Kill 'Em All | 
| Artist: Metallica
Label: Elektra / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $8.20
You Save: $10.78 (57%)
New (46) Used (22) Collectible (9) from $7.47
Rating:  530 reviews
Sales Rank: 802
Format: Original Recording Reissued
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 60766
UPC: 075596076623
EAN: 0075596076623
ASIN: B000002H5E
Release Date: June 20, 1995
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Hit the Lights | | • | The Four Horsemen | | • | Motorbreath | | • | Jump in the Fire | | • | (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth - Metallica, Burton, Cliff | | • | Whiplash | | • | Phantom Lord | | • | No Remorse | | • | Seek and Destroy | | • | Metal Militia |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
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Amazon.com
While not as timeless as Ride the Lightning or Master Puppets, Metallica's debut album--originally released in 1983--is still a fine piece of thrash metal, and as good a marker as any for the debut of the genre. Fusing the rapid-fire attack of bands like Motorhead with a guitar style reminiscent of such British heavy metal bands as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, Metallica essentially created a new kind of metal. Several of the songs from this 1983 album have since become classics, including "Seek & Destroy", "The Four Horsemen", and "Jump in the Fire". The songwriting isn't as sophisticated as on Metallica's later releases; still, it's a great listen, and essential for any heavy metal fan. --Genevieve Williams
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| Customer Reviews: Read 525 more reviews...
 "Killer" Thrash July 17, 2005
A. Stutheit (Denver, CO USA)
42 out of 50 found this review helpful
Metallica's 1983 debut wasn't exactly a good representation of them. "Kill `Em All" isn't nearly as dark as Metallica's later releases, like "Ride the Lightning." Plus, this album is a lot faster and thrashier. "Kill `Em All" is the sound of original thrash metal. Now, this band didn't give birth to speed metal (Motorhead did), but Metallica were the first to release a studio LP. Later in the 1980's, thrash would become very popular and bands like Anthrax, Testament, and Slayer would crop up.
Since this is the first available album that James, Kirk, Lars, and Cliff played together, it is somewhat immature. James' vocals are high pitched and some of his lyrics (i.e. "We'll never stop/we'll never quit/'cause we're Metallica!") are pretty amateur, but it's interesting to see what Metallica were like 20-some years ago. And "Kill `Em All" is still a very entertaining listen and great thrash. It may not be as brutal or rapid as say Slayer, but it's very catchy and full of fiery, breakneck-speed, buzzsaw guitar riffs and scorching solos.
1. "Hit the Lights" begins with the guitars slowly fading in, then, after Lars does a little smattering drum pattern, Kirk and James set their fret boards on fire with fast running riffs. This song has an audible, beeping bassline, but the real highlight is the several careening, almost screeching guitar solos.
2. "Four Horsemen" is Metallica's very first single, and it's still in regular rotation at radio stations (where I live, at least). It's not as fast as the first track, but it's quite catchy. It has an almost galloping beat, at times, and two more long, winding, classical sounding guitar solos.
3. "Motorbreath" begins with a drum intro, and a thumping snare drum runs throughout, but the really fast chugging guitar riffs are what dominate, here.
4. "Jump in the Fire" has more fast, chugging guitar work, but these riffs are different because they're groove-y and very catchy. Plus, there's another long, increasingly fast guitar solo near the end.
5. "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" is primarily, just one long solo. But it's not the work of Kirk or James... it's a bass solo! Cliff plays low, gluey, rumbling notes which make for a buzzing, beeping, ascending, occasionally wailing and wah-wah solo. A relaxed drum beat kicks in around the 2:40 mark, but Cliff makes this song world renowned among the metal community.
6. "Whiplash" begins with a low thumping of a bass drum, then James and Kirk come aboard and light up this track with "whiplash" speed guitar work and tempo changes. I enjoy how the beat builds to a point, then pauses, and James shouts "Here we go!" Briefly, at the end of this song, it becomes a stop-start beat.
7. "Phantom Lord" has another stop-start rhythm and riffs, and a couple pick slides, but James' vocals are almost inaudible because they're drowned out by the guitars. The beat then slows way down, but some heavy riffs and a pair of cascading Hammett solos speed it back up.
8. "No Remorse" is still a staple of Metallica's live show. It has rhythmic chug and churn riffs and one more, long, wailing guitar solo which makes this song gain density and speed.
9. "Seek & Destroy" has another very famous opening guitar melody, before it turns to crunchy riffs. This song is, musically, fairly repetitive, but it's still plenty catchy thanks to James' vocals.
10. "Metal Militia" is highlighted by more insane, rip-roaring guitar work.
So, "Kill `Em All" is a great thrash record and it has great musicianship. Even though it may not be the best representation of Metallica, and it's not as classic or essential as Metallica's second and third albums, it's still a great listen and it is very highly recommend for all metalheads. Plus, this is a very influential, original, and a milestone album, so if you want a complete heavy metal or thrash-metal collection, you definitely need to pick this up.
