Artist: METALLICA
Album: KILL ‘EM ALL (CD)

Release date: 1983
Media type: CD

METALLICA added former TRAUMA bassist Cliff Burton (born February 10, 1962) in McGovney's place during December 1982 and the band officially became residents of San Francisco after leaving Los Angeles on February 12th, 1983. METALLICA were soon embroiled in discussions with Firesign Records, Shrapnel and Metal Blade. In fact, way back when Slagel had first begun his 'Metal Massacre' series, the Metal Blade boss could well have just recorded a full album, but the funds just were not available to the company at the time and so the chance went begging. Eventually the act was persuaded to contact the New Jersey based Megaforce Records, a label run by ANTHRAX manager and 'Rock n' Roll Heaven' record store owner Johnny Zazula.

However, after two shows with THE RODS and VANDENBERG in New York, Mustaine was unceremoniously fired after a huge bust-up with Hetfield left Mustaine bruised, bloodied and out of a job. A replacement was swiftly found, as METALLICA's sound engineer, Mark Whitaker, also happened to manage the burgeoning Bay Area outfit EXODUS. The approach to EXODUS six-stringer Kirk Hammett (born November 18th 1962) was made and he was duly enrolled, virtually catching the next plane out of San Francisco to begin work on the debut METALLICA album. As was revealed later, Hammett had already been approached by METALLICA and asked to learn their material even before their East Coast road trip. The ex-guitarist soon busied himself with creating his new act famously titled MEGADETH.

The 'Kill 'Em All' album was recorded in Rochester, New York and the album was released on Zazula's newly established Megaforce label, with distribution from the Relativity concern. The album was duly licensed to ex-Secret Records boss Martin Hooker's new Music For Nations company for release in the UK whilst Roadrunner took the album for Holland, Banzai for Canada, RGE for Brazil, King for Japan and Bernett for France. Amusingly, the record had been envisioned to be titled 'Metal Up Your Ass' and boasting a cover depicting an arm emerging from the depths of a toilet bowl menacingly wielding a rather large knife. Relativity persuaded the band that this idea wasn't exactly a good choice. Mind you, the eventual choice of 'Kill 'Em All' and accompanying cover were no less subtle! T-shirts featuring a depiction of the album's original title and cover art would, however, be produced some while later.

TRACKLIST:

1. Hit The Lights
2. The Four Horsemen
3. Motorbreath
4. Jump In The Fire
5. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth
6. Whiplash
7. Phantom Lord
8. No Remorse
9. Seek And Destroy
10. Metal Militia

LINE-UP:

James Hetfield (vocals/ guitar)
Kirk Hammett (guitar)
Cliff Burton (bass)
Lars Ulrich (drums)