Metallica - The Shortest Straw (Guitars Only)

[@abrahamlincoln3826]

That tone is brutal

[@sstrick500]

Mic'd cabinets

[@heydavid4883]

It's fucking insane. They used different mesa's for this song than the rest of the album. So much low end, yet so tight

[@DC33879]

Pascal Different amps or cabs? Do you remember what model? This tone has always been absolutely bludgeoning IMO.

[@heydavid4883]

@@DC33879 i've heard they used the mesa mkii c+, the mesa TriAxis, and the ADA MP1 on this album, but i'm not sure which combination of these was used for this song.

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

No shit

[@james_d_eaton]

Fuck I love the super-dry, compressed guitar tone of Justice.

[@josephmay6454]

the and justice guitars often get unfairly blamed for the overall sound of the record, but metallica's mix engineer has said it was lars' fault. He had a super specific drum sound he wanted that the engineer hated -- and lars told him to turn the bass guitars down super super low. Love these guitars

[@james_d_eaton]

@@josephmay6454 this tone will always hold a special place in my heart. I love this album. The guitar tone fits for this album, and it's themes.

[@nicholaschase768]

James has always said he plays the guitar like they're drums. Very percussive and groovy. AJFA is Metallicas magnum opus.

[@Fister_of_Muppets]

Bonus fact: He played the entire song with his cock.

[@nicholaschase768]

Lmfaoooo

[@dingdongism]

The fan favorite for magnum opus will forever be Puppets…but for my money I’m with you. Justice is crushing and devastating.

[@johnhasso8908]

Their magnificent octopus

[@shaneculliton9975]

5:14 that guitar fade in is so badass!

[@H.E.M.]

Gives me chills so cool.

[@johnhasso8908]

THey never did that live tho

[@Pirustae]

That's not fade. It's the opposite. It's gradual eruption. Like a punch gaining momentum.

[@drewwesley9506]

Sounds reversed.

[@Aaron-ts4ym]

That palm mute is like porn but better

[@chefgrandma6925]

Yes

[@ninothebossproductions1613]

Anything is better than that.

[@progfox]

as a porn addict i agree

[@jewel_throne2950]

@@progfoxfurry and a porn addict. Yeah you’re cooked buddy.

[@pogchamp7983]

What a great photo.

[@CrazyGamingPsychos]

let's get this comment to 69 likes bois

[@hanhtar9062]

@@CrazyGamingPsychos Even reached 79 by now

[@1dnr749]

Kirk's SOLO in this is SO FUCKING GOOD and Underrated

[@beatmet2355]

Good lord, these riffs

[@manipreferchicken4083]

RIGHT?

[@teamatfort444]

more like FUCK ME THE TIGHTNESS

[@jakesbedroom]

honestly i think james hetfield is one of the best guitarists of all time, imo tho :)

[@corrzz13th]

@@jakesbedroom totally agree! anyone who think otherwise is just silly

[@robertwest7889]

\m/ Capt'n Crunch \m/

[@lumhavollidrums]

Best performance of Jason and Lars

[@Finn_the_Cat]

Lum Havolli I didn’t get that at first but ok then

[@sstrick500]

Ouch. This album is probably Lars' greatest drumming (creative wise). Half beats, off beats, switch-a-roos, etc. Not just 1 . 2 . 1 . 2 . 1 . 2 .1 .2

[@lumhavollidrums]

@@Finn_the_Cat Jason didn't get it either but ok then

[@Macrohard_On_Fire]

sstrick500 he’s saying it’s the best performance of Jason and Lars because you can’t hear either of them in the video

[@charlesbukowski9752]

@@Macrohard_On_Fire it's pretty obvious that he got that part. The "Ouch" part. Duh!

[@androidrulez444]

Hearing this song without the bass getting in the way is a whole new experience

[@peterstefan6900]

The bass track is in this vid too

[@kingpriapatius5832]

haha

[@redrocket9861]

This is how all bass players should sound

[@Steve-qz3wi]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂that's cruel!.