We'll never stop, we'll never quit...cuz we're Metallica July 13, 2004
Harvey Henkelmann (USA)
21 out of 32 found this review helpful
Behold, the album that ushered in a new era for heavy metal!
Combining the sheer aural assault of Motorhead, along with more memorable interludes of bands such as Deep Purple and Budgie. 'Kill 'Em All' essentially revamped heavy metal, and made Metallica the reigning musical kings for the remainder of the 1980's.
Nowadays, it's ironic to hear these guys dissing Napster, and praising corporations such as MTV. I suppose they forgot that tape trading is what helped them get noticed by fans and the record labels to begin with.
'Bang the head that doesn't Bang,' they said....... February 24, 2000
Johnny S Geddes (Enlgand)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
Heavy metal is a dead genre now but this, Metallica's debut LP, ushers back in all the imagery of 1980's doom, gloom and talk show worry talk again every time you hear it. 'Kill 'em All' comprises ten tracks (twelve if you can get your hands on the 1984 rerelease with the Diamondhead and Blitzkrieg covers) that pulsate with a speed/thrash energy not heard since. Perhaps a little dated to younger ears today, there is a lot to enjoy on here. In the speed category we have 'Hit the Lights', 'Motorbreath' and 'Jump In the Fire', while 'Seek and Destroy', 'No Remorse', 'Whiplash' and the masterful 'The Four Horsemen' line the forefront of the thrash section. The terrific thing about this album is that its sound hardly betrays the tender ages of its creators (20 years old on average). This was hard, fast, nasty music which combatted well the growing armies of glam-metalheads who were also coming out of L.A. . While not as refined as 'Ride the Lightning' or as well produced as 'Master of Puppets', 'Kill 'em All' possesses an exceedingly powerful feel (if all bands had a freshman release as killer as this, the record labels wouldn't know where to put the money!)and if there is any filler ('Motorbreath' and 'Whiplash' only being the weaker tracks), it has yet to show itself to these ears. There's also a few extra goodies in here. Apart from being shown the ugly mugs of these good natured lads in their post-pubecent stages, there is the strange 'Anesthesia - Pulling Teeth'. I don't like it as a song but I can appreciate why it was included: essentially as a buffer zone between the raunchy power of 'Jump in the Fire' and the blind road racing rocker 'Whiplash'. Also look out for 'Metal Militia'. Forget its monotony of sound and imagine the marching metal troopers descending upon every aspect of pop culture you never liked and wrecking them to bits. That's what 'Kill 'em All' meant to me ten years ago when I first found it and, although I only rarely listen to it anymore (why bother when I can play every part of every song using my mind's own 'MP3 player'), I would surmise that that meaning still exists to some smaller degree for me today........
The Holy Bible of Thrash October 17, 2006
J. Brittman (Long Island, New York)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
The original Metallica: James Hetfield (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Cliff Burton (Bass Guitar), Lars Ulrich (Drums) AND DAVE MUSTAINE (LEAD GUITAR)!!! Most of the leads and riffs you'll hear on Kill 'Em All were written by Dave Mustaine which is why the 1st Metallica album sounds more like a Megadeth record than any other Metallica record. Kirk Hammett stepped in admirably to fill Mustaine's huge shoes but one is only left to wonder, if Mustaine had stayed in Metallica would they be the running joke that they are today? Probably not. Anyway, Kill 'Em All is a flawless rundown of Metallica classics from The Four Horsemen to Motorbreath to Seek and Destroy, the riffs just keep coming. Of all the Metallica albums, this is the one that I listen to the most. Some critics and fans may say that their subsequent albums (Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning) are better but to me this is the truest representation of what Metallica was meant to be. An absolute must-own classic! P.S. Why would they reissue this album and omit two of it's strongest tracks (Blitzkrieg and Am I Evil)?!?!?!?!?
Tracks rated 1-10:
1. Hit the Lights (9.5/10)
2. The Four Horsemen (11/10)
3. Motorbreath (9/10)
4. Jump in the Fire (10/10)
5. Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth) (9/10)
6. Whiplash (10/10)
7. Phantom Lord (11/10)
8. No Remorse (9.5/10)
9. Seek and Destroy (10/10)
10. Metal Militia (9/10)
Almost makes you forget St. Anger July 11, 2004
Tom Z (USA)
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
In some ways it makes me sad to listen to this album. Not because it's depressing stuff but because it makes me remember what Metallica has become. Seeing something this good turn into something as horrible as St. Anger proves that even the impossible happens sometimes. This, along with Slayer, is responsible for creating and inspiring many genres and bands. Death Metal, Thrash, and a plethora of other genres probably wouldn't exist without this. Too many bands to count have been inspired by this stuff. The songs are very well crafted and everyone in the band brings their best to the table. A must buy for any metal fan. Listen to it enough and maybe you can forget St. Anger. I recommend anything from Meshuggah, Testament, Death, Susperia, Pantera or Beyond the Embrace in addition to this.
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