#94...

Metallica - Kill 'Em All

Well. What an experience. The debut album from these metal gods really does pack a punch. Or several hundred.

They really went hell for leather on this, going out to prove what they could do with an axe and a double-bass pedal. Oh, and skill. They've got that in relatively huge abundance too. And I thorough knowledge of knowing how and when to change time signature. Because they do that bloody loads.

Paving the way for thrash metal in America, by fusing speed metal with inspiration from British heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden, Kill 'Em All has been incredibly influential as an album itself, not to mention how inspirational Metallica are regarded themselves. Proof of this can be seen by the fact that nearly every track on this album has been covered by a different band: "Hit The Lights" has been covered by Black Tide; "Motorbreath was covered by two bands, D.O.A. and Anacrusis; "No Remorse" copied by Cannibal Corpse; the list goes on. Understandably so - inspiration is like a disease. A nice disease, that spreads and mutates into new music.

I can't say this was a pleasurable experience for me, to be honest. But, it's part of the list, so it had to be listened to. Strangely enough, the more you listen, the easier it becomes on the ears. And the patience.

Key Tracks: "The Four Horsemen"; "Whiplash"; "Seek & Destroy"; "Anaesthesia (Pulling Teeth)"

The Farewell to Dave Mustaine: The original lead guitarist in Metallica - Dave Mustaine (funnily enough) - was not exactly an asset to the band, due to his alcohol and drug problems, and his many disagreements with Ron McGovney, the bassist. Once McGovney left, Ulrich and Hetfield felt it only right to rid themselves of Mustaine too, employing Cliff Burton and Kirk Hammett into the mix, and forming that iconic foursome that have wowed their audience ever since. Despite their disagreements, Mustaine was still credited with co-writing on four of the tracks on Kill 'Em All. And in fairness, he went off to form Megadeth and take a hefty wedge of moolah himself. Every cloud.