[@robertb2245]

What bass ??..there is no bass

[@mmoussa94]

I'm headbanging even without the drums

[@tazzi8085]

Moussa the palm muting alone is like drums itself

[@XleperXmessiahX]

Tightest tones and gallops on guitar and solo work. Best drum work as well. One of their best technical albums in my opinion

[@ali965]

almost prog metal

[@tallica3595]

Concordo!

[@megadayve]

and substantial content! their best!

[@cesuntbanii]

my favorite!!!!

[@andrewalexb]

Ill never know why this song is disliked? This has truly some of the best riffage on the entire album. Totally Brutal

[@ImaHeatseekr]

Ive never heard of anyone disliking this song always love

[@andrewalexb]

@@ImaHeatseekr At least from song/album ranking sites, they always consider this song to be low down on the pecking order, but then again what do they know; this song slays

[@spideyethan3459]

@@andrewalexb Yep

[@My_Lacrimosa]

It's disliked because the solo is fairly boring and the tempo is right in the middle of the road between shit like Dyers Eve and And Justice For All. Basically, Shortest Straw is like filler. Really well written filler

[@synishere]

@@andrewalexb it’s the worst song on Justice because every song on Justice is great, not because it’s bad. I give the shortest Straw an 8/10.

[@jordanbaynes6809]

1:43 is such a good riff

[@Bzorlan]

This is really well isolated. You can actually hear where each separate recording of the solo starts. Good job man

[@johnp82]

You know this is the original track right?

[@Bzorlan]

@@johnp82 oh shit is it? Did metallica release it?

[@johnp82]

@@Bzorlan yeah, through Guitar Hero.

[@InVougeProductions]

@@johnp82 is that how all these tracks are appearing on youtube?

[@johnp82]

@@InVougeProductions yes

[@fam.hunger5244]

Metallica and Flemmimg Rasmussen made the most aggressive guitar sound ever on this Album

[@nicholasbradshaw]

Black Album is my number 1 guitar tone with how it blends in with the drums so well, but Justice is my favourite when isolated.

[@darth_vyper]

Love the Chorus-y vibe from the overdubs and IMO this is Kirk's best and most underrated solo

[@DaveTaste]

Everything that ever happened is underrated

[@milosvasiljevic7995]

Overdubs makes everything 20x more metal

[@My_Lacrimosa]

Nah, the solo from track 2 of AJFA really kills this one, this is his most Kirk-sounding solo, but best? Most people don't even like this song

[@nisterror]

Absolutely love this solo.

[@vs4571]

It’s likely my favorite Kirk solo. And the 2nd solo kills too.

[@Red_Eyed_Rebel]

That tone is why AJFA is my favorite metal album of all time

[@wahpedalabuser3495]

especially the bass tone

[@firecandys]

@@wahpedalabuser3495 funny bass joke

[@jeffarab4947]

Yup plus master of puppets tone as well. But this is thr best

[@ThrashSoul999]

@@firecandys I can't hear you dude

[@HeavyRaiden]

@@wahpedalabuser3495 Actually the bass tone is sick. Look up to the bass tracks from Jason

[@scottturner1504]

That riff has enough mass to form a black hole this was absolutely destructive for its time

[@Artty-fl8ul]

That guitar solo is in my top five best ever!

[@frayedsanity]

If this doesn't help people learn these songs right, then I don't know what will. This is amazing, thankyou so much! Keep it up!

[@ghostzz2614]

tabs

[@pedroreis8832]

3:50

[@ripper_89]

Thank u

[@MrMusicGuy1980]

I always love this solo, one of Kirks best imo

[@megamuerte6934]

I think this song is the definition of AJFA guitar tone

[@astrodidit3994]

1:42 good lord😰🤤

[@vs4571]

I literally played air drums along with it twice, I fucked up the intro and came in too early and had to redo it. I lost my smile after the solo, got it back at the last chorus section. Love this! Legendary fills and guitar solos and the riffs don’t stop. A+

[@mattberth4360]

This helped me greatly when learning

[@dyerseve45]

Its like hes strangling his guitar then at the perfect time, he allows it a breath to punch the listener in the face. Hetfield just has the gift of being able to play what sounds cool in his head. What a fucking legend.

[@24slipknot]

All time favorite Metallica riff @ 1:41

[@burialofficial8913]

bruh that solo🤤🤤🤤

[@Mysterywhiteboy78]

My favourite Metallica album followed by Puppets and Ride the Lightning..

[@kooldawg6]

One of the many reasons AJFA is by far my most favorite Metallica album start to finish! That even takes into account that Jason was basically left out of the mix...

[@MikeysMorgue]

Vicious guitar tone! ⚖

[@StudioMargalima]

I don't listen metal often anymore. But AJFA and BA were my first albums from Metallica and metal in general. And i love this dry guitar so much, that i ever since that moments *always* use the AJFA sound as a reference to other metal bands and other tallica albums. Conclusion: *nothing* comes close. Except *maybe* for MOP and BA. The latter i like more than the first, because of the tightness. Btw these guitar sound track sound a bit 'wetter' than without drums and less tight. I love the dry, but highly trebled and tightly damped AJFA sound.

[@chasemiller7974]

@@toad8840 Yeah it's that low mid high low freq speaker rubbing noise.

[@dervpool]

@@toad8840 I have a quite similar setup to what they used on this album and tbh the sound itself really is okay. The thing that makes it stick out on the album is that the bass is lacking. Really if you combine this with a backing track with bass this sounds awesome. Just a case of bad mixing/mastering.

[@tijmen6947]

Load and reload had much better production. Both great sounding tho

[@SouradeepSBK]

Nice to hear Jason's Bass as well.

[@jonnyj.]

Dunno what you're hearing but there is absolutely no bass guitar here. Its an isolated guitar track...

[@SouradeepSBK]

@@jonnyj. You missed the joke.

[@arbazann]

@@jonnyj. bruh

[@veilard3469]

@@jonnyj. bruh delete pls

[@wudderbottles]

@@jonnyj. I give your comment a hell no!

[@mikesperko3921]

Fu***** crazy tone

[@korhansoydan]

When you create this guitar sound, combine it one of the greatest drums mix, there you have the reason why duke james & earl lars lowered the bass in the main mix.

[@Y4vuz12]

Dude i fucken love everything else about this album's mix. Wish Jason was heard

[@mr.hedgehog420]

no, the actual reason has already been stated in interviews. James (and rest of band) was still hurting after Cliff's death and as part of the hazing process they turned down jason's mix to barely audible. You can listen to the interview with Rasmussen (the producer) what James said according to him was "'Take the bass down so you can just hear it, and then once you've done that take it down a further 3 dBs' I have no idea why they wanted that, but it was totally out of my hands". Even the guy who mixed the album was unhappy and went as far as trying to quit the project because he didn't want to be apart of something he didn't like but management forced him into it. Rasmussen also said "I'm probably one of the only people in the world...who heard the bass tracks...and they are fking brilliant". Listen to One or Blackened with the bass turned up a few times and then listen to the original version, it sounds so dry and bland afterwards. The bass in my opinion was such a valuable and important part in the music of this album but for most people, they never got to hear it.

[@b-sideplank]

@@mr.hedgehog420 Unfair to Jason, them being asshole.. yes and yes. No doubt. But the end result was interesting and I personally think sounds really cool. The lack of bass made it exceptional. In fact I think lot of multi tracked dirty guitar mixing can do without a bass.

[@mr.hedgehog420]

@@b-sideplank I do too think the end result was interesting however listening to the versions where the bass was added back into the mix I honestly really do prefer that. Especially for a song like 'One' I consistently listen to the version with bass added back over the original since I believe it adds much more depth and produces a better sound. Its just a matter of opinion in all honesty.

[@b-sideplank]

@@mr.hedgehog420 yeah, I hear you. Although sometimes I wish they forgot to mix Lars's part in. Lol

[@Gabe-1997]

I can hear the influence this had on Dimebag Darrell

[@alicemarga9906]

The bass also sounds good here!

