‘… And Justice for All ”, the fourth record plate of Metallica, It is turning 37 years of life. This musical production represents a more technical evolution to what they had been doing with their three previous works.
“He marked a step towards a more technical sound and showed progressive dyes in his discography for his irregular rhythms and tempo changes,” says part of the review by the anniversary of the album that was published by the specialized progressive nation site.
Songs like ‘Blackened’ or ‘… and Justice for All’ have “unusual metrics”, rhythmic breaks and more elaborate instrumental passages, the publication continues.
But what were the challenges that this album had to face? First, Metallica had to demonstrate again and again the depth of its resistance after the death of bassist Cliff Burton, occurred in a tragic traffic accident in September 1986.
This was achieved first, even having the strength to move forward. And achieve the most victorious work cycle of his young career against that indescribable tragedy. Then with a video tribute to Burton, entitled ‘Cliff’ Em All ‘, and finally, with the new bassist Jason Newsted, with whom they had already taken the EP:’ The $ 5.98: Garage Days Re-Revisited ‘in 1987.
But the final challenge occurred on September 7, 1988 when the album reached the stores, and its result was a success from the commercial point of view. This was strengthened with the 13 -month world tour entitled ‘Damaged Justice’ and the rotation of the band’s first videclip in MTV titled ‘One’.
On this subject, it is an antibelicist song that presents a fallen war soldier who was tetraplectic, blind, deaf and mute by a earthly mine, and is based on the movie ‘Johnny took his rifle’, directed by Dalton Trumbo. This was also Metallica’s first foray into the world of musical videos, same that included fragments of the film, after the band bought its rights.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm8btdbs-cw
A bittersweet baptism
After Burton’s death, the remaining members of Metallica: Lars Ulrich (drums), James Hetfield (you and guitar) and Kirk Hammett (guitar) found their replacement in Newsted, but not everything was joy for the new bassist.
One of those bittersweet situations that Newsted lived in those early years in Metallica, It was the inaudible sound of bass throughout the album.
The producer of ‘… and Justice for All’, Flamming Rasmussen, suggested that Metallica “hated” Newsted because “he was a fan of the band, and believes that they made her bass not listened to the purpose of purpose to try to generate a reaction in it.
Another factor is the psychological, Burton’s death completely destabilized Metallica. The bassist died crushed by the tour bus in Sweden and the following month Newsted was rehearsing. At first his positive energy loved the shocked musicians, but in their condition as a new boy began to suffer bullying in the band.
According to Kirk Hammett felt distressed and “basically Jason was the boxing bag It was not really fair, ”confessed the guitarist.
Sales success
After its launch ‘… and Justice for All reached the number 6 on the Billboard album list and achieved the platinum disc status two months later.
After staying on the lists for 83 weeks, The album earned Metallica his first Grammy nomination for the best metal interpretation, They lost to Jethro Tull.
But despite everything, with ‘… and Justice for All’, Metallica created an album that opened the door to a world that today is impossible to imagine without them.
