Metallica …And Justice For All – Thrash Metal Classic

Metallica And Justice For All

30 Years!? I can’t believe it!

Fall of 1988. I was a Senior in High-School in Stow, Ohio.

We had just seen Metallica completely destroy all of the bands on the Monsters of Rock Tour that Summer at the Akron Rubber Bowl. Van Halen, The Scorpions, Dokken… all great bands sure.. but everyone was there to see Metallica.
I remember at one point during the concert James Hetfield talking about the new album coming out soon. They played ‘Harvester of Sorrows’ and we were just floored.

Recently I started listening to Vinyl Records again. Yes, they really do sound better! I wrote extensively about this in my Morning Vinyl Article.
I still have about 30 records in a crate that miraculously survived my youth. Mostly 80’s Rock and Metal stuff.

When I started listening to records and collecting again earlier this year, one of the first LP’s I picked up was the 180 gram Master of Puppets Remaster. It sounds phenomenal.. but this latest …And Justice For All remaster is flawless. Perfect in every sense.

Metallica Bought a Vinyl Press

I guess when your an aging Metal band with more money than you know what to do with.. you can buy your own handmade, German Vinyl Press. Well, that’s exactly what Metallica did.

Metallica gained control over its original recording masters in 2012. After that, they launched their “Blackened Recordings” label after buying their back-catalog from Elektra records. Smart move.

“As if we don’t have enough going on, we finally OWN our masters, we can put our music out our way. We even bought our own record press, over in Germany. It’s awesome. You can do colors, you can do whatever you want.”James Hetfield

…and the results are astounding.

After spending a little over a week with my vinyl remaster of …And Justice For All, I’m completely reliving some of the best days of my youth all over again.

This album is great! Metallica’s best? Well for me, probably, yes. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who chose Ride The Lightning or Master of Puppets though. For me, their first 4 albums are Metal classics… and I love them all.

 

…And Justice For All came at a time in my life when I was really getting into Thrash Metal. It also happens to be the year (1988) I started playing Guitar. I cut my proverbial teeth on these riffs.

Metallica’s Influence On My Guitar Playing

Pretty much all of my rhythm chops were a direct result of learning every note of this record. Back then, we didn’t have the internet and youtube videos. Sometimes you got lucky with some TABS in Guitar Magazines, but mostly we just hacked it out figuring this stuff out by ear. Crazy right? It’s a lot more work, but my ear is all the better because of it.

The …And Justice For All Box Set

Metallica Limited edition deluxe numbered box set of …And Justice for All includes the album remastered on 180-gram double LP and CD, three live LPs, picture disc, eleven CDs + four DVDs featuring unreleased content, MP3 download card of all audio, tour laminate, set of four patches, Pushead print, lyric folder and sheets and a 120-page hardcover book with never-before-seen photos + stories. That’s a mouthful!

I really love that they did the right thing splitting the main LP into 2 records. I’ve seen this with some longer Jazz and Classical re-issues but never with a mainstream Metal album. You’re only getting 2-3 songs per side.. but the sound quality. WOW. 

I don’t claim to be an audiophile, but my system sounds pretty good.

You can find a fairly nice entry-level turntable for under $90 bucks from name brands like Audio Technica. I went with the Audio Technica AT-LP3BK for just under $200 on sale. It comes with a great needle/cartridge setup and the cartridges can easily be upgraded or replaced in future.

Complete Box Set Contents and Track Listings:

 

LP 1 & 2: …AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (REMASTERED)

 

SIDE ONE

1. Blackened
2. …And Justice for All

SIDE TWO

1. Eye of the Beholder
2. One

SIDE THREE

1. The Shortest Straw
2. Harvester of Sorrow
3. The Frayed Ends of Sanity

SIDE FOUR

1. To Live Is to Die
2. Dyers Eve

Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

LP 3: “ONE” 10″ PICTURE DISC

 

SIDE ONE

1. One

SIDE TWO

1. Seek & Destroy (Live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX – February 5th, 1989)

Artwork by Pushead
Remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA

LP 4, 5 & 6: SEATTLE ‘89

SIDE ONE

1. The Ecstasy of Gold
2. Blackened (Live)
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Live)

SIDE TWO

1. Harvester of Sorrow (Live)
2. The Four Horsemen (Live)
3. The Thing That Should Not Be (Live)

SIDE THREE

1. Bass Solo (Live)
2. Master of Puppets (Live)
3. Fade to Black (Live)

SIDE FOUR

1. Seek & Destroy (Live)
2. …And Justice for All (Live)
3. One (Live)

SIDE FIVE

1. Creeping Death (Live)
2. Guitar Solo (Live)
3. Battery (Live)

SIDE SIX

1. Encore Jam (Live)
2. Last Caress (Live)
3. Am I Evil? (Live)
4. Whiplash (Live)
5. Breadfan (Live)

Recorded live on August 29th and August 30th, 1989 at Seattle Coliseum in Seattle, WA
Mixed by Greg Fidelman
Mastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, Los Angeles, CA
Vinyl lacquers by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering, Hollywood, CA

