Kill 'Em All

From MetallicaWiki

Kill 'Em All is the famous genre-defining thrash metal debut album by Metallica. It was recorded in just two weeks, with newly hired guitarist Kirk Hammett having only been in the band for a month, and released on July 29, 1983.

Metallica originally planned to title the album Metal Up Your Ass, but Megaforce Records, their record company at the time, urged them to change it. The final title Kill 'Em All was Cliff Burton's idea.

History

Before the release of Kill 'Em All, Metallica's lineup, which consisted of James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Dave Mustaine, and Ron McGovney, went through some drastic changes. McGovney left the band after a fight between himself and Mustaine, and, as a result, they hired Cliff Burton, who left his band Trauma to be in the band. In early 1983, the band fire Mustaine, quoting alcohol problems, drug problems, and Mustaine's feisty aggressiveness as reasons why. The band then hired Kirk Hammett of Exodus to join the band. Despite the feud this caused between Mustaine and Metallica, writing credits were given to Mustaine for four of the songs on Kill 'Em All: "The Four Horsemen", "Jump in the Fire", "Phantom Lord", and "Metal Militia". Hammett also recieved a writing credit on "The Four Horsemen", for writing slower melodic middle section.

Track listing

1. Hit the Lights
2. The Four Horsemen
3. Motorbreath
4. Jump In The Fire
5. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
6. Whiplash
7. Phantom Lord
8. No Remorse
9. Seek & Destroy
10. Metal Militia

1. Blitzkreig
2. Am I Evil

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