Line Up: James Hetfield - Guitar, VocalsLars Ulrich - Drums Cliff Burton - Bass Kirk Hammett - Guitar (recording and composition) Dave Mustaine - Guitar (composition) Tracks: * Bonus tracks on the USA & Canadian versions. Singles: Jump In The Fire - UK EP Release in February 1984Whiplash - USA 12" EP Release featuring the "Neckbrace Remix" of Whiplash Album Notes: Early versions of the release contained 2 additional tracks - "Am I Evil?" and "Blitzkrieg". The album was remastered in 1995. Formerly entitled "Metal Up Your Ass", the lawyers convinced Metallica to change the album title because they thought no one would buy it with that title. "Kill Em All" refers to the bastards that made them change their album's name. James: "Just the honesty and the innocence of it all is so cool. It's all we knew at the time: "bang your head", "crush the town" and all that shit. At the time I couldn't write a lyric to save my life, so all I could do was listen to other bands and see how they phrased things. I just wanted to put our attitude into it - and that's why I loved punk at the time. It was that honesty, which is something I'm not sure a lot of the older metal bands had. I mean, what was Judas Priest really writing about? Or Iron Maiden? It was all this weird fantasy stuff. And we maybe got into a little of that with "Phantom Lord" or a few other songs, but we've always tried to stay away from writing about things we didn't know about." The song "Hit The Lights" appeared as Metallica's first vinyl release in a slight rougher form on the "Metal Massacre I" compilation album of which were more than 100,000 copies sold before either Cliff Burton or Kirk Hammett joined the band. Their first demo "No Life 'Till Leather" included this song too. The song is about Metallica and their fans and how they are acting on their gigs. The lyrics speak for themselves. We're gonna kick some ass tonight We got the metal madness When our fans start screaming it's right, well alright When we start to rock we never Want to stop again Hit the lights Hit the lights Hit the lights We know our fans are insane We're gonna blow this place away With volume higher Than anything today, the only way When we start to rock we never Want to stop again Hit the lights Hit the lights Hit the lights With all our screaming We're gonna rip right through your brain We got the lethal power It's causing you sweet pain, oh sweet pain When we start to rock we never Want to stop again Hit the lights Hit the lights Hit the lights The lyrics of "The Four Horsemen" are relating to the subject matter of a bible story in the final book of the New Testament in the "Chapter 6 of Revelations" which is called "The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse". The horsemen should spread in each of the four directions to pronounce "The Last Judgment - Doomsday" of the world. Better raise your ears The sound of hooves knock at your door Lock up your wife and children now It's time to wield the blade For now you've got some company The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die You have been dying since the day you were born You know it's all been planned The quartet of deliverance rides A sinner once, a sinner twice No need for confessions now 'Cause now you've got the fight of your life The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die Time has taken its toll on you The lines that crack your face Famine, your body it has torn through Withered in every place Pestilence, for what you had to endure And what you have put others through Death, deliverance for you for sure Now there's nothing you can do So gather 'round young warriors now And saddle up your steeds Killing scores with demon swords Now is the death of doers of wrong Swing the judgement hammer down Safely inside armor blood guts and sweat The Horsemen are drawing nearer On leather steeds they ride They've come to take your life On through the dead of night With the Four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die The song writing to "Motorbreath" was solely done by James. Their first demo "No Life 'Till Leather" also included this song. In the lyrics it seems like the life is compared with a fast vehicle. Maybe it would be a good metaphor because the vehicle (-live) is driving fast through everything (every parts in live) without stopping or turning back. It was rumored that the song would be inspired by the impact of cocaine. Living and dying, laughing and cryingOnce you have seen it you'll never be the same Life in the fast lane is just how it seems It's hot and it's heavy and dirty and mean Motorbreath It's how I live my life I can't take it any other way Motorbreath The sign of living fast It is going to take your breath away Don't stop for nothing, it's full speed or nothing I'm taking down, you know, whatever's in my way Getting your kicks as you're shooting the line Sending the shivers up and down my spine Motorbreath It's how I live my life I can't take it any other way Motorbreath The sign of living fast It is going to take your breath away Those people who tell you not to take chances They are all missing on what life's about You only live once, so take hold of the chance Don't end up like