And Justice for All : Album

And Justice for All is the fourth album by American heavy metal band Metallica. Elektra Records released the album on August 25, 1988. This is the first Metallica studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted, since the death of the group's former bassist Cliff Burton. The album was certified 8x Platinum by the RIAA on June 9, 2003.[4]

The album's dark subject material, featuring references to injustice in the legal system, limited freedom, war, insanity and hate, is accompanied by what may be the most complex song structures in Metallica's discography. The arrangements are particularly complicated for a thrash metal album, being likened to progressive metal in their complexity.[5] The album is also noted for its nearly-inaudible bass guitar (Newsted was quoted as saying "The Justice album wasn't something that really felt good for me, because you really can't hear the bass") and dry, sterile production, and therefore has been called a "slightly flawed masterpiece and the pinnacle of Metallica's progressive years" by AllMusic.com.[6]

The front cover depicts the statue of Lady Justice cracked, bound by ropes, and both of her scales filled with dollars. The words "…And Justice for All" are written in graffiti to the right. She is also holding a sword out in her right hand showing that she is prepared to take matters into her own hands. The cover was made by Stephen Gorman after a concept by James Hetfield and Lars