The silent bass: The story behind Metallica's quiet '...And Justice For All' bass tone

Metallica's 1988 album ...And Justice For All is revered by plenty within the metal community, yet it’s often scrutinized for its nearly inaudible bass guitar. That's right: It seems the "Harvester of Sorrow" album probably should have harvested more bass tone! This marked the first Metallica album featuring bassist Jason Newsted, who had joined the band after the tragic death of Cliff Burton in 1986.

Despite being a crucial part of Metallica’s transition during a tumultuous time, Newsted’s presence on the record is noticeably subdued. Flemming Rasmussen, the producer behind Ride The Lightning and Master of Puppets, as well as …And Justice For All, speculates that the band's decision to minimize Newsted's bass lines was intentional. In an interview with Metal Injection, Rasmussen said, "I think – but this is purely speculation – they did it to get some kind of reaction from Jason."

He theorizes that the band, still grieving Burton's loss, might have been testing Newsted's resolve and loyalty. "What they hated the most about Jason was that he was a fan. He was never disagreeing or anything, or stating his own opinion. I think they were waiting for him to kind of state his place in the band… they probably did it to get a reaction, and when it didn’t come, that was the way the album turned out."

This idea sheds light on the band’s psychology during the making of the album. James Hetfield, Metallica’s frontman, acknowledged in a 2018 interview with Blabbermouth that the band's grief over Burton’s death was misdirected at Newsted. "Psychology 101 will tell you that all our grief and sadness got directed at him, and quite a bit of it was that he was an easy target. He was goofy enough to take it, which was a positive for him, and he was such a fan, and we hated that. We wanted to ‘unfan’ him."

Metallica vs. Jason Newsted's bass?

On a more sentimental, less bully-themed note, guitarist Kirk Hammett stated: "I really wish that the first three or four years of...Cliff Burton being in the band was documented more. Because there's just not enough footage of him, there's not enough pictures of him, there's just not enough of him..."

However, the difficult period following Burton's death had a profound impact on the band’s dynamic, making it a less-than-ideal creative environment. Les Claypool of Primus, another accomplished bassist who auditioned for the bassist role, was ultimately not chosen because he "didn’t fit in" (Claypool offered to "jam on some Isley Brothers tunes" during the audition).

Newsted, despite securing the spot, faced challenges in integrating with a band that was still mourning and adjusting to a new lineup. In the years since …And Justice For All’s release, fans have created remixes and cover versions that amplify Newsted’s bass, such as the fan-made remix ...And Justice for Jason, which demonstrates what the album might have sounded like if Newsted's contributions were more pronounced.

These efforts highlight the contentious mix that has long been a topic of debate among Metallica fans and critics alike.

Newsted after Metallica

Three years after the album’s release, Newsted reflected on his role in Metallica, claiming his playing style added a new level of tightness to the band. However, his tenure with Metallica came to an end in 2001, after which he pursued various other projects, including joining Ozzy Osbourne’s band (by that point, he was probably not as often called Jason "Newkid").

Newstead also tried his own self-titled band, though it was short-lived: "There was a couple things that were very good and then a couple things were very bad," explained Newsted. "When it came down to the money stuff and just having to wear all the hats and doing the writing, singing, playing and paying for everything, it was just too much of a load."

His successor in Metallica, Robert Trujillo, brought his own distinct style to the group, and he had also played with the iconic Black Sabbath singer.

No hard feelings over extra-soft bass?

Newsted’s experience with Metallica during the recording of …And Justice For All remains a complex chapter in the band’s history. Still, he's seemingly not as bitter about the experience as one might think. He's said of the band: "For this particular generation, it's the biggest band in the world."

Still, the mix controversy illustrates the intense internal dynamics and emotional struggles that shaped one of the most significant metal albums of the late 1980s. Despite the criticisms regarding the bass mix, the album solidified Metallica's place as a defining force in the metal genre, earning them their first Grammy nomination and setting the stage for their future successes.

Perhaps you love the song, but can you here the bass in this track? Go ahead and try! And keep in mind, this is considered a "remastered" version!