others, same song and dance Motorbreath It's how I live my life I can't take it any other way Motorbreath The sign of living fast It is going to take your breath away Written from the devil's point of view, he's watching the people who are killing each others and so the villain is sure that they all will get themselves in hell. They "Jump in the Fire". Jump in the Fire" was Metallica's second LP - single (outside the US). Its cover shows a laughing demon who's lurking in hell. This demon can be seen as a "Whiplash" sticker, seen on Jaymz's white Gibson Explorer. Their first demo "No Life 'Till Leather" included this song. The summons bell will chime Tempting you and all the earth To join our sinful kind There's a job to be done and I'm the one You people make me do it Now it's time for your fate and I won't hesitate To pull you down into this pit So come on Jump in the fire So come on Jump in the fire With hell in my eyes and with death in my veins The end is closing in Feeding on the minds of man And from their souls within My disciples all shout to search you out And they always shall obey Follow me now, my child, not the meek or the mild But do just as I say So come on Jump in the fire So come on Jump in the fire Jump by your will or be taken by force I'll get you either way Trying to keep the hellfire lit I'm stalking you as prey Living your life as me, I am you, you see There is part of me in everyone So reach down, grab my hand, walk with me through the land Come home where you belong So come on Jump in the fire So come on Jump in the fire "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" is a composition of Metallica bassist Cliff Burton and is featured on Metallica's 1983 debut album Kill 'Em All. Besides bass, the song contains a voice intro of "Bass solo, take one" and the addition of Lars Ulrich on drums at 2:28. The song is a bass solo that showcases Burton's skills and techniques as well as his influences: Geddy Lee from Rush, Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath, Lemmy Kilmister from Motörhead, and jazz bassist Stanley Clarke. Heavy distortion (Electro-Harmonix Big Muff), tapping, and a wah-wah pedal are used by Burton to produce many of the unique sounds that can be heard throughout the song. The song "Whiplash" was Metallica's first single release ever in North America. It is a tribute to all their fans that supported them since they started out. We do our best, you're the rest, you make it real, you know There is a feeling deep inside that drives you fucking mad A feeling of a hammerhead, you need it oh so bad Adrenaline starts to flow You're thrashing all around Acting like a maniac Whiplash Bang your head against the stage like you never did before Make it ring, make it bleed, make it really sore In a frenzied madness with your leather and your spikes Heads are bobbing all around, it's hot as hell tonight Adrenaline starts to flow You're thrashing all around Acting like a maniac Whiplash Here onstage the Marshall noise is piercing through your ears It kicks your ass, kicks your face, exploding feeling nears Now's the time to let it rip, to let it fucking loose We're gathered here to be with you 'cause this is what we choose Adrenaline starts to flow You're thrashing all around Acting like a maniac Whiplash The show is through, the metal's gone, it's time to hit the road Another town, another gig, again we will explode Hotel rooms and motorways, life out here is raw But we'll never stop, we'll never quit, 'cause we're Metallica Adrenaline starts to flow You're thrashing all around Acting like a maniac The song "Phantom Lord" is probably the most musically mature song on the "Kill 'Em All" album and hints at where the band's sound would eventually head. Their first demo "No Life 'Till Leather" included that song. This song is written about the war cry of a mythical heavy metal creature. The deafening sound of metal nears Your body's waiting for his whips The taste of leather on your lips Hear the cry of war Louder than before With his sword in hand To control the land Crushing metal strikes On this frightening night Fall onto your knees For the Phantom Lord Victims falling under chains You hear them crying dying pains Fist of terror's breaking through Now there's nothing you can do Hear the cry of war Louder than before With his sword in hand To control the land Crushing metal strikes On this frightening night Fall onto your knees For the Phantom Lord The leather armies have prevailed The Phantom Lord has never failed Smoke is lifting from the ground The rising volume metal sound Hear the cry of war Louder than before With his sword in hand To control the land Crushing metal strikes On this frightening night Fall onto your knees For the Phantom Lord Fall to your knees And bow to the Phantom Lord Metallica's first anti-war song. It is about people who go off to war just for the sake of killing, guiltless and numb to the pain of their victims. No thought to even what we have done We don't need to feel the sorrow No remorse for the helpless one War without end No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath Blood feeds the war machine As it eats a way across the land We don't need to feel