Steve Thompson, the engineer who mixed Metallica’s ‘…And Justice for All,’ talked about the infamous lack of bass on the band’s fourth studio album and revealed he was against the decision from the beginning.
“When I worked with Metallica, I thought they were the best at what they did. [I] loved them, absolutely loved them… Our philosophies were different though, I believed in bass and [Lars Ulrich] didn’t. And when we did ‘…And Justice for All,’ I got nailed for why there’s no bass in the mix,” Thompson said on the Appetite for Distortion podcast.
“This is what they wanted. I mean I fought hard but at the end of the day, it’s their record. If that’s what they want, that’s what you have to give them.”
“I didn’t agree with them. I thought it was stupid because Jason [Newsted’s] bass parts were a great marriage with [James] Hetfield’s rhythm guitars — perfect. But you know, it is what it is.”
Thompson’s comments point back to a difficult period in the band’s studio history. The album and the debate around its sound have been documented many times since its release.
‘…And Justice for All’ was recorded and mixed at One on One in Los Angeles from January to May 1988. The album was produced by Metallica with Flemming Rasmussen, who also served as engineer, while the mix was handled by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero at Bearsville Studios in New York in June 1988.
The record was tracked at One On One Studios, where Rasmussen kept his hands on the faders. The album later reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified eight-times platinum by the RIAA.
Thompson’s account of the mixing sessions has stayed consistent over the years. He told Loudwire that Lars Ulrich came in and said, “This is how I want my drums to sound,” which led to the bass being pushed down until it was barely audible. Rasmussen placed the blame on the mixers instead, saying Thompson and Barbiero used close mics rather than room mics.
Thompson also recalled how far the process went. He told that he was instructed to lower the bass and initially did it as a joke.
“I go, ‘Yeah.’ ‘Drop it down in the mix.’ I said, ‘Why? It’s great.’ ‘Drop it down in the mix.’ … So I did it as a joke. [I] dropped it all the way down,” Thompson said.
The final mix left a lasting mark on the band. Jason Newsted was furious when the finished mix came back and his parts were often buried, a reaction that has followed the album for decades.
