This is an awesome song. However, what you're picking up on is the lack of bass. This album is notorious for the fact that they cut the bass track down to almost nothing, which took the punch out of the sound. There's a whole story behind it, and it's always bothered me too. However, the song is still great. Shortest Straw and Harvester of Sorrow off this album are also excellent.

@garyclark9618

10 ай бұрын

There's a channel called the bass channel that does a bass cover for this entire album. In my opinion the bass sounds wayyyy better!!

@Zerio

10 ай бұрын

they spent all the bass on "One", they couldnt afford any more bass for the other songs, sorry

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

A lot of added bass versions out there. Even in the remasters the f it up! Sad! Not Jasons fault Cliff died! If they didn't want a bassist, the should have left him in Flotsam!

@Meeshrick

10 ай бұрын

@@jesse41793 That was a stupid tribute. They even admit it today that they were being juvenile and immature and Jason was the scapegoat of their grief

@Meeshrick

10 ай бұрын

@@jesse41793 oh cut the crap! Cliff was great, we all know. Jason didn't have to be better....it was never a competition when it comes to hearing the bass in music. Oh, and btw Steve Harris was better and made Cliff sound like an amateur. Take away his distortion, the wah, and flanger and Cliff was an average bassist with incredible strength in his left fingers to stretch the bass strings as his biggest asset....Facts

If you're driving and this comes on, AND you're NOT speeding - you are not human.

Their best album imo.

@overkillforever1

10 ай бұрын

Nah that’s Ride. Justice may have some of their most technical riffs but it’s booged down by a lot of simple, repetitive, riffs that go on for way too long along with a poorly mixed production. Great album but not their best.

@mojoriot2293

10 ай бұрын

Best TOUR, but not the best album, imo. 🤘🤪

@correctlyrics

10 ай бұрын

That's a controversial opinion...but I think...from beginning to end...I have to agree with you. For me, all their other albums have many songs that I just don't listen to.

@BROU-bb2uc

10 ай бұрын

@@correctlyrics and that's why I love it top to bottom 🤘

@paulsiebeneicher4536

10 ай бұрын

​@@overkillforever1​, I agree about Justice. Justice has some great ideas but some of the rhythm parts go on for too long without variations or solos, and the lack of bass hurts. I love Hetfield on guitar but I'm also a huge bass fan.

this song is raw and heavy and i love it, best metallica album imo

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

Not raw! Whole album is over produced!

@lukepalmer2614

5 ай бұрын

It sounds aggressive as fuck. It's awesome@@hmpz36911

@sinisaradosevic2576

5 ай бұрын

One of the best lp albums ..👏👏

This is the epitome of true thrash metal. The off timing. Pure RAWNESS. The true "elements" as you put it, is PURE metal in all its definitions. Metal has soooo many aspects, so many uncharted territories. Many people get stuck in the beliefs that metal has structure. Yet metal, true metal breaks ALL the rules and that's why true metal heads LOVE Heavy Metal. We love it ALL!!

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

You had me til you said raw- so not raw! Their most OVER produced material they ever did! So many months to record. 128 layred guitar tracks & spiteful games make it all NOT RAW!

@usnva5638

10 ай бұрын

@@hmpz36911 Fight Fire with Fire from two albums previous was an all around better song with pretty much the same meaning - nuclear holocaust. Listening to this is like I'm riding a Fight Fire with Fire bicycle on training wheels.

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

@@usnva5638 RTL is my fav album from them! Had the pre release & original pressing from Megaforce! Same with KEA! Best albums! Never shoulda dicked overJonny (or Dave) & moved moving back to CA messed them up!

Weirdly enough… That sound goes well with the whole album concept and artwork. (Don’t know if it was intentional) but it’s genius imo . It’s my favorite album from them .

@delvictor7570

10 ай бұрын

Yes.I agree.

@vibingwithvinyl

7 ай бұрын

Agreed. The album is dark and angry, and that extremely dry sound suits it perfectly.