the sorrow No remorse is the one command War without end No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath Only the strong survive No will to save the weaker race We are ready to kill all comers Like a loaded gun right at your face War without end No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath No remorse, no repent We don't care what it meant Another day, another death Another sorrow, another breath Attack Bullets are flying People are dying With madness surrounding, all hell's breaking loose Soldiers are hounding Bodies are mounting Cannons are shouting to take their abuse With war machines going Blood starts to flowing No mercy given to anyone here The furious fighting Swords are like lighting It all becomes frightening, you know death is near No remorse James Hetfield: "The idea of "Seek" came from a Diamond Head song called "Dead Reckoning". I used to work in a sticker factory in L.A., and I wrote that riff in my truck outside work. This was our first experience in a real studio. I used a white Flying V, which was the only guitar I had back then. I still have the guitar in storage. The song is based around a one-note riff that was up a little higher. Though most of my riffs are in E, that one worked off an A." We're looking for you to start up a fight There's an evil feeling in our brains But it's nothing new, you know it drives us insane Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy There is no escape and that's for sure This is the end, we won't take any more Say goodbye to the world you live in You have always been taking but now you're giving Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Our brains are on fire with the feeling to kill And it won't go away until our dreams are fulfilled There is only one thing on our minds Don't try running away, 'cause you're the one we will find Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Running, on our way Hiding, you will pay Dying, one thousand deaths Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy Searching Seek and destroy The song "Metal Militia" with its speed is a good example for Metallica's trash metal style of their early days. Their first demo "No Life 'Till Leather" included this song. In a certain sense it is a kind of a call-to-arms song for all metalheads. Senseless destruction Victims of fury are cowardly now Running for safety Stabbing the harlot to pay for her sins Leaving the virgin Suicide running as if it were free Ripping and tearing Oh, through the mist and the madness We're trying to get the message to you Metal militia Metal militia Metal militia Chained and shadowed to be left behind Nine and one thousand Metal militia, for your sacrifice Ironclad soldiers Join or be conquered, the law of the land What will befall you? The metalization of your inner soul Twisting and turning Oh, through the mist and the madness We're trying to get the message to you Metal militia Metal militia Metal militia We are as one, yes, we all are the same Fighting for one cause Leather and metal are our uniforms Protecting what we are Joining together to take on the world With our heavy metal Spreading the message to everyone here Come let yourself go Oh, through the mist and the madness We're trying to get the message to you Metal militia Metal militia Metal militia Bonus Tracks: Let us have peace, let us have lifeLet us escape the cruel night Let us have time, let the sun shine Let us beware the deadly sign The day is coming Armageddon's near Inferno's coming Can we survive the blitzkrieg The blitzkrieg The blitzkrieg Save us from fate, save us from hate Save ourselves before it's too late Come to our need, hear our plea Save ourselves before the earth bleeds The day is dawning, the time is near Aliens calling, can we survive the blitzkrieg My mother was a witch, she was burned alive Thankless little bitch, for the tears I cried Take her down now, don't want to see her face All blistered and burnt, can't hide my disgrace Twenty-seven, everyone was nice Gotta see em, make em pay the price See their bodies out on the ice Take my time Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man, yes I am As I watched my mother die, I lost my head Revenge now I sought, to break with my bread Taking no chances, you come with me I'll split you to the bone, help set you free Twenty-seven, everyone was nice Gotta see em, make em pay the price See their bodies out on the ice Take my time Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man, yes I am On with the action now, I'll strip your pride I'll spread your blood around, I'll see you ride Your face is scarred with steel, wounds deep and neat Like a double dozen before ya, smells so sweet Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man I'll make my residence, I'll watch your fire You can come with me, sweet desire My face is long forgot, my face not my own Sweet and timely whore, take me home Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man My soul is longing for, await my heir Sent to avenge my mother, sweep myself My face is long forgot, my face not my own Sweet and timely whore, take me home Am I evil? Yes I am Am I evil? I am man Am I evil? Yes I fucking am Am I evil? I am man, yeah |