Posted on 07/25/2019 1:45:11 PM PDT by Mariner
“Bang that head that doesn’t bang.” – R. Burch ‘83
Thus reads the quote on the back sleeve of Metallica’s debut album Kill ‘Em All, which was released on July 25th, 1983. It stands as one of the earliest documents of thrash metal, a pivotal album that explored artistic extremes and set the foundational archetypes of thrash as a sound, image, and lifestyle. At a time in heavy music when record labels were starting to embrace super-produced glam-metal bands that would go on to dominate radio and MTV for the remainder of the decade, Metallica literally said: “Metal up your ass.”
Ironically, that was meant to be the original title for the album, but the label execs decided it was too profane for the sensitive tastes of American consumers and suggested the band change it. So Metallica picked the arguably more aggressive title of Kill ‘Em All, ostensibly in reference to those very consumers. That is metal. And there are so many moments on the album that warrant that remark. You listen to it and you throw up the horns reflexively at various moments: the chorus of “Jump in the Fire”, the intro chugs on “No Remorse”, the opening riff of “Seek & Destroy” — just to name a few.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
Only thing that changed for AC/DC is the innuendos. They’ve got a remarkably long list.
Here is an even earlier song (1974) by an unlikely band (Queen) that has been credited as being the “first” thrash metal tune:
“Stone Cold Crazy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8Rfb1Jtmic
Metallica covered this and won a Grammy for it in 1990.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3IrqmsC2rY
James Hetfield and Brian May became friends because of Metallica’s interest in this song.
THIS album, however, is a Masterpiece (no pun intended). Hearing "Orion" live at Big Four was epic.
I can get my arms around the argument that the first two albums are appetizers for Master of Puppets, and on that basis they're not groundbreaking but developmental for one of THE greatest metal albums of all-time. In that context, let's celebrate Kill 'Em All.
As for early thrash circa 1985, while this album probably wouldn't be made without Metallica, this is something else:
What may have been bleak for you was garbage sound.
“For those that remember to bleak musical landscape of the early 80’s ...
This album was a breath of fresh air.”
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No, THIS album (1983) was a breath of fresh air:
https://www.amazon.com/Vivaldi-Chamber-Orchestra-Pinchas-Zukerman/dp/B0000025JC
The funny part is Metallica’s version is a bit slower. It’s because of James’ singing, he can’t float through a vocal like Freddie.
What you didn't like the St. Anger album where it sounded like Lars was using trash can lids for his drum kit?
Unfortunately the 80’s were the hair band