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Where do we put Metallica's fourth album, ...And Justice for All, released in 1988? It sits right on the line between their first three albums, which many fans regard as thrash metal classics, and their fifth album (Metallica or "The Black Album") which many of those same fans agree was when the band sold out. Coming out, as it did, in the heyday of thrash and on the heels of the breakthrough Master of Puppets, most of the metalheads I knew greeted it ecstatically. The opening riff of "Blackened" let you know the band had not slowed down or given in to label pressure in any way, shape or form. The album is full of riffs that were tighter and heavier (if that was possible) than on Master. "...And Justice for All" and "Eye of the Beholder" have the scathing socio-political lyrics thrash was known for but with Metallica's slightly less obvious, less ham-handed writing. "Shortest Straw" uses time changes and syncopation that were worthy of prog metal (which wasn't quite a thing yet) without losing any power or impact. And then you have "One." Certainly, one of the songs that cemented metal in the musical mainstream and despite the video being savagely overplayed by MTV, a great song.

Plenty to like about ...And Justice for All, right? Sure, but plenty that wasn't so great. Metallica's penchant for long songs was indulged completely, resulting in 65+ minutes of music that was initially released as a "double" single LP. The shortest song is over five minutes and some approach 10. That isn't necessarily bad but "To Live Is to Die" and "The Frayed Ends of Sanity" sound like they were drawn out too long or maybe could have been left off and reworked into something more entertaining for a future album. There is too much music that seems to be there because why not? We all know that bassist Cliff Burton died in a tour bus crash on the Master of Puppets tour and was replaced by former Flotsam and Jetsam bassist Jason Newsted. A lot has been said about the production on this album hiding Newsted's bass and while I don't remember that being much of an issue back in the day, listening now I can unequivocally say the production is off. I can hear the bass, but the drums completely overshadow them because they are so far forward in the mix, not to mention they sound completely flat, like Lars was using a cheap kit. It's also obvious the band was in a dark place while writing the album. Sure, they always wrote about dark things like war, drug addiction, mental health issues, etc. Metal is dangerous and aggressive but also celebrates power, speed and volume. ...And Justice for All's writing sounds like every ounce of joy has been sucked out of it.

When all is said and done, ...And Justice for All remains the bastard child of Metallica's first five albums. Its connection to the first three records is tenuous at best due to the shift in tone, overly self-indulgent songwriting, and poor sound and it doesn't embrace the hard rock sensibilities applied to the band's thundering riffs on Metallica either. There are good songs, but as an album its flaws make it is hard to enjoy all the way through.