Blog Archives
Skelator – Death To All Nations
Skelator – Death To All Nations (2010, Metal On Metal Records)
1. “Birth Of Steel” … 5:17
2. “The Truth” … 5:02
3. “Victory (Henry V)” … 5:46
4. “Circle Of Bloodshed” … 3:49
5. “Symphony Of Night” … 7:26
6. “For Death And Glory” … 8:12
7. “Stand Up (For Rock And Roll)” … 6:04
8. “Death To All Nations” … 7:50
Band:
Jason Conde-Houston – Vocals
Robbie “The Truth” Houston – Guitar
Rob Steinway – Guitar
Zach “Arnold” Palmer – Bass
Patrick Seik – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Erik Hansen – Guitar (“Circle Of Bloodshed” and “Symphony Of The Night”)
Producer: Robbie Houston & Patrick Seick
Despite the fact that they’ve been kicking around the underground for 12 years, I’d never heard of Skelator until I came across some metal distro site (can’t remember which). Hey, any band with a name and album cover based on Skeletor automatically has a few cool points. The samples sounded decent as well and I was looking for a new band to try so I eventually ended up ordering this album. Sadly, when I got it in the mail there was no jewel case. The CD, booklet and back cover were all in one plastic slip. Odd, especially since I didn’t see it being listed as shipping without a jewel case but I guess it’s okay since I have some jewel cases to spare.
Anyway, self-described as a mix of “epic heavy metal” and speed metal, Skelator plays in a mixed ’80s metal style: traditional heavy metal, power metal, speed metal. There’s really nothing new going on here. It’s all just no-frills metal influenced by the usual suspects of said subgenres (Priest, Maiden, Sabbath, Manowar, Dio, etc.). I’ve read some comparisons of singer Jason Conde-Houston to Rob Halford and while that’s a bit off base, Jason does indeed have a great piercing scream. While the rest of his vocals are fine, he certainly doesn’t carry himself like Halford does while working with a lower register.
Enthusiasts for traditional heavy metal and retro metal bands will probably enjoy this one. I like it but I had to give it a few spins to get hooked into it and that’s when songs like “Victory (Henry V)”, “Symphony Of Night”, “For Death And Glory” and “Death To All Nations” started to appeal to me. With the last three mentioned songs, I can definitely get why the band describes their brand of metal as “epic”! There’s some great musicianship and vocals all over those songs and there’s enough interesting changes so that you’re not bored by the length of the songs. And what’s a metal album without an anthem to rally behind? Well that’s why “Stand Up (For Rock And Roll)” is here!
My initial thought on this album was that it was bland traditional metal. Though the album isn’t a knockout, there are a handful of notable moments. It isn’t a must-have but any fan of the traditional style will probably get their money’s worth out of this album and I’m more than happy to put my money towards a mostly unknown metal band upholding old metal values.
Highlights: “Victory (Henry V)”, “Symphony Of Night”, “For Death And Glory”, “Death To All Nations”
http://www.trueskelator.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Skelator/90678338012
Helloween – 7 Sinners
Helloween – 7 Sinners (2010, The End Records)
1. “Where The Sinners Go” …3:35
2. “Are You Metal?” …3:37
3. “Who Is Mr. Madman?” … 5:42
4. “Raise The Noise” … 5:06
5. “World Of Fantasy” … 5:14
6. “Long Live The King” … 4:12
7. “The Smile Of The Sun” … 4:36
8. “You Stupid Mankind” … 4:04
9. “If A Mountain Could Talk” … 6:44
10. “The Sage, The Fool, The Sinner” … 3:59
11. “My Sacrifice” … 4:59
12. “Not Yet Today” … 1:11
13. “Far In The Future” … 7:45
Band:
Andi Deris – Vocals
Michael Weikath – Guitar
Sascha Gerstner – Guitar, Backing vocals
Markus Grosskopf – Bass
Dani Löble – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Matthias Ulmer – Keyboards
Eberhard Hahn – Flute (“Raise the Noise”)
William “Billy” King and Olaf Senkbeil – Choirs
Ron Deris – Backing Vocals (“Far in the Future”)
Biff Byford – Spoken Prologue (“Who is Mr. Madman?”)
Producer: Charlie Bauerfeind
Up to this point, I’ve never been what you would call a “fan” of Helloween. I own Keeper of the Seven Keys Part II and the Treasure Chest compilation but like with most power metal — I think of Helloween as a fluffy, flowery, keyboard-heavy metal. Not really my thing. I know not all power metal bands follow this formula but it seems to be the norm.
Feeling that way, I really wasn’t going to give a new Helloween album a second (or even first) thought. But then I ran across the video for “Are You Metal?” and was surprised at just how heavy it was. It’s a true heavy metal anthem! Then I found out if you pre-ordered the album you got a t-shirt, a small poster signed by the band and the CD all for $20. So I figured why not?
I’m glad I ended up getting the album. I’ve ready many reviews saying it’s the heaviest Helloween has been in a long time (if ever) and it’s certainly a HEAVY metal album. The band does fall back onto the keyboards from time to time but they more than make up for it with the anger on “Where The Sinners Go”, the anthem “Are You Metal?” and the creepy “Who Is Mr. Madman?”. It’s really the first four songs that are the best on the album. “Raise The Noise” is another good metal anthem (even though it has a Jethro Tull moment in the form of a flute solo). This song sounds like something Sister Sin would record. “The Smile Of The Sun” is a very good and powerful ballad. One of the few things I think Helloween has always nailed is their ballads.
Overall, the album has become one of my favorites for the year. There are a few bland moments. Specifically, “Far In The Future”, which limps the album to a close but from top to bottom the album is full of solid METAL with so many sing-along moments and much more metal than I ever expected from Helloween. Are they metal? Yes they are!
Highlights: “Where The Sinners Go”, “Are You Metal?”, “Who Is Mr. Madman?”, “Raise The Noise”, “The Smile Of The Sun”, “You Stupid Mankind”
www.helloween.org
www.facebook.com/helloweenofficial
www.myspace.com/helloween
Accept – Blood Of The Nations
Accept – Blood of the Nations (2010, Nuclear Blast Records)
1. “Beat the Bastards” … 5:24
2. “Teutonic Terror” … 5:13
3. “The Abyss” … 6:53
4. “Blood of the Nations” … 5:37
5. “Shades of Death” … 7:32
6. “Locked and Loaded” … 4:28
7. “Time Machine” … 5:25
8. “Kill the Pain” … 5:47
9. “Rolling Thunder” … 4:54
10. “Pandemic” … 5:36
11. “New World Comin” … 4:50
12. “No Shelter” … 6:04
13. “Bucket Full of Hate” … 5:12
Band:
Mark Tornillo – Vocals
Wolf Hoffmann – Guitar
Herman Frank – Guitar
Peter Baltes – Bass
Stefan Schwarzmann – Drums
Producer: Andy Sneap
From out of nowhere (well, Germany) comes one of the year’s best albums! Man, my indifference towards Accept is well-documented but this is one KILLER heavy metal album! When I heard T.T. Quick frontman Mark Tornillo was filling in for Udo Dirkschneider (who respectfully declined to reunite with his old band mates), I was mildly curious. T.T. Quick’s Metal of Honor is one of my favorite albums and Tornillo has a great voice so that really put this album on my want list. Had it been some unknown singer, I may have never given this album a shot. Surprisingly, nearly 25 years later, Mark is singing with as much power and fury as ever.
This album is a triumphant return for the band. Even without their lead singer, they managed to break into the Billboard 200 with this album (#187) when their three ’90s albums with Udo did not. In addition to the minor chart victory, rave reviews are coming in from all over the world. It’s amazing to think this band has been chugging along (on and off) since the late ’70s because they are as fast and as heavy as they have ever been. This is such a powerful old school heavy metal album and I would like to add my name to the list of people that say Andy Sneap should produce the next Metallica album!
I really don’t have much more to add. I’m obviously enjoy the heck out of this album. It’s 100% balls to the wall (if you’ll pardon the phrase) HEAVY METAL. Any serious metal fan should own this one and although old school Accept fans will probably want to hang me for this — this is the best Accept I’ve heard yet! \m/
I’m not sure how true this is, but I’ve seen some sites list “Time Machine” as a bonus track for the digipak version of the album, which is the version I own. On the packaging, I don’t see any reference to it being a bonus track.
Highlights: “Beat the Bastards”, “Teutonic Terror”, “The Abyss”, “Blood Of The Nations”, “Time Machine”, “Kill The Pain”, “Pandemic”, “New World Comin’”
http://www.acceptworldwide.com/
http://www.facebook.com/accepttheband
http://www.myspace.com/accepttheband
MEGADETH – Rust In Peace Live
Megadeth – Rust In Peace Live (2010, Shout! Factory)
1. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” … 7:03
2. “Hangar 18″ … 5:06
3. “Take No Prisoners” … 3:25
4. “Five Magics” … 6:01
5. “Poison Was The Cure” … 3:36
6. “Lucretia” … 3:59
7. “Tornado of Souls” … 5:29
8. “Dawn Patrol” … 1:53
9. “Rust In Peace… Polaris” … 6:10
10. “Holy Wars – Reprise” … 4:16
11. “Skin O’ My Teeth” … 3:20
12. “In My Darkest Hour” … 6:12
13. “She-Wolf” … 3:37
14. “Trust” … 5:10
15. “Symphony of Destruction” … 4:01
16. “Peace Sells” … 4:47
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Vocals, Guitar
Chris Broderick – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass
Shawn Drover – Drums
Producer: Bart Peters
Pretty odd that Shout! Factory would release this as I thought Megadeth still had a deal in place with Roadrunner Records, owing them one more album, but maybe that only applies to studio albums? Anyway, this show was recorded on March 31, 2010 at the historic Hollywood Palladium and is notable for being the first recording to feature David Ellefson back on bass after an 8 year absence from the band.
My feelings are mixed on Megadeth’s past live releases. I was totally unimpressed initially by 2001′s Rude Awakening. Looking back, it was an okay live album but it’s inferior compared to 2007′s That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires. Due to me liking That One Night so much, I wanted to pick this album up. I’m actually surprised very little marketing has been done for it, I only knew it existed because I was browsing through Amazon.com a few weeks ago and it popped up as a recommendation.
As you can tell by the title of the album, the band plays the entire Rust In Peace album. This was being done on the entire tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album. The “encore” is a number of Megadeth’s biggest hits and crowd favorites and every song on this album sounds fantastic. Megadeth has never had a problem performing in a live setting, Dave always has the cream of the crop in his band. It’s absolutely amazing the number of extremely talented co-guitarists he’s had over the years.
Though I’ve always thought Rust In Peace was overrated (very good, but still overrated), fans who are absolutely in love with that album should be absolutely in love with this live disc. The packaging is kinda low-budget though. You’d think there’d be some liner notes from Dave about the original album, or this tour or this one particular show, but nope, just some album credits and photos from this concert. Maybe such extra content is being saved for a special edition of Rust In Peace.
Still, Megadeth fans should be just as pleased with this release as the crowd was that night!
Highlights: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”, “Hangar 18″, “Take No Prisoners”, “Rust In Peace… Polaris”, “In My Darkest Hour”, “Trust”, “Symphony of Destruction”, “Peace Sells”
www.megadeth.com
www.myspace.com/megadeth
Like this:
RAVEN – Walk Through Fire
Raven – Walk Through Fire (2010, Metal Blade Records)
Original Release: 2009, King Records (Japan only)
1. “Intro” … 0:52
2. “Against The Grain” … 3:52
3. “Breaking You Down” … 3:02
4. “Under Your Radar” … 4:05
5. “Walk Through Fire” … 3:20
6. “Bulldozer” … 3:53
7. “Long Day’s Journey” … 4:50
8. “Trainwreck” … 3:34
9. “Grip” … 3:31
10. “Running Around In Circles” … 3:40
11. “Hard Road” … 3:45
12. “Armageddon” … 6:31
13. “Attitude” … 3:24
14. “Space Station #5″ … 4:01
BONUS TRACKS
15. “Live At The Inferno” [live] … 4:17
16. “Rock Until You Drop” [live] … 5:32
Band:
John Gallagher – Vocals, Bass
Mark Gallagher – Guitar
Joe Hasselvander – Drums
Producer: Raven
This album was originally released exclusively in Japan in 2009 but received European/U.S. releases in 2010. I’m American and I have the American version that features two new bonus tracks, so that’s good enough to call this a 2010 album for me. Previous to buying this album, I owned only one Raven release — their debut Rock Until You Drop. It was okay but didn’t thrill me enough to catch up on the rest of their catalog. Still, I was willing to give this new release a try, even willing to buy the Japanese import but it was so expensive. I was relieved to hear a U.S. distribution deal was finally secured for this album.
Though I haven’t followed Raven’s career, I can at least report this album continues the NWBOHM meets early thrash/speed style they started with. For anyone else unfamiliar with this band, the closest comparison I can think of is Anvil. Both bands have that New Wave British metal sound while slightly pushing it to the limit and into the territories of speed & trash metal. I’m particularly impressed with John Gallagher’s high pitch vocals. It adds to the charm of this old school metal release.
Though this album isn’t going to make my Top 10 for the year, it’s still a fun heavy energetic listen carried by John’s vocals and great guitars. Hardcore Raven fans should be very pleased.
I hate this album cover, it’s so cheap looking but it appears they were maybe giving a nod to previous album covers for All For One and Live At The Inferno. In another bit of annoyance “Necessary Evil”, a new studio track, was left off the European/U.S. releases and replaced with two live “bonus” tracks. Frankly, I would have rather had a listen at another new song especially when John’s voice seems strained on “Rock Until You Drop” and the crowd seems rather subdued (small?).
Highlights: “Against The Grain’, “Under Your Radar”, “Long Day’s Journey”, “Trainwreck”, “Hard Road”
http://www.ravenlunatics.com/
http://www.myspace.com/ravenlunatics
MEGADETH – Rust In Peace
Megadeth – Rust In Peace (1990, Capitol Records)
1.”Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” … 6:34
2.”Hangar 18″ … 5:12
3.”Take No Prisoners” … 3:27
4.”Five Magics” … 5:41
5.”Poison Was the Cure” … 2:57
6.”Lucretia” … 3:57
7.”Tornado of Souls” … 5:21
8.”Dawn Patrol” … 1:49
9.”Rust In Peace…Polaris” … 5:37
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Marty Friedman – Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Nick Menza – Drums
Producer: Dave Mustaine and Mike Clink
I figure it’s time I finally comment on Megadeth’s “greatest” album and the beginning of what is acknowledged to be the classic Megadeth line-up. At least, this is the album most people consider to be their greatest. I’m not one of those people. I see it more as a connecting piece for their 1980s and 1990s works but I personally feel it is extremely overrated. When the time comes, I’d take a Youthansia 20th anniversary set list/tour over a Rust In Peace show any day!
It’s definitely a good album, I just think they have done better. I remember being less than impressed with this album when I first heard it but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It wasn’t until later when I read another review talking about the progressive elements of this album that it clicked. I’m not a big fan of progressive rock & metal which would explain why I don’t believe the hype about this album.
I know I’m committing heresy by not saying this is a five-star album but it’s the way I’ve always felt. “Holy Wars”, “Take No Prisoners” and “Hangar 18″ (one of my favorite Megadeth tunes) are certainly classics but “Five Magics”, “Poison Was the Cure” and “Tornado of Souls” are filler to me. Short as it is, I think “Dawn Patrol” is pretty cool but couldn’t exactly call it an album highlight. So basically I like six of the nine songs from this album which definitely shows I don’t think this album is garbage but there are other Megadeth albums I reach for before even thinking about spinning this one.
Highlights: “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due”, “Hangar 18″, “Take No Prisoners”, “Lucretia”, “Rust In Peace…Polaris”
RIOT – The Privilege of Power
Riot – The Privilege of Power [Remastered] (2003, Sony Music/Collectables Records)
Original Release: 1990, CBS Records
1. “On Your Knees” … 6:37
2. “Metal Soldiers” … 6:40
3. “Runaway” … 5:11
4. “Killer” … 4:53
5. “Dance of Death” … 7:17
6. “Storming the Gates of Hell” … 3:43
7. “Maryanne” … 4:55
8. “Little Miss Death” … 4:12
9. “Black Leather and Glittering Steel” … 7:07
10. “Racing with the Devil on a Spanish Highway” … 7:17
Band:
Tony Moore – Vocals
Mark Reale – Guitar
Don Van Stavern – Bass
Bobby Jarzombek – Drums
Additional Musicians:
Joe Lynn Turner – Vocals (“Killer”)
Producer: Steve Loeb, Mark Reale and Rod Hui
After frequent changes in style (NWOBHM, southern fried hard rock, heavy metal, power metal) over the span of four albums, Riot founder and guitarist Mark Reale finally settles in and keeps The Privilege of Power in the same realm as Thundersteel though it is a bit more melodic at times. Vocalist Tony Moore (my favorite singer Riot has had) really delivers all throughout the album.
The album is not without a few odd choices though. Virtually every song has the annoying habit of some audio clips and sound effects from news and movies and whatnot. It really disrupts the flow of the album when all I wanna do is hear the music. I suppose there was some statement behind all of this about society, government and the power of television and maybe if they did it for one or two songs, that’d be okay, but this is overkill.
It is a full FORTY-SIX SECONDS before the music starts playing on the first track and for a few more seconds after that, the sound is purposefully muffled. That’s inexcusable for a heavy metal album! If someone was so insistent on these weird intros, they should’ve just made them outros (or better yet, their own tracks) so that as soon as you hit play or skip tracks you get to hear MUSIC.
Another oddity is the use of horns throughout the album. Sometimes it works and sometimes it sounds out of place. But hey — if Aerosmith could do it, why not Riot ?
Getting on with what is good about this album is we still get plenty of speed and power metal moments that stand up to anything done on the excellent Thundersteel album. “Metal Soldiers” is a great anthem and “Black Leather and Glittering Steel” is a fantastic speed metal number where Tony gets to do what he does best. “Dance of Death” is a strong power metal number.
There are also a number of melodic moments (foreshadowing yet another change in direction for the band). “Maryanne” sounds like something out of the pop-metal scene crossed with Boston (the band, not the city) and the guitar work on “Little Miss Death” reminds me of Michael Schenker Group. “Killer” (accompanied by horns) features Joe Lynn Turner on vocals.
Horns and interludes aside, this is another great Riot release featuring a nice blend of heavy metal and melodic hard rock. Too bad it would be Moore’s last album with the band and he would not return to sing for the group until 2008 (then left again in 2009).
Highlights: “Metal Soldiers”, “Runaway”, “Dance of Death”, “Maryanne”, “Little Miss Death”, “Black Leather and Glittering Steel”
ANVIL – Hard ‘N’ Heavy
Anvil – Hard ‘N’ Heavy (2002, Unidisc Music/Attic Records – Canada Import)
Original Release: 1981, Attic Records
1. “School Love” … 3:15
2. “AC/DC” … 4:41
3. “At the Apartment” … 3:21
4. “I Want You Both (With Me)” … 3:21
5. “Bedroom Game” … 4:01
6. “Oooh Baby” … 2:56
7. “Paint It Black” … 3:55
8. “Oh Jane” … 4:53
9. “Hot Child” … 4:10
10. “Bondage” … 4:31
Band:
Steve “Lips” Kudlow – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar
Dave Allison – Guitar, Lead Vocals (“I Want You Both (With Me)”, “Bedroom Game”)
Ian Dickson – Bass
Robb Reiner – Drums
Producer: Anvil
Originally issued under the band’s original name, Lips, this is a great debut that mixes traditional heavy metal, New Wave of British Heavy Metal, thrash and speed. I picked this album up along with the 2009 reissue of This Is Thirteen at FYE. I’m glad some of the early Anvil albums are finding their way to America again because in previous years the imports were costing a good chunk of change as far as I was concerned. Now they’re only about $15 and if you can find a $15 album at FYE, you’ve pretty much stuck gold and will wonder if the price is a typo.
I had hear a number of songs over the years but This Is Thirteen was my first in-depth introduction to the band and their debut is a far cry from that release. That album was a bit more lyrically somber and mature but Hard ‘N’ Heavy (sporting one of the most METAL album covers of all-time) features the band sowing their oats with all kinds of horny & juvenile lyrics and song titles. I for one could not be more pleased!
I classify Anvil as pure heavy metal, but thrash and speed metal also play a part in their sound and its refreshing to hear that style of music coupled with lyrics base solely on sex instead of the usual death, politics, religion, end of the world lyrics that the genre typically deals with. What can I say? I’m a hair metal guy at heart and the best way to win me over with lyrics is to talk about a girl or two (together at once).
If you guessed “Paint It Black” is a Rolling Stones cover, you guessed right. Seems it is a cover favorite in the world of metal. Anvil’s take is not really a good cover, in my opinion. Maybe it’s the production. Glenn Tipton and W.A.S.P. did far superior versions of this song. Speaking of covers, I think Anvil owes royalties to UFO for “Hot Child” which sounds quite a bit like “Rock Bottom”.
How could a debut this good in a decade so hellbent for metal not propel these guys to international stardom?
Highlights: “School Love”, “AC/DC”, “At the Apartment”, “I Want You Both (With Me)”, “Bedroom Game”, “Hot Child”
MEGADETH – Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!
Megadeth – Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good! [Remastered] (2002, Loud Records)
Original Release: 1985, Combat Records
1. “Last Rites/Loved to Deth” … 4:40
2. “Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!” … 3:06
3. “The Skull Beneath the Skin” … 3:47
4. “Rattlehead” … 3:43
5. “Chosen Ones” … 2:55
6. “Looking Down the Cross” … 5:04
7. “Mechanix” … 4:22
8. “These Boots” … 4:42
BONUS TRACKS
9. “Last Rites/Loved to Deth” (demo) … 4:18
10. “Mechanix” (demo) …. 4:01
11. “The Skull Beneath the Skin” (demo) … 3:11
Band:
Dave Mustaine – Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Piano
Chris Poland – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Guitar
David Ellefson – Bass, Backing Vocals
Gar Samuelson – Drums, Timpani
Producer: Dave Mustaine & Karat Faye
Ah, now my Megadeth collection is complete! I had been wanting this one since the reissue… It only took me 7 years to finally pick it up! This is Megadeth’s debut and the album was known for having an incredibly bad production (Dave says he blew half the album budget on drugs & food). To right a wrong, for this reissue Mustaine himself remixed and remastered every song. We also get a few bonus track demos from 1984 along with a reshuffled track listing.
The album is a lot better than I was expecting it to be. I’m not the biggest fan of Megadeth’s early years but this probably my favorite of their three ’80s releases. Just seems more consistent and interesting overall even if there’s nothing here that can stand up to “Wake Up Dead”, “Peace Sells” or “In My Darkest Hour”.
What really surprised me was the beginning of the opening track. A PIANO ?!?!? Wow, I was not expecting that. It’s a pretty brave way to start off a debut in the macho world of ’80s thrash/speed metal.
“These Boots” is the band’s cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” with altered lyrics. After 1995, it was left off any future pressings of the album due to complaints by the author of the original song over the lyrics (who I should point out had been accepting the royalties for 10 years by this point). The song was included for the reissue because the altered lyrics are now beeped out. Kinda stupid and annoying. And by that, I’m talking about the song’s original writer and all the beeps in this new censored version.
The original version of this album features one of the ugliest covers known to man. Combat had lost the original artwork and they substituted the thrown-together plastic skull ‘n’ hooks photo that looks extremely low-budget and cheesy. Luckily, this was another wrong Dave sought to make right and the reissue cover is basically an updated version of the lost artwork.
Strangely, Loud Records was a hip hop label. As far as I know, this was their only rock/metal release. I guess they were considering branching out before they went out of business in 2002.
Highlights: “Last Rites/Loved to Deth”, “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!”, “The Skull Beneath the Skin”, “Rattlehead”, “Looking Down the Cross”
METALLICA – Kill ‘Em All
Metallica – Kill ‘Em All (1988, Elektra Records)
Original Release: 1983, Megaforce Records
1. “Hit the Lights” … 4:17
2. “The Four Horsemen” … 7:08
3. “Motorbreath” … 3:03
4. “Jump in the Fire” … 4:50
5. “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth” … 4:27
6. “Whiplash” … 4:06
7. “Phantom Lord” … 4:52
8. “No Remorse” … 6:24
9. “Seek & Destroy” … 6:50
10. “Metal Militia” … 5:05
Band:
James Hetfield — Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Kirk Hammett — Lead Guitar
Cliff Burton — Bass, Backing Vocals
Lars Ulrich — Drums, Percussion
Producer: Paul Curcio & Johnny Zazula
My first impression when I heard this album was that I found it pretty funny how young James sounds. He’s practically a baby! No one can dispute this is a heavy metal classic and it’s a very important album for the world of metal just for the fact that it is Metallica’s debut album. That said, they did far better releases throughout the rest of the ’80s as their songwriting became more complex and mature.
There’s an innocent charm and a great sense of purity to Kill ‘Em All though. Metallica was just another metal band at this point, not greedy whiny billionaires meticulously over-analyzing and calculating every album they wrote. Anyway, this album is speed and thrash metal for the sake of speed and thrash metal!
Of course, I can’t say egos weren’t they yet because they were and that is part of what led to Dave Mustaine being kicked out before even getting to record this album with the band. His raging alcohol problem was the major reason for the band giving him the abrupt boot, but Dave himself and others have speculated that given Dave’s natural-born leadership qualities, it just didn’t mesh with the equally headstrong Lars & James. Apparently, Ulrich and Hetfield were willing to co-captain the Good Ship Metallica, but didn’t want a third guy his hands on the steering wheel too. Enter Kirk “Go With the Flow” Hammett as the new lead guitarist just in time to record.
Mustaine’s hand prints are still all over this album with him getting four song credits and original bassist Ron McGovney (who was let go by the band for being too passive) gets one credit. “The Four Horsemen” was based on a Mustaine song called “The Mechanix” with a little altering from Hetfield and Hammett. Dave released a more faithful version simply called “Mechanix” for Megadeth’s debut. Dave says he asked James and Lars to not use ANY of his music for the album, but they deny that claim. Such drama, it’ll never end!
The album was originally released on CD in ’83 by Megaforce, but the band’s longtime label Elektra did a reissue in ’88, which is the version I own. I don’t even have the jewel case or insert for it. I was supposed to be borrowing this album from a friend and in exchange I let him borrow the Black Album. Well, he ended scratching up that album pretty bad and told me I could keep this one as compensation. That was 9 years ago and I still have never replaced that Black Album!
Okay, finally getting back to the music, there are some really great songs on this album but for me some of the weaker songs just kind of blend together. Very good release, but Metallica has done better (and a LOT worse) so it’s not near the top of my grab list when I want to hear some Metallica.
Highlights: “Hit the Lights”, “Motorbreath”, “Jump in the Fire”, “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”, “Whiplash”, Seek & Destroy”
