/guitarist is well-established. Still, the dude is also a compelling lyricist, as evidenced by the stinging topical commentary on And Justice for All. Suffice it to say it’s a rather timely album to dust off these days, so here’s a classic performance of the markedly complex title track to help add to your Election Day-eve angst:
