When you think of Thrash music you have a very good idea of what that is. The guitar riffs, the drums pounding away. When I was given the task of reviewing albums the very first one I wanted to do was the first album I had heard that really left an impression with me.
Metallica’s 1983 “Kill ‘Em All” was that very album that showed not only me Thrash, but the world. Being their first full length album from MegaForce Records really got Thrash off the ground as a genre. It showed that not only this new (at the time) music could be different, but it could sell and it could rock.
The album was certified as a 3x platinum in 1999. Meaning it sold over 1 million copies. The album also generated two singles that were given numerous air time even to this day; “Jump in the Fire” and “Whiplash”. But it is an easily recognizable sound from the first track, “Hit the Lights”.
The album also has the glory of having arguably one of the most influential bassists of all time on it, Cliff Burton. About midway through the album they even gave him his own track which is just a huge bass solo. The other members at the time of recording were Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and James Hetfield, all of whom are still in the band to this day. “Kill ‘Em All” is an album that is amazing to own in any collection for Metal-heads.
Definitely one of my top 10 albums of all time. A solid 8/10. It’s not perfect, it does have flaws. A lot of the songs, if you’ve not grown up with them, can feel very samey after a while. It did however, create an identity for the new band at the time, it has aged like a good friend. Always there to listen to and full of great memories. It showed the world what thrash was, and paved the way for other bands to try to aim for a sound.