@martinpoulsen6564

7 ай бұрын

It was intentional from Lars and James. Not from Jason and Flemming (Rasmussen, producer). The latter of which even asked them if they were F-ing serious, and he wouldn't put his name on that mix. This was Jason's first recording with Metallica after the passing of Cliff Burton, from which he took over after the fatal bus crash on tour in Sweden in September '86. He wasn't yet used to the Metallica way of doing things in the studio, so came in, did his thing, and basically Lars and James finished it up with (or without) Flemming. Whether they , Lars and James, didn't think Jason was up to snuff, good enough to replace Cliff on the album or other is unclear, as is the reason for the absence of bass in the mix, but Jason was definitely at the receiving end of a lot of hazing, and mourning Cliff goes on to this day, although the symptoms were likely very much more severe and erratic back then, as they were all young and ill equipped emotionally to deal with that kind of loss, James taking a double whammy as he lost his mother at a very young age to cancer.

@TheHartsa

26 күн бұрын

I agree. There's lot of remixes by people with more bass and other tunings, but the original version is much better as is. The sounds are like that on purpose.

The guitar sound on here is some of the BEST EVER. The heavy crunch is unmatched.

Trust me....this sound grows on you. And it is missing something....Cliff Burton on bass.

@Joolstb303

10 ай бұрын

It's also missing Jason Newsted on bass.

@jhamilton1007

10 ай бұрын

Nah, Jason still wrote the main riff @@Joolstb303

@WhatsUpDoc1379

10 ай бұрын

...or anyone

@Joolstb303

10 ай бұрын

@@jesse41793 A great way to treat your new bass player and fucking childish. It's a pity And Justice... doesn't sound anywhere near as good as The $5.98 E.P. , which is the last decent thing Metallica recorded.

@Joolstb303

10 ай бұрын

@@jhamilton1007 Pity he doesn't play on it.

The best apocalypse song of all time. The lyrics are a masterpiece, so well written.

First studio album after Cliff died, (aside from the cover album they put out.) I think it's the bass and Lars change on the drum sound. I still like this song and the album, but there is a noticeable difference from their old sound with Cliff.

This album and the previous 3 I can listen to in their entirety anytime.

That off feeling you’re getting is the fact that Cliff died and they were Hazing their new Bassist. They purposely turned Jason’s Bass down in protest or in grief of Cliffs death. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this track because of this and the fact that it’s the first track off the album. Lastly the song is sooooo much better live because they mitigated all the stuff they did when they recorded the song. I challenge you to not only listen to the rest of this album but watch the live in Seattle 89. You won’t be disappointed!

@dlm9477

6 ай бұрын

You are correct, it was what they called the missing man formation in honor of Cliff Burton.

My last Metallica album, I bought, was the Metallica (Black...5th) album. So I guess it's safe to say I was an early (first five albums) Metallica fan. That one there, their fourth, is a really good album. Yeah, "the sound" might be for the bass tracks nearly fully muted. There were just issues surrounding the producing and mixing on this one.

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

Same! As is for most TRUE Metallica fans!

What you're missing is the bass. Jason Newstead's 1st album with the band and someone made a call to turn the bass track way down on the entire record.

@JamesWilliams-zh3on

3 ай бұрын

James said in an interview going into the studio, they all had hearing damage from being out on the road playing without headsets.

Fouth and best album, IMO, came out when I was 21 and I wore it out, this is one of my favorite tunes!! They opened with this LIVE for years!!

Lars and james turned the Bass right down on this album... you should check out And Justice ForJason where someone put the Bass mix up. YOU NEED TO CHECK IT OUT MAN.

@hmpz36911

10 ай бұрын

*Not James, just Lars!

I love this band and have seen them live 4 times going back to 88 monsters of rock tour. After the black album it was hard for me. Im an early Jason Newsted Flotsam and Jetsam fan. I just wish he could have been used more on this album.

