KILL 'EM ALL

Just like in my review of Death's debut, entitled Scream Bloody Gore, i would like to say that i will rate this album according to this site and, since this is a PROGRESSIVE ROCK site, i got to rate this album according to progressive rock. However, i cannot change my opinion about this album because, otherwise, i would have to give Kill 'Em All a grade that is unfitting for its importance and its metal goodness, so i will give it 4 stars. I would like to make it clear that this rating has nothing to do with PROGRESSIVE ROCK, but with the quality of a good thrash metal album.

Metallica's Kill 'Em All is, without much doubt, thrash metal first album release ever. Being mainly influenced by the New Wave if British Heavy Metal (specially Iron Maiden and Diamond Head) and the punk / hardcore scene from the San Francisco Bay Area and, in some degree, by Motorhead (which somehow joined metal and punk). Though the NWOBHM can be seen more clearly, specially because of the band's lead guitarist and the song structure, the punk / hardcore influence is also very big, since this album shares with them the aggressive tone of the music as a whole and the rawness. Actually, that rawness can make some doubt if this album is really a thrash metal release, but do not be fooled: this is thrash, and it's good!

The songs as a whole are pretty much straightforward and not very complex in almost every way you look: the guitars, the bass, the drums or the vocals. This will change drastically with Metallica's next release, Ride the Lightning, but as far as Kill 'Em All goes, its all simplicity, headbanging and some short, but sick solos.

the highlights go to Hit the Lights, The Four Horsemen, (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth, Whiplash and Metal Militia.

Grade and Final Thoughts

Nice debut by a nice band and deserves to be rated nicely. The two bonus tracks originally from the Creeping Death EP (Am I Evil?, Diamond Head Cover, and Blitzkrieg, Blitzkrieg Cover) also very good and fit quite well here. Both cover songs are from NWOBHM bands.

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