Next month marks the 20th anniversary of Metallica‘s … And Justice for All, which is perhaps one of the most important studio offerings of the band’s illustrious career. Not only was it Metallica’s first LP following the untimely passing of bassist Cliff Burton, it shot straight to #6 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum just nine weeks after it first hit stores.
The now-classic album signaled many other firsts for Metallica: It was the first record to feature new bassist Jason Newsted, it netted them their first Grammy nomination, and it featured the single “One,” for which they shot their first-ever music video. Since its release, Justice has scanned more than 8 million copies in the U.S. alone, and it helped cement their status as a rock and roll force to be reckoned with.
In summation, it was a momentous release for Metallica, one that changed the entire trajectory of the band’s career. Now, 20 years later, we’ve spoken to the group’s members, asking them to think back to that time and reflect on the importance of what may be one of their most beloved efforts.
“Justice obviously was a huge record for us. … We took the Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets concept as far as we could take it,” drummer Lars Ulrich reflected. “There was no place else to go with the progressive, nutty, sideways side of Metallica, and I’m so proud of the fact that, in some way, that album is kind of the epitome of that progressive side of us up through the ’80s.”
MTV