"It feels like it's missing something" - Speak to Lars on that one. The thing it's missing is the bass, same with every other song on the album.

@jackmcculler658

10 ай бұрын

I concur.

There are remasters on KZread with bass. It's an entirely different beast.

I was in high school from 86-90 and got into Metallica in 84. RTL was one of my first albums ever purchased. When I was in high school, Metallica was a bunch of nobody’s, and only myself and about four others in my High School even knew who these guys were. I was the only one who wore a Metallica patched up Jean jacket every day. I used to collect rare Metallica albums back then. I still have my collection stored away somewhere... it’s composed of Different colored vinyl albums of Creeping Death & Jump in the Fire as well as picture discs of the first three albums and whiplash, bootleg concert recordings (including Cliff’s last show), interview picture discs, double LP’s, etc... all purchased back in the late 80s. I remember When AJFA came out, we had about 10-15 more students in the school that suddenly became fans. I knew things would never be the same from that point on. Once they hit the mainstream and became popular (pretty much from 1990 and on), I pretty much lost interest, as the nostalgia of being in that small exclusive club of fans was gone. But I still like to reminisce once in a while.

@midnight347

10 ай бұрын

I'm convinced this is 95% of the reason alot of old Metallica fans walked away more so than the music itself. Because they aren't "their" Metallica anymore and they're (ewww icky) dare I say it....POPULAR now? Omg no we can't have that I'm done no more Metallica for me lol. That is basically what it is and it's kind of stupid honestly. You should be happy the rest of the world got to experience their awesomeness. Don't be selfish with it.

@MetaITurtle

4 ай бұрын

​@midnight347 People can have their opinions but I do agree it is a bit harsh. But it's a common thing. I read and hear this exact same thing how they stopped being fans once they became popular. I think it is a bit of an over reaction. But maybe it's because Metallica were the first band to do that to people and then change like they did. So that was the first reaction to a band changing like that

Their first major headlining tour was for this album, I saw it twice since it came to town 2 times.

I love this album top to bottom. Great riffs and poetic lyrics.

My brother and I bought this song for "Rockband" back in the day. We played the hell out of it! Yes, the mix is a train wreck. It absolutely deserves a proper remix and Jason's bass. Thanks Lars...

@SinclairMoon

10 ай бұрын

It sounds fine.

This is perhaps the best Metallica song of all time in my opinion

The beginning of the song and the album is so good, that reverse riff is awesome.

Right after the end of a song about nuclear annihilation, I got a Disney cruise ad. Wonderful timing, KZread.

I really appreciate your honestly. For me this is one of my favorite Metallica album. Battery has fancy elements like its great solo for example but is not the best song imo. I suggest you react to "To Live is to Die" to taste Cliff Burton genius and have a beautiful trip.

The first time I saw MetallicA live they opened with this song after the iconic Ecstasy of Gold song with the scene from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Blackened live sent chills down my body and the roar of the audience and being among them was amazing.

I love this album. Saw them on this tour. It was a killer show!

Dude, Google And Justice For All's production. It's a whole thing...

You nailed the analysis, what they were missing was their prolific Bassist Cliff who tragically died just before the making of this

I can tell exactly what is missing: BASS GUITAR. Sad part is; it was intentional. The producer actually had a proper mix ready to go; and Lars made him change it. Lars made him lower the bass to almost nothing, and he specifically wanted this sound.

@chief999

10 ай бұрын

Lars is the reason I can no longer like Metallica. Add in how he cried about the Napster thing while simultaneously stealing riffs from Dave and there you have it. I still enjoy the music from the time before I have come to realize I don't like them much. Great reaction.

@DarkKastle13

10 ай бұрын

@@chief999 shut up cringe kid, you don't like metallica yet you are here on a metallica react, pound sand little billy 💀😂

@BGR.616

10 ай бұрын

Cliff Burton is what's missing here! Still should have turned Jason Newsteds bass up though!

