There are very few albums that are genuine game changers, Kill ‘Em All is most definitely one of them. Up until this album, thrash was something that Arsenal used to do to Liverpool at Anfield. I have very fond memories of head banging to this beast with Fixer in my bedroom and thinking this was the best thing ever. This wasn’t the first thing the band had recorded. Hit The Lights first appeared on a Metal Massacre compilation and their self financed demo tape, No Life Till Leather. Everyone knows how Mustaine was removed from the band, but his influence is on four tracks that he co-wrote with Lars and James.
Along with Exodus and Anthrax, Metallica were the founders of thrash period. I don’t put Slayer in that category as I consider them to be a joke compared to the other three. There is not one second of this record that does not put a smile on my face, and it still has that effect today. The Four Horseman is an absolute monster of a tune and a definite genre defining track. Whiplash is another killer tune where speed definitely killed. Side 2 has to be the strongest side of metal ever put to record. Phantom Lord, complete with the slowed down section, has great dynamics as well as heaviness and speed. No Remorse has a killer riff and groove, and is simple but effective. Seek And Destroy is probably Metallica’s best known track, and yet is at a more normal pace, but that riff and the repeating chugga’s gets you every time! Close out track, Metal Militia, is just insanity and is as fast as hell. Well, it was at the time!
I wonder if the band that recorded this could see themselves now and what would they think. Anyhoo, this is a classic and if you only could buy one Metallica album, I would chose this one.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
