Metallica--Kill 'Em All (1983)
Rating--8.6
And so the saga starts... This album marked the beginning of a career that would include achievements above and
beyond the odds, and later dissapointment that would pull at the strings of the hearts of countless faithful...
Punkish in nature in some places, but
still staggering speed metal (especially for the time). Not as bottom heavy as the two followups; however, there are some excellent thrash chord
chugs present throughout. Definitely the band at its rawest and most uninhibited.
"The Four Horsemen" is the first song that really
makes you sit up and take notice, as the rhythm change halfway through shows a creative chemistry and style the band would
work on and perfect over the next four years or so. "Jump in the Fire" is non-stop riff, as the drums and groove keep you from ever
catching your breath.
A number of the band's most memorable and powerful tunes hail from the second half of this disc,
as "No Remorse" and "Seek & Destroy" do just as the latter's title suggests... Both have tremendous riffs and verse-covering
grooves, and "Seek" contains another excellent time change and pick-up towards the end. Hetfield's voice on "No Remorse" is
classic. It's what he used to be capable of-- biting, caustic power.
"Metal Militia" is fast and thrashy, but with good notes that jump out and slap you
around a bit. "Anasthesia" is mainly a bass instrumental, and contains some solid phrasing in the first half.
Two solid covers here:
"Blitzkreig" and "Am I Evil?" The first features some excellent guitar neck work, and the second is pure, simple power. Slow groove,
and then double-time the drums. Oh, yesss!
TRACK LIST: Hit the Lights/The Four Horsemen/Motorbreath/Jump in the Fire/(Anasthesia)--Pulling Teeth/Whiplash/Blitzkreig/
Phantom Lord/No Remorse/Seek & Destroy/Metal Militia/Am I Evil?
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