Metallica Fans.

First CD I ever bought was LOAD LINK

Kill Em All is my favorite Metallica album. Then Master Of Puppets.

I have gone through phases where each one of these has been my favorite. I think each one of these is a masterpiece. I think And Justice is the most consistent and solid all the way through. That album is just relentless with the way it grooves and constantly hammers you. The songwriting was top notch and they were hitting on all cylinders. If I have a road trip somewhere, Justice is my go to Metallica album. My dog loves that shite too, I roll down the window and he sticks his head out the door and I swear I think Justice and the thrash on that one gives him a boner from pure excitement. I know a lot of people complain about the sound and mix of Justice and that the bass was swallowed up (turned down) in the mix and James' layered guitar tracks basically owned the low end on the album. I do somewhat agree with this, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. The guitar sound is absolutely massive. I think it's mixed a tad dry and needs slightly more mid frequencies, but man does it fricking thump and hit you in the chest. Ive listened to this album through a $30K record system before on vinyl and it is SOOOO heavy and satisfying. I think Kirk played the best he ever has on this album too. I think Justice is the closest thing Metallica got to a "concept" album as every song really flows nicely into the next. "Blackened" is one of the best songs Metallica has ever written and I think is their best album opener of any album.

Lightning - I think has the highest points of any Metallica album. Fade to Black, Creeping Death (what a badass fricking opening riff!), and For Whom the Bell Tolls are top 10 Metallica songs. Call of the Ktulu is also an incredible piece of songwriting. I think the overall sound of this album wasn't nearly as heavy or big (purely talking mix, the riffs were obviously on point) as Master or Justice. I think this was the last album they still used Marshall amps on and transitioned over to the Boogies on Master which could be a big reason they got such a dif sounds on the later albums. Fade to Black, for me, is one of the greatest rock/metal songs ever written. Love the journey that it takes you on going back and forth between light acoustic melody in Am and then the heavy arse rhythm during the chorus. Also one of the greatest of all time riffs during the breakdown in that song. Epic guitar solo to finish off the end.

Master - I think Orion is the best song on this album. Brilliant the way the distorted bass leads off with the drums slowly fading in then into this monster chugging riff that makes your speakers woof out. Battery, Disposable, Sanitarium, and obviously Master. Just a loaded album all the way through. I think it may be the best mixed Metallica album as far as overall sound. It's not as scooped or dry as Justice making it slightly less heavy sounding, but it's more pleasing because it's more balanced to me. I think a song like Master is what separates Metallica of that era from other all time metal greats. Incredible thrash riff to open the song, incredible grind to the verse rhythm, awesome catchy chorus riff, then the breakdown melody and lead guitar work over the top of it puts it on another level that other bands cant touch. Also, perfect example of James' songwriting (he's never been much of a poet, but has his moments) excelling and writing something with thought behind it.

IMO, this 3 album stretch is the pinnacle of songwriting in the metal genre. I don't think anyone can or ever will string something like this together again.

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dnm3305

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GOAT analysis. Thanks.

Just downloaded The Slayer and Megadeth Recs. What do you think of Anthrax Time?

You've seriously never heard those albums?

As for the topic of the OP...LOL

Death Magnetic for me.

Spreading the Disease
Among the Living
Persistence of Time

Plus their cover of Bring the Noise with Public Enemy.

The most essential Anthrax there is.

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IMO, they should be the 4th member of the big 4 over Anthrax

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I kind of agree with this. Skolnik is an all-time great.

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Skolnik is an all-time great.

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Dude is a monster. When people think about thrash musicians outside of the big 4 (excluding Gary Holt since he joined Slayer), Skolnik is the first name mentioned.