KILL 'EM ALL

Metallica began in the beginning of the 80's. They sounded as fast as Motörhead, -which was a major influence for Metallica by showing that fast and loud music was okey-, but had lost it's rock rock and roll influences. Metallica was not such a unique band as some may suspect. In the beginning of the 80's Exodus had a sound much like Metallic and demotapes of Exodus were on the market already in 1982, a year before Metallica first release: Kill 'em All. Metallica won the race of releasing the first trash metal album by stealing the leadguitarist of Exodus - Kirk Hammett - by replacing Dave Mustain (the founder of Megadeth of few years later). Exodus was troubled by finding a new guitarist and their first album Bonded by Blood was ready for the market in 1984 if they hadn't any troubles with their record company, so it's release was delayed to 1985. The similarities of the records Kill 'em All and Bonded by Blood are impressive. But Metallic did won the race and this succeeded in great commercial succes!

My opinion is that trash metal has nothing to do with progressive music, but I cannot deny that I'd like the sound of trash a lot. In the world of metal Kill 'em All was a great step forward in velocity, brutal power and aggression. We're standing before the rawest record Metallica ever did deliver. This certainly is their most fast and aggressive effort. Years later Metallica itself was not so proud anymore of the shoutings and aggresiveness on their first record but I find this an advantage of this record. By showing some anger Kill 'em All gives the most adrenaline by playing it, which seems to me one of the mayor goals of thrash metal. This is the reason I'll give four stars for this record and not to the later works of Metallica, which are in fact more "symphonic". Some of my favourite Metallica songs stand on this record, including The Four Horseman, Motorbreath, (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth and Phantom Lord.

Anesthesia-Pulling Teeth may be the most experimental bass-solo ever. I'm not aware off many songs where the bass plays alone for several minutes. This may have been Metallica's most experimental song!

Well done.

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