[@grantorourke6796]

Great riffs love this song

[@KoMar551]

OK so the only 2 missing things here are drums and vocals

[@themightyblat5007]

haha i get it because there is no bass haha so funny

[@Leo-ol2ir]

And bass...oh wait

[@RandomPerson-ui3xv]

Wow haha peak comedy original ajfa bass joke so funny haha

[@My_Lacrimosa]

It's only actually just missing another guitar

[@F3502000]

That album is so friggin good!!

[@johnhasso8908]

One of Kirkuses' best solos

[@Miguel-wi8lo]

Uno de los riffs más violentos de la banda. James y kirk muy precisos, hacen un verdadero muro sónico.

[@antonschudich552]

Brutal riff brutal sólo Kirk

[@mikesperko3921]

Best metal tone ever

[@ktuluflux]

It’s riff after riff after riff. My god.

[@fatimapalacios2292]

1:42 🔥🔥🔥

[@22bryant]

They should make an album with this same tone,,,

[@romans003]

The song is an absolute banging monster, if you don’t like it, then you know Nothing about heavy metal, and groove

[@UchihaZoSo]

If they didn't castrate this album's production it would be Metallica's best album and I'll die on that hill

[@enricopallazzo2987]

This album was the benchmark for distortion since it was released in 88. We referred to it as “and justice for all” crunch. Also “chomps and vints “ Never did attain it 😂

[@H.E.M.]

Is this kirks hardest solo?

[@heydavid4883]

Idk but it's up there for sure. Creeping death, disposable heroes, and dyers eve are pretty tricky too, but it depends on what your skills are as a player that makes a solo hard. Marty's rust in peace stuff is on a whole other level though

[@AndJusticeForAll...1985]

I think blackened is kirks best

[@AndJusticeForAll...1985]

Either blackened or Eye. No matter what, AJFA album goes the hardest. I’ve been listening to it for 20 years and it never gets old to me. I’m even in love with the album cover. That 80’s greeeeeen.

[@coconejococonejo]

@@heydavid4883 "Marty's rust in peace stuff is on a whole other level though" that has nothing to do with the asked question.

[@heydavid4883]

@@coconejococonejo i answered the question though... I was just adding on

[@Hoscitt]

Approaching 35 years of obsessively fanboying over this tone now!

[@jammtraxx]

I Will Always Love These Battery Acid Drinkin', Dirty Tabacco Spit Tastin' Riffs Metallica are Famous For.

[@starblack8470]

the best solo of metallica imo

[@flaviolopes2613]

I heard a lot of shit about Kirk,ok,he should pratice more,but try to play this solo...is super hard!

[@Bzorlan]

There are 4 or 5 different parts of the main solo that were recorded separately. It's a very hard solo but if you're recording you should practice so that you can do it in 1.

[@oldmatevb]

SANG many bands cuts and paste things to get the best overall take and Kirk can play this live pretty easily.

[@xname662]

4:30

[@27228443]

3:50 is where everyone holds up their American flag lol, such a political feel to that part. Amazing guitars.

[@tijmen6947]

Na its just a cool melody. Doesnt sound patriotic at all imo

[@nishanth6403]

​@@tijmen6947It actually does

[@calebquezada9949]

Are the guitars in reverse at 5:14 ?

[@stefan_the_music_sorcerer]

Yeah

[@depechemoderemas]

I think it's just a fast "fading in" (or a volume swell)

[@MikeOxlong-]

@@depechemoderemas yep just an editorial volume swell.

[@Bzorlan]

@@MikeOxlong- could be done with the volume knob too

[@Trash_vvizard]

Like sang said it could be done with a volume swell, like when I do playthroughs of this song, I hit the last note before the swell itself, lower the nob, and then turn it back up while it's still ringing out and it sounds not the same but pretty good

[@itube1871]

James is a fucking God

[@trentonclay1043]

You add the drums to this track and that’s the whole track

[@Jeb4100]

and vocals. and bass.. oh wait

[@RipRepRap]

genius 1:42 to 1:50 loop on my guitar

[@maaraa01]

The pic kills me lol!