CD 1: …AND JUSTICE FOR ALL (REMASTERED)

1. Blackened
2. …And Justice for All
3. Eye of the Beholder
4. One
5. The Shortest Straw
6. Harvester of Sorrow
7. The Frayed Ends of Sanity
8. To Live Is to Die
9. Dyers Eve

CD 2: INTERVIEWS

1. KSDT Interview with Jason
2. Circus Magazine Interview with James
3. KNAC Report from LA Monsters of Rock
4. KHDX Interview with Kirk
5. Metal Forces Magazine Interview with Lars

CD 3 & 4: RIFFS, JAMS & DEMOS

DISC ONE

1. Blackened (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
2. Blackened (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
3. …And Justice for All (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
4. …And Justice for All (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
5. Eye of the Beholder (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
6. Eye of the Beholder (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes II)
7. One (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
8. The Shortest Straw (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
9. The Shortest Straw (1986, from James’ Riff Tapes II)
10. Harvester of Sorrow (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
11. The Frayed Ends of Sanity (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
12. To Live Is to Die (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
13. To Live Is to Die (1988, From James’ Riff Tapes)
14. Dyers Eve (1986, From James’ Riff Tapes)
15. Dyers Eve (1987, From James’ Riff Tapes)
16. Blackened (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
17. …And Justice for All (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
18. …And Justice for All (October 1987, Writing in Progress II)
19. One (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
20. The Shortest Straw (October 1987, Writing in Progress)
21. …And Justice for All (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
22. The Frayed Ends of Sanity (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
23. One (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
24. Dyers Eve (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
25. Eye of the Beholder (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
26. To Live Is to Die (November 1987, Writing in Progress)
27. The Shortest Straw (December 1987, Writing in Progress)
28. Harvester of Sorrow (December 1987, Writing in Progress)

DISC TWO

1. Blackened (November 1987 Demo)
2. …And Justice for All (November 1987 Demo)
3. Eye of the Beholder (November 1987 Demo)
4. One (November 1987 Demo)
5. The Frayed Ends of Sanity (November 1987 Demo)
6. Eye of the Beholder (January 1988 Demo)
7. The Shortest Straw (January 1988 Demo)
8. Harvester of Sorrow (January 1988 Demo)
9. Dyers Eve (January 1988 Demo)
10. To Live Is to Die (January 1988 Demo)

CD 5: ROUGH MIXES FROM THE VAULT

1. Blackened (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
2. …And Justice for All (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
3. Eye of the Beholder (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
4. One (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
5. The Shortest Straw (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
6. Harvester of Sorrow (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
7. The Frayed Ends of Sanity (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
8. To Live Is to Die (Acoustic Intro) (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
9. To Live Is to Die (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
10. Dyers Eve (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
11. Breadfan (Work in Progress Rough Mix)
12. The Prince (Work in Progress Rough Mix)

CD 6 & 7: LIVE AT THE TROUBADOUR, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 24TH, 1988 + B-SIDES

 

DISC ONE

1. Creeping Death (Live)
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
3. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Live)
4. The Four Horsemen (Live)
5. Whiplash (Live)
6. Fade to Black (Live)
7. Seek & Destroy (Live)
8. Master of Puppets (Live)
9. Encore Jam (Live)
10. Last Caress (Live)
11. Am I Evil? (Live)
12. Battery (Live)

DISC TWO

1. 1. Encore Jam #2 (Live)
   2. Harvester of Sorrow (Live)
   3. Leper Messiah (Live)
   4. Blitzkrieg (Live)

 

B-Sides

1. Breadfan (Remastered)
2. The Prince (Remastered)
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live) *
4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Live) *
5. Seek & Destroy (Live) *
6. Creeping Death (Live) *
7. Harvester of Sorrow (Live) **
8. One (Live) **
9. Breadfan (Live) ***
10. Last Caress (Live) ***

* Recorded live at Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX on February 5th, 1989
** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 29th, 1989
*** Recorded live at Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA on August 30th, 1989

CD 8 & 9: LIVE AT THE HAMMERSMITH ODEON, LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 10TH, 1988 + RADIO EDITS

 

DISC ONE

1. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Live)
2. The Four Horsemen (Live)
3. Harvester of Sorrow (Live)
4. Eye of the Beholder (Live)
5. Bass Solo (Live)
6. Master of Puppets (Live)
7. Damage, Inc. (Live)
8. One (Live)
9. Seek & Destroy (Live)
10. …And Justice for All (Live)
    *Note: there is a tape cut on this track

