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Rating:
First of all, this is my first review and I don't know if it will be decent (at least, I hope it is).
In 1983, a band called Metallica, composed of four young guys (at the time) named James Hetfield on guitar (rhythm) and vocals, Kirk Hammett on guitar (lead), Cliff Burton on bass, and Lars Ulrich on drums. Influenced by hardcore punk and NWOBHM bands, they mix these two genres and give life to "Kill 'em All," their first studio album and the first to start a new genre of extreme heavy metal called "thrash metal," the illegitimate child of the two genres that greatly influenced the band.
It's worth mentioning that in this album, Dave Mustaine, the former lead guitarist of Metallica, contributed to the composition of four very beautiful songs, namely: "The Four Horsemen", "Jump in the Fire", "Phantom Lord", and "Metal Militia". He was later kicked out of the band due to his problems with drugs and alcohol.
Now let's analyze the first part of the album properly. Kicking off the show is the opener "Hit the Lights" which starts with a drum work by Ulrich and then bursts into a fast and frantic riff, ending with some excellent solos. The following "The Four Horsemen" is one of the longest songs on the album, but the pace doesn't drop and the speed is maintained as in the previous song, only at the midway point there's a great melodic part. "Motorbreath" is one of the shortest and is a straight thrash metal punch in the teeth. Now it's one of the most beautiful songs on the album's turn, and we are talking about "Jump in the Fire" which has a simple and pleasant refrain; here too there are excellent solos at the end. Now it's time for one of the band's best instrumental tracks, "Anesthesia" composed entirely by the legendary Cliff Burton, who plays his powerful bass and ends with a drum-backed solo.
Now let's analyze the second part of the album, starting with "Whiplash" where Ulrich's drums, once again, kick off the show and then burst into numerous fast and adrenaline-filled riffs; in short, it's a headbanging song. "Phantom Lord" starts with a slow drum intro, followed by more raw and frantic riffs accompanied by Hetfield's ever-angrier voice. Now there's one of the songs I really like, and it's "No Remorse" which features a frighteningly extreme and fast rhythmic section compared to the previous songs, the ending is downright devastating. "Seek & Destroy" is one of the absolute best songs on the album, this one is never missing from their live shows, the initial riff is one of the best composed by Metallica. The album ends beautifully with "Metal Militia", brutal and fierce enough to break through reinforced concrete walls.
In a few words "Kill 'em All" is a masterpiece in every sense, both for metal music and music in general. I recommend it to fans of the genre and to those who haven't listened to it yet. The best songs are... all of them.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Hit the Lights (04:17)
No life till leather
We are gonna kick some ass tonight
We got the metal madness
When our fans start screaming
It's right well alright
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
You know our fans are insane
We are gonna blow this place away
With volume higher
Than anything today the only way
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
With all our screaming
We are gonna rip right through your brain
We got the lethal power
It is causing you sweet pain Oh sweet pain
When we start to rock
We never want to stop again
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
Hit the lights
02 The Four Horsemen (07:13)
By the last breath of the fourth winds blow
Better raise your ears
The sound of hooves knocks at your door
Lock up your wife and children now
It's time to wield the blade
For now you have got some company
The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die
You have been dying since the day you were born
You know it has all been planned
The quartet of deliverance rides
A sinner once a sinner twice
No need for confession now
Cause now you have got the fight of your life
The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die
Time
Has taken its toll on you
The lines that crack your face
Famine
Your body it has torn through
Withered in every place
Pestilence
For what you have had to endure
And what you have put others through
Death
Deliverance for you for sure
There is nothing you can do
So gather round young warriors now
And saddle up your steeds
Killing scores with demon swords
Now is the death of doers of wrong
Swing the judgment hammer down
Safely inside armor blood guts and sweat
The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On the leather steeds they ride
They have come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four Horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die
03 Motorbreath (03:08)
Living and dying laughing and crying
Once you have seen it you will never be the same
Life in the fast lane is just how it seems
Hard and it is heavy and dirty and mean
Motorbreath
It's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
Don't stop for nothing it's full speed or nothing
I am taking down you know whatever is in my way
Getting your kicks as you are shooting the line
Sending the shivers up and down my spine
Motorbreath
It's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
Those people who tell you not to take chances
They are all missing on what life is about
You only live once so take hold of the chance
Don't end up like others the same song and dance
Motorbreath
It's how I live my life
I can't take it any other way
Motorbreath
The sign of living fast
It is going to take
Your breath away
06 Whiplash (04:09)
Late at night all systems go
You have come to see the show
We do our best You're the rest
You make it real you know
There is a feeling deep inside
That drives you fuckin' mad
A feeling of a hammerhead
You need it oh so bad