This is an amazing album, they mixed it like that on purpose but the solution is simple. Just listen to all the songs from this album LIVE, specifically the Seattle '89 concert. It sounds wayyyy richer and heavier.

This is the album where you just hit play from the beginning take a long road trip and let it play all the way through! It might take you a couple of days, but well worth it, and you’ll have all of these drunk deeds in your head for the rest of your life!

I got the original vinyl (first release)... I am old. Such great memories. Thank you.

As a ten year old listening to this album when it came out, my mind was blown 🤯

I saw Metallica in '89 and this one sounded great live but you're not alone in your critique of the studio version. Great reaction. I like it when reactors give their honest opinions instead of trying to please everybody.

I saw them last month! 15th and 16th live Metallica shows for me. They didn’t play this but they played Orion and Whiskey in the Jar. It was live in theaters. They’re making a cd and a live movie from those shows. Pantera opened. I’m still hurting.

I'm surprised by your reaction. I used to feel the same way about this song... I slowly liked more and more of Metallica's song as I've acquired a taste for that type of music now they've creeped their way up my list to one of my favorite bands, and blackened is in my top 5 Metallica songs for sure... ps i agree with you though its missing a little bass guitar

It's supposed to sound that, he's singing about the end of the plant, mass destruction, hell fire and brimstone. Pretty sure it would be a very pleasant experience.That's what the distortion conveys! Chaios terror, pandamonium

😢 Why no love for Blackened. Nah to each thier own.

@TheAdventuresofTNT

10 ай бұрын

It sounded off compared to the other songs I've heard from them. Its a good song but it sounds very thin.

@sethchapman1425

10 ай бұрын

@@TheAdventuresofTNT that's fair. Enjoy your stuff.

I heard that back during that time California was going through a phase where everything had that crunchy sound with little bass. Something about everyone was doing coke and high pitched crunchy songs sounded better. Fun fact, the guitar intro was actually played backwards. Some better songs are Whiskey In The Jar and No Leaf Clover.

i first heard this just after it was released... i was only into punk, i had heard about metal but didn't get it... when i heard this i got it

Like how you let it play through. Every one of the first 4 albums are works of art in their own way. Every one is a cover to cover no-skip. Edit: For example, this is the opening track.

I remember going to see them in my home town back in '89...I was 19 ....they toured with Danzig

James and Lars pushed forward in the mix, while Jason was damn near buried.

There's no such thing as a Metalhead who hates Metallica. However, there are metalheads who say they hate Metallica

@TheAdventuresofTNT

10 ай бұрын

Hhahahahahahahha.... true!

@deniackeridge5273

10 ай бұрын

I know, right?

That's why it's sooooo great... because it sounds RAW 💪💪💪💪🔥🔥🔥🔥

I remember I was twelve years old, and a friend of my school let me his walkman with that song. It was the very first one I listened and I was shocked. He copied me (yes sorry James) the whole album and after 33 years, it is still my favorite one. Esteban, thanks a lot for that

Metallica is a band that has done things on their terms❤ they have earned the right to be different and their albums are some of the all time best and proved why they are in the rock hall of fame❤. They have gone through triumphs tragedies and have faced so much adversity other weaker bands would have crumbled years ago and they are strong

whaaaaaat ,the song sounds great ,it sounds heavy as helll

Some people complain that the album after this album was when they sold out. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about Justice though

Way to go Joe! 😋 hey I’m a patron, wanted to request the full album stream lol. I’ll request something via d cord, is that your preferred method? TnT⚡️ This was my first thrash show btw

2:44 - THE best hook known to man. There is NO better. “to begin, whipping dance of the DEAD ….. “ Hands down, the BEST song the boys ever wrote and performed.

The guitars aren't muddy, they're scooped. The mids are scooped out, and it's intentional. The whole album is like that, and I love it. It sounds like the air is being sucked from the room. Also, you're likely noticing the absence of Bass, which is a valid issue, but it does work IMO

@TheAdventuresofTNT

10 ай бұрын

It does work, it’s just not what I was expecting.

