Metallica Kill 'Em All: Album Review
25 Years Later Metallica's Debut Album Remains Great
Nov 29, 2008
1983 oversaw the evolution of the metal genre. While Death Metal began to rear its head Metallica would release their first album, Kill ‘Em All, which would receive very little mainstream recognition. However, nine studio albums and twenty-five years later, Kill ‘Em All remains one of Metallica’s strongest albums.
Thrash Metal
This album would serve as a template for many thrash metal bands that would emerge in the wake of Metallica’s success. Unfettered by convention, fan expectations, or tyrannical producers, Kill ‘Em All is the fuse that ignited the popularization of the thrash metal genre.
Kill 'Em All Track by Track
Hit The Lights (4:17): The album begins with ferocity: machine gun palm muting, explosive riffs, and then a gnarly guitar solo, all within the first two minutes of the album. Vocalist James Hetfield’s first lyrics on the album establish the mood for the next ten tracks: “No life till leather/We are gonna kick some ass tonight.” These in-your-face lyrics subscribe to the tenets of metal philosophy in their purest form.
The Four Horsemen (7:08):This is the strongest track on the album. It is composed of multiple different segments; its length supplements the epic lyrical content. The lyrics are a metaphor for Metallica’s significance within the music industry in the 1980’s; they represent an uncompromising, anti-heroic, yet incredibly powerful musical impetus.
Motorbreath (3:03): This track is over as quickly as it starts; the verses and choruses are welded together to create a unifying embodiment of metal. Once again, the lyrics subscribe to metal philosophy: “Don’t stop for nothing its full speed or nothing.”
Jump in the Fire (4:39): This song introduces just one of the many distinct Metallica riffs that has resonated among metal heads for the previous 25 years and will probably continue to resonate for years to come.
Pulling Teeth (4:14): An expert bass solo performed by the original bassist of Metallica, Cliff Burton (R.I.P.). The bass begins slow and groovy, fingering its way towards an explosion of drums and bass. The track serves as an interlude to the second half of the album, which is as relentless as the first half.
Whiplash (4:06):This track is the most explosive on the album. After minutes of shredding the music gives way to Hetfield’s yelling “Whiplash!” and the symphony of distorted guitars, pounding drums, and droning bass all erupt.
Phantom Lord (4:52): Although there are no tracks worth skipping on this album, this song is the most forgettable. The riff is not strong enough to assert its own presence among nine other flawless tracks.
No Remorse (6:24): This is another great track that asserts its solidarity slightly more than the previous track, Phantom Lord. However, it gets lost in-between the commanding nature of Whiplash and the longevity of the following track.
Seek & Destroy (6:50): This song is laced with another very distinct riff that has commanded Metallica’s excellence as riff-smiths for years to come. This track rivals The Four Horsemen for best overall track on the album.
Metal Militia (5:09): The final track is an important one: not only is it an excellent closing track to the album but the lyrics mobilize the metal genre. Hetfield is petitioning to metal fans and musicians alike – thrash metal is the future of rock and roll.
Legacy of Kill 'Em AllThis album is the catalyst that began Metallica's success at the most popular heavy metal band for the next 25 years with no end in sight. This album is their most simplistic, but that gives it a certain appeal to listeners. This album is a good example of thrash metal in its most basic form.
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