1987/1988
Metallica
Metellica finished their Damage Inc. Tour after they returned to the States and began recording a new album. Titled "...And Justice For All" was released MArch 5th 1988, it would show breat examples of the talent the band was known for. Cliff Burton's bass work on this album would be considered some of his finest. The album won a grammy for Best Heavy Metal/Hard Rock performance in 1989
Track listing: ...And Justice For All
To Live is to Die (10:22) (Mostly composed by Cliff Burton, inspired by his near death experience, became a hit an a fovrite of most bassists)
...And Justice For All (9:50) (Written by all four members of Metallica equally, another hit)
One (7:27) (The huge hit off of the album, considered a perfect example of thrash metal)
Blackened (6:40) (Progressive piece, a fan favorite)
Eye of the Beholder (6:24) (Instrumental, a fan favorite)
Tomorrow (5:44) (Lesser known song, mostly listend to by drummers)
Chained Mercy (6:00) (Lesser known song, mostly listened to by bassists)
The ..And Justice For All tour would be a huge success, solidifying the bands status as one of the top metal bands.
Megadeth
Around the same time Metallica finished their Damage Inc tour, Megadeth finished their Peace Sells tour, At which point Frontman Dave Mustaine fired Lead Guitarist Chris Poland and Drummer Gar Samuelson, upon holding auditions for the postitions, he discovered Brothers "Diamond" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott. They would join Mustaine and David Ellefson for Megadeth's third album "So Far, So Good... So What", released January 8th, 1988. The album continued a streak of solid, praised Megadeth albums, and introduced the influecial style of Abbott's guitar playing.
Track listing: So Far, So Good... So What
In My Darkest Hour (6:20) (Tribute to Mustaine's ex-grilfriend he only refers to as Diane, he wrote this song in one sitting upon hearing of her death. Became a hit with it's popular music video.)
Liar (4:02) (Inspired by Mustaine's rocky relationship with former guitarist Chris Poland and an insane ex-girlfriend of Diamond's, is a fan favorite.)
Suicide Note Pt I (4:44) (Softer, slower song with dark lyrics)
Suicide Note Pt. II (4:44) (Controversial song that became a huge hit due to the controversy that came with it, considered to have one of the greatest solos of all time)
Fissure (3:18) (Instrumental, popular amoung hardcore fans of both Megadeth and the many bands of the Abbott Brothers)
Hellfire (4:05) (Lesser known song, mostly listened to for it's lyrics)
Anarchy in the U.K. (cover) (3:30) (popular cover version, preaised by metal fans, loathed by punk fans.)
The following tour was successful but problems arose between Mustaine and the Abbott Brothers, who would leave the band before it's European leg of the tour, Mustaine replaced them with Guitarist Marty Friedman and Drummer Nick Menza
Anthrax
Not much changed for the Band Anthrax in the late eighties, who released Amoung the Living on March 22nd, 1987. It was a huge succes fo the band.
Track listing:
Amoung the Living (5:15) (Fan favorite)
Caught in a Mosh (4:59) (Major hit, became an anthem for metalheads.)
I Am the Law (5:57) (Became a fan favorite, and later became an unexpected hit after it was featured in 1995 hit movie Judge Dredd)
A Skeleton in the Closet (5:32) (Lesser known song)
Indians (5:42) (Another hit)
Run to the Hills (Cover) (4:00) (Attracted attention of Iron Maiden fans and pleased Anthrax fans as well.)
Immitaton of Life (5:00) (Lesser known song)
Slayer
Slayer attempted to release the Album South of Heaven in 1988, but controversy from Reign in Blood left them without a label. At this point Slayer began reworking their band to avoid further problems with record companies.