The production on that album got the same reaction you had from everyone when it dropped. That thing you said was "missing" is bass guitar.

Fourth album and first album with Jason Newstead who replaced Cliff Burton after his untimely death in '86

This album followed the death of Cliff Burton, their original bassist. As a joke on Jason(now a former bass member), because he was hazed harshly while the other members were overcoming the loss of Cliff; Lars went to the mixer and turned Jason's bass down so much that it's damn near non existent. And what makes it worse, is that Jason actually wrote the riff for this song and some others on the record.

Cliff Burton was the original bassist He died a few months before this album was recorded Jason Newstead replaced him but they Not allow him to have any sound on the albumBecause they missed cliff so much That is the reason for the unique sound of this album It's so unique and I love it and And further on further albums Jason was included

Who doesn’t like Blackened. This is my favorite of the album. Nothing goes better with Metallica than a large Chic Filet combo.

Incredible intro song from a phenomenal album.

Have you listened to the song (and watched the video, which by the way, there are two versions of this video) for the song "One" from this album? Also, this was the first album to feature Jason Newstead on bass. Jason joined the band after the death of Cliff Burton. For everyone album, Metallica, among almost every rock and metal band, aim for a specific sound. This is the sound they aimed for in this album. Most of the tracks are solid.

Top 10 Metallica track and one of the greatest 80s thrash songs full stop.

And no it wasn't because it was recorded in 1988. Production capabilities were awesome.

I've heard information that Jason was actually disappointed because he was required to arrange all the songs on this album to show that he was worthy of Metallica

There’s a “Covid” version by Metallica called Blackened 2020. Good video to watch if you have a few mins to kill. Nothing like the beast this song is, you’ll understand when you see it.

I always loved the production

Yah, maybe you just don't get it. That album sounds awesome. My favorite album by Metallica

It might have been mixed for vinyl originally. This song grows on you.

Lol i wasnt feeling it neither! Its cool you try and react. Metallica and GNR share some fate lol. Awesome T!

My jam in the Army back in the 90s.

This was the album that came after the loss of bassist Cliff. What you're not hearing is the bass from newest bass player Jason Newsted. This was James,Lars and Kirk lashing out and still grieving the loss of Cliff. This is reason why majority of us who grew with Metallica from the start love this album but hate it as well.... then follows the Don't Tread On Me (Black) album and its downhill from there. That's the conflict metal heads have when it comes to Metallica.... they started off as thrash metal then sold out to become mainstream like everyone else did and became weak despite still retaining heavy riffs but lost the thrash and became commercial rock/metal ✌️🤘😎🤘

The first album without Cliff Burton. The was the "We still got it!" Album. Shame they never made more albums after this. ;-P

Blackened was an incredible song

And Justice is a classic 88. Lars rudiments are crazy

It's like someone didn't want the new bass guy to shine yet as everything is used as a marketing tool as the band was honoring Cliff Burton. It is harsh to say but also that's how business works. Jason's turn was on the black album.

9:38 - That is called BASS GUITAR! lol People always like to rag on bassists and the bass guitar as not needed - well, this is the result! This is Blackened with bass in it - feel that wholeness!!! ---->> kzread.info/dash/bejne/mmxpzZKPk6moaMY.html Try listening to a fan mix on YT of this song or ANY song from this album where they boosted the bass guitar a bit, it has that punch you were describing as being absent!!

I love me some Metallica 🤘💥🏆

This was the intro track on the album, one album after Cliff Burton had passed away so there was a certain type of energy into this. But they buried the bass because of Cliff’s death. Listen to And Justice for Jason . As in Jason Newstead.

Metallica is the Eminem of rock. The GOATs and legends who you can’t deny their influence and because of that they have a lot of contrarians who like to hate to be different and think it’s cool

this was their first album without Cliff Burton and there was essentially no Bass in the mix. Jason Newsteads track was left out and he even came up with the riff.Good Observation!