Adrenalin starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash
Bang your head against the stage
Like you never did before
Make it ring Make it bleed
Make it really sore
In a frenzied madness
With your leather and your spikes
Heads are bobbing all around
It is hot as hell tonight
Adrenalin starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash
Here on the stage the Marshal noise
Is piercing through your ears
It kicks your ass kick your face
Exploding feeling nears
Now is the time to let it rip
To let it fuckin' loose
We are gathered here to maim and kill
Cause this is what we choose
Adrenalin starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash
The show is through the metal is gone
It is time to hit the road
Another town Another gig
Again we will explode
Hotel rooms and motorways
Life out here is raw
But we will never stop
We will never quit
Cause we are Metallica
Adrenalin starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash
07 Phantom Lord (05:01)
Sound is ripping through your ears
The deafening sound of metal nears
Your bodies waiting for his whips
The taste of leather on your lips
Hear the cry of War
Louder than before
With his sword in hand
to control the land
Crushing metal strikes
on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
Victims falling under chains
You hear them crying death pains
The fists of terrors breaking through
Now there's nothing you can do
Hear the cry of War
Louder than before
With his sword in ha o
to control the land
Crushing metal strikes
on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
The leather armies have prevailed
The Phantom Lord has never failed
Smoke is lifting from the ground
The rising volume metal sound
Hear the cry of War
Louder than before
With his sword in hand
to control the land
Crushing metal strikes
on this frightening night
Fall onto your knees
For the Phantom Lord
Fall to your knees
and bow to the Phantom Lord
08 No Remorse (06:26)
No mercy for what we are doing
No thought to even what we have done
We don't need to feel the sorrow
No remorse for the helpless one
War without end
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
Blood feeds the war machine
as it eats its way across the land
We don't need the feel the sorrow
No remorse is the one command
War without end
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
Only the strong survive
No one to save the weaker race
We are ready to kill all comers
Like a loaded gun right at your face
War without end
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
No remorse No repent
We don't care what it meant
Another day Another death
Another sorrow Another breath
Attack
Bullets are flying
People are dying
with madness surrounding all hell's breaking loose
Soldiers are hounding
Bodies are mounting
cannons are shouting to take their abuse
With war machines going
Blood starts to flowing
No mercy given to anyone hear
The furious fighting
Swords are like lighting
It all becomes frightening to you
Know death is near
No remorse
09 Seek & Destroy (06:55)
Alright
We are scanning the scene
in the city tonight
We are looking for you
to start up a fight
There is an evil feeling
in our brains
But it is nothing new
you know it drives us insane
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
There is no escape
and that is for sure
This is the end we won't take any more
Say goodbye
to the world you live in
You have always been taking
but now your giving
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Our brains are on fire
with the feeling to kill
And it will not go away
until our dreams are fulfilled
There is only one thing
on our minds
Don't try running away
`cause you're the one we will find
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Running,
On our way
Hiding,
You will pay
Dying,
One thousand deaths
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
Searching,
Seek and Destroy
10 Metal Militia (05:11)
Thunder and lightning the gods take revenge
Senseless destruction
Victims of fury are cowardly now
Running for safety
Stabbing the harlot to pay for her sins
Leaving the virgin
Suicide running as if it were free
Ripping and tearing
Oh through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Chained and shadowed to be left behind
nine and one thousand
Metal militia for your sacrifice
iron clad soldiers
Join or be conquered the law of the land
What will befall you
The metalization of your inner soul
twisting and turning
Oh through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
We are as one as we all are the same
fighting for one cause
Leather and metal are our uniforms
protecting what we are
Joining together to take on the world
with our heavy metal
Spreading the message to everyone here
Come let yourself go
Oh through the mist and the madness
We are trying to get the message to you
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
Metal Militia
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Other reviews
By The_Bassist
Kill 'Em All: a frantic, immediate, and delightfully raw violent album, a Thrash Metal album.
Try to listen to this album again and feel how every verse of these songs seems to recite 'Screw you, Bob Rock, you piece of crap.'
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
This is how Metallica’s career kicks off, with a raw, violent, and furious album.
A really great start that represents a mastery of technique.
By jackpizzello
The sounds contained in this great pot are perhaps the most representative of thrash metal.
It is very difficult, after listening to it once, to remember just the powerful, aggressive riff of a track, precisely because all the riffs are powerful and aggressive in the same way.
By HetfieldGod
This album has already been reviewed several times, but I would like to give my personal contribution, as it is one of the greatest products ever released.
'Kill 'Em All' institutionalized Thrash and Speed-Metal, whose early glimpses were first heard from Motorhead and Venom.