DISC TWO

1. 1. Encore Jam (Live)
   2. Creeping Death (Live)
   3. Fade to Black (Live)
   4. Guitar Solo (Live)
   5. Battery (Live)
   6. Encore Jam #2 (Live)
   7. Last Caress (Live)
   8. Am I Evil? (Live)
   9. Whiplash (Live)

 

Radio Edits

1. Eye of the Beholder (Radio Edit)
2. One (Radio Edit)
3. …And Justice for All (Radio Edit)

CD 10 & 11: LIVE AT LONG BEACH ARENA, LONG BEACH, CA – DECEMBER 7, 1988 + MORE

 

DISC ONE

1. Blackened (Live)
   *Note: there is a tape cut on this track
2. For Whom the Bell Tolls (Live)
3. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (Live)
4. Leper Messiah (Live)
5. Harvester of Sorrow (Live)
6. Eye of the Beholder (Live)
7. Bass Solo (Live)
8. Master of Puppets (Live)
9. One (Live)
10. Seek & Destroy (Live)

DISC TWO

1. 1. …And Justice for All (Live)
   2. Encore Jam (Live)
   3. Creeping Death (Live)
   4. Fade to Black (Live)
   5. Guitar Solo (Live)
   6. Battery (Live)

 

Live at UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL – November 18th, 1988

1. Last Caress (Live)
2. Am I Evil? (Live)
3. Whiplash (Live)

DVD 1: …AND CAMCORDER FOR ALL & “ONE”

 

…AND CAMCORDERS FOR ALL

FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED FOOTAGE SHOT ON LARS’ CAMCORDER

1. Intro
2. Barcelona
3. Leiden
4. San Francisco
5. San Antonio
6. Dallas
7. Philadelphia
8. Buffalo
9. Auckland
10. Osaka
11. Hoffman Estates
12. Richfield
13. Thornville
14. Greenville
15. Atlanta
16. Biloxi
17. Concord
18. Irvine (Night #2)
19. Irvine (Night #3)
20. São Paulo (Night #1)
21. São Paulo (Night #2)

“ONE”

1. 2 of One Introduction with Lars
2. One
3. One (Jammin’ Version)
4. One (Live at the 31st Annual GRAMMY® Awards)

“ONE” B-ROLL

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. Intro
2. Band
3. Lars
4. Kirk
5. James
6. Jason
7. More Band

DVD 2: LIVE AT SHORELINE AMPHITHEATRE, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – SEPTEMBER 15TH, 1989

 

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. The Ecstasy of Gold
2. Blackened
3. For Whom the Bell Tolls
4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
5. Harvester of Sorrow
6. The Four Horsemen
7. The Thing That Should Not Be
8. Bass Solo
9. Master of Puppets
10. Fade to Black
11. Seek & Destroy
12. …And Justice for All
13. One
14. Creeping Death
15. Guitar Solo
16. Battery
17. Encore Jam
18. Last Caress
19. Am I Evil?
20. Damage, Inc.
21. Blitzkrieg
22. Breadfan

DVD 3: LIVE AT THE STONE BALLOON, NEWARK, DE – AUGUST 7TH, 1989

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED FAN-SHOT FOOTAGE

1. Backstage Shit
2. The Ecstasy of Gold
3. Creeping Death
4. For Whom the Bell Tolls
5. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
6. The Four Horsemen
7. Harvester of Sorrow
8. Phantom Lord
9. Bass Solo
10. Master of Puppets
11. Fade to Black
12. No Remorse
13. Seek & Destroy
14. Last Caress
15. Am I Evil?
16. Motorbreath
17. Hit the Lights
18. Blitzkrieg
19. Damage, Inc.
20. Breadfan

DVD 4: JUSTICE ON WHEELS, MASA ITO INTERVIEWS, RAW LIVE FOOTAGE

 

JUSTICE ON WHEELS – A MUCHMUSIC DOCUMENTARY

1. Intro
2. The Road Crew
3. The Fans
4. The Band
5. The Video

MASA ITO INTERVIEWS

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. Lars
2. James
3. Jason
4. Kirk

RAW LIVE FOOTAGE (LIVE AT JFK STADIUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 11TH, 1988)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. Whiplash
2. Fade to Black
3. Seek & Destroy

RAW LIVE FOOTAGE (LIVE AT RPI FIELD HOUSE, TROY, NY – MARCH 15TH, 1989)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. Master of Puppets
2. One

RAW LIVE FOOTAGE (LIVE AT COPPS COLISEUM, HAMILTON, ONTARIO – APRIL 8TH, 1989)

PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

1. Master of Puppets
2. One
3. Seek & Destroy