One of the best album ever in music history

I love seeing different cultural reactions to Metallica.

After listening to it more and more, this tone is my favorite metallica tone. Only thing missing is the bass on the album.

This album is the point where some fans said no thanx I'll stick to the first three albums (me). Some said ok I'll keep going with this. And some discovered Metallica for the first time because of this album being more approachable to a wider audience.

Not a very popular opinion, but this is my favorite album from them. Like lots of people have mentioned though, it’s basically missing the bass. It might’ve been so much better.

@SinclairMoon

10 ай бұрын

It sounds fine. After 30 years, I'm used to it

@jackbrocato1049

10 ай бұрын

@@SinclairMoon yeah, I grew up listening to stuff with worse production. I can hear what people complain about, but it never bothered me.

one of the greatest albums of all time

I have this tape in my corvette and it's the only tape i play when i want to drive real fast! Bose speakers at 95% sound great... almost painful!!!😂

on YT there is AND JUSTICE FOR JASON .... check it out, its the album with the BASS where you can HEAR IT !!

This is my favorite Lars on drums song. It’s perfection.

Its interesting your picking up on it without knowing, shows how much in tune you are. However i remember this album coming out & I just listened to it & thought it was heavy. Its only been in the KZread age that i heard anyone go on about it.

I personally never noticed anything, except it was much "crisper & clearer" than the previous 3 albums which was very "bottom heavy". I have heard so many different production styles due to listening to so many bands who go through producers as often as they go through booze and women, that after a while I just stopped fussing over the sound, unless it was REALLY bad. At any rate, if something was really off-kilter - too much treble, too much bass, too much mids - I'd run it through my editor and play with the EQs a little bit. "Something is missing" Well, it seems, according to many fans, this album suffered from the BASS being completely reduced to almost nothing. Again, I never noticed cos it was just another "production style" to me. I could barely single out any given instrument anyway back in the day this stuff was new, so that probably aided in my obliviousness. I have also noticed that many "remastered" albums are just a scam or a gimmick ; some do sound better, but many sound exactly the same or much worse. Tip : If you ever do Scorpions stuff from the 80s (1979-1990), avoid the "remastered", cos that was one catalog that turned out awful. The originals were better.

@TheAdventuresofTNT

10 ай бұрын

It seems like they EQ the treble up to make it more crispy!

@BlackieNuff

10 ай бұрын

@@TheAdventuresofTNT Yep - treble up, bass down, or both. And the thing is whichever one you do the other by default happens anyway, so it's a delicate "balance"... pun sorta intended, lol. This album (and Metallica V, aka the black album) definitely got robbed of adequate bass. To paraphrase a famous Darth Vader quote : "I find your lack of bass disturbing"... and... "You are part of the treble alliance, and a traitor!"

What happened with the sound on this album? Well, from what I recall, Lars didn't like that the bass was "interfering" with his drum sound. So rather than listen to the producer who tried to balance out all of the tracks, Lars just kept saying, "Turn the bass down more. Okay, turn it down more. Yes, keep turning it down." Some people thought it was Lars being an asshat towards Jason Newstead because he had just joined the band. However, from other sources, Lars had always hated the sound of bass getting in the way of his drums and would pass out demo tapes and tell people to turn the bass all the way down so his drums would have center stage in the rhythm section. Apparently he wanted to have the "garage sound" for all of their songs without taking into account how bad it truly sounded in a professional mix. It wasn't until the black album that someone was able to change his mind.

People tend to discount their poetic ability and foresight

This is a masterpiece.

This and shortest straw are my 2 picks on this record, blackened is a great tune

“It’s all about the bass” to T.

Oooooooooowwweeeee youre in for a treat

Listen to the "...And Justice For Jason"version. The bass guitar elevates the whole experience

Justice was the last Metallica album I went nuts for. And its is my fave...the then Black Album came out, it was ok and after that I didnt like the change. It wasnt like it sucked or was bad, it just wasnt me.