Here is one that needs no introduction, the first album of four little guys settled in San Francisco to escape the superficiality of Los Angeles and its Sunset Strip so outrageously monopolized by other hairy significantly rouged and light giving a feelgood hard rock far removed from the European-centered training much concern to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Nothing, in truth, hinted qu'Hetfield, Hammett, Ulrich and Burton (RIP) would become global rock stars we know today, and certainly the biggest metal band of all time. In 1983, having spent their spats on stages from the Bay Area to the Big Apple, Dave Mustaine fired an angry and uncontrollable, having replaced by former Exodus Kirk Hammett and having, of course, perfected their approach aggressive and uncompromising music groups while they admire (Judas Priest at Diamond Head through Motörhead or Budgie), the Four Horsemen, just signed on Megaforce Records spouses Zazula, prepare to lasting change face of metal with a first album that undoubtedly landmark: Kill 'Em All. It simply had to be the son of a Danish tennis player meets the blonde offspring of Christian fundamentalists, as the two discovered a common passion for hard rock, heavy metal and even punk rock, they decide to make a group of their sonic obsessions, it is certainly a name a little silly but definitely memorable and appropriate for the first spark to sprout. Two years later, that spark becomes an album of a kind that does not have a name (it was not until 1984 and the Metal Thrashing Mad Anthrax for he sees himself labeled by Malcolm Dome which then writes in the specialized periodic Kerrang, "thrash metal"), their hybrid speedés likes to over-enthusiasm of their nervous youth. Because, what a slap my ancestors! I still remember the shock of discovery, I who handed me just a particularly barbaric Venom. Fast, powerful, raw ... All that album must not appear at today's youth who has tasted everything from black metal grindcore through the brutal death metal now commonplace. To young innocent ears then after a Hit the Lights led foot down, aggressively vocalized by Hetfield to the still green vote, the initial shock of a thrash metal then being unknown to us was total just tempered by Four Horsemen a bit less radical but compositionally more interesting musically, entry in imposing it, so bulldozer in a crystal shop. Subsequently, a Motorbreath posing for a band Motörhead cacochymes old, a Jump in the Fire burning and racy, a (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth, amazing instrumental led by bassist Cliff Burton, a Whiplash punkoïde oh so effective, a Phantom Lord you take off the pulp, a No Remorse who was not district, a Seek & Destroy catchy and addictive, a Metal Militia, ultimate destructive burst all combined to give desires to destroy everything. Admittedly the machine, impeccably furbished by sharp riffs, solos and rhythmic superluminal option had dragster of Attila and his Huns came gaits sow brothel which, young fools we were, we could not possibly resist. Today, thirty-some years after the initial shock, all this no longer seems so radically fit-in but all the same, the cake retains its charm, all his youthful power and, of course, immense historical importance in the development of a genre, heavy metal, it will help push its extremes, as in their time, a Black Sabbath, an Ace of Spades and an Iron Maiden Welcome to Hell, it shows the importance something. As, in addition, it is an album that beautifully withstand the test of time, it does not need more to celebrate an essential aeuvre that any self-respecting scalp needs to possess in his collection. Kill 'Em All in one word? Required!
1. Hit the Lights 4:16 2. The Four Horsemen 7:13 3. Motorbreath 3:08 4. Jump in the Fire 4:41 5. (Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth 4:15 6. Whiplash 4:10 7. Phantom Lord 5:02 8. No Remorse 6:26 9. Seek & Destroy 6:55 10. Metal Militia 5:09
James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar Kirk Hammett - lead guitar Cliff Burton - bass guitar, backing vocals Lars Ulrich - drums