Kill ‘Em All (1983)
The product of anger, defiance, anger, horrible songwriting, and anger again. Vastly overrated.
Grade: D
Ride The Lightning (1984)
Talk about a turnaround. After their near-embarrassing debut, they come up with a hard-rock/metal classic or at least near-classic. This album features some terrific riffs, some pretty (yes pretty!) chords, and some solid vocals. I’m hungry for more.
(“Ride The Lightning”, “Fade To Black”, “The Call Of Ktulu”)
Grade: A-
2012: If you like your rock hard, you’ll love this. It’s not really “metal” by today’s standards cuz it has, you know…melody.
Grade: A
Master Of Puppets (1986)
A huge relief after worrying about them falling backwards after ‘Ride The Lightning’. This album rocks hard and causes no pain lyrically throughout. Good job, boys. Keep it up.
(“Master Of Puppets”)
Grade: B+
2012: More intelligent, less tuneful. Their last album featuring Cliff Burton is their second and last album worth owning.
Grade: A-
…And Justice For All (1988)
Their first ever video was made for “One”. Appropriately enough, it’s easily the best composition here. In fact it’s the only one that sinks into my fancy after (trust me) REPEATED listenings.
(“One”)
Grade: D+
2012: How many good songs are on this, anyway?
Grade: C-