[@av3nger3]

4:25 you can hear a different guitar solo take kick in! The frequency response is slightly different.

[@facepalmjesus1608]

ofc the had no bass! the bass is on the guitars themselves

[@czr7j9]

I like how they resolve the song with the higher chord at 5:52

[@nehuge]

sounds like the led zeppelin "ohhh ahhh woaaaah"

[@catfightparadise]

Hell fuck yeah!

[@Jake__-qy4jq]

1:50

[@wahpedalabuser3495]

The bass is still there if you listen closely

[@ekainalonso6004]

Actually sounds very similar to the black album, if you don't believe me go and check enter sandman guitar track

[@arbazann]

the thing is the black album also has bass so that's why it sounds fuller than ajfa. also ajfa has the weird cardboard drums so that also makes it sound more raw.

[@ekainalonso6004]

@@arbazann but i think that a lot of the low end in ajfa comes from guitars a and sometimes sounds too harsh

[@arbazann]

@@ekainalonso6004 yeah it's not like a smooth low end it's very distorted so that kinda makes it fart out in a way. still chunky tho.

[@David-gc8bo]

King lion James!

[@edwinharris3699]

Brutality.

[@janfarkas8953]

If it had a bass on it it would be their best album. Still my favourite tho

[@Ledmetacdc]

and not a single mid was heard that day.

[@debonaire_nerd]

The shortest string.

[@jakeblackwell1983]

Epic as fuck

[@MäenpääHarri]

4:03-4:42

[@denis4800]

Like a fuckin CHAINSAW!!!

[@Flesydok_]

(guitars and bass included)

[@demonicon1]

No wonder they left the bass inaudible, they didn't need it with that heavy fucking tone

[@ahhReno]

I'd put any of Kirk's solos on this album over Marty's Tornado of Souls

[@Memper]

0:03

[@Mike-xj6pi]

It’s there best record

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

James looks disgusted... Kirk...

[@hornethive]

4 or 5 guitar tracks?

[@christophergeorgakis1321]

Flatter and more 2 dimensional than a wall! But listen to how the levels are are moved CONSTANTLY on the board to ebb and swell with the mix- what an innovative sound. Pure bludgeoning guitar with zero "space".

[@knightsonofjack]

For a sec I thought Kirk's top lip was his chin and it freaked me out

[@josephtlaforce9853]

Metallica inspired me to quit playing guitar

[@nicolashrv]

They just had to remove the drums and the vocals from the album

[@JC.LC.]

Super aggressive.

[@DamageInc-gs9ii]

Hey i can hear the bass !

[@flaviumaxin8056]

You didn't remove the bass!!

[@oldmatevb]

Is the second solo out of key?

[@jussiparkkonen9853]

Yes, the rhythm guitar is playing in E minor/phrygian but Kirk is playing G minor pentatonic which kinda clashes with it

[@oldmatevb]

Jussi Parkkonen hmmm weird creative decision by Kirk, it’s not like he doesn’t know his keys or anything. I reckon it fits anyway

[@padgemahaj3167]

I hate the second solo don’t what they were trying to do

[@qcgarcia]

sounds more 'chorusey' without the rest of the mix.

[@robbiepeterh]

Does James do all the rhythm on records?

[@tedrich]

He did for the 1st 5 albums 100%.

[@Hoscitt]

And harmonies

[@DaveTaste]

Shortest Straw without drums *

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Phaser or something in there. Lightly. Coulda done without IMHO.

[@Hoscitt]

That'll be the low quality rip!

[@heydavid4883]

If there was flanger or phaser on this, you'd hear it. The combination of layering many guitars, the blending of different mesa's, and eq/compression is how you get this sound

[@teamatfort444]

its slight reverb

[@ryangreene50]

I think it’s just all the layers of guitars

[@darth_vyper]

Slight reverb, and layers of overdubs