ABSTRACT
Metallica’s electrifying debut, Kill ’Em All, ushered in more than just a new band — it was the debut of a new metal subgenre: thrash. The album was far and away the most exciting release from the now ultra-famous mega-selling band. It is also their best album, even if it was their worst-selling effort. It is their best to those who seriously appreciate excitement, and it was exciting to those metalheads with a taste for speed who heard Metallica’s debut when it came out. 7KHUH LVDZRUOGRIGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQDEDQG¶VGHEXWDOEXPDQG WKHLU¿UVW
DOEXPHYHQ WKRXJK WKHPXVLF LV WKHVDPH7KHGHEXWVWDQGVIRU LWVHOI WKH¿UVW album is the beginning of a series through which it is heard. Listening to Kill ’Em All after hearing the band’s subsequent work, especially after their major label breakthrough, Master of Puppets, in 1986, and certainly after their massive hit Metallica (aka The Black Album, 1991), is an archeological experience. Coming upon Kill ’Em All when it came out in the summer of 1983 was a jaw-dropping event. In contrast, I found their subsequent releases to be disappointing. None were as exciting; several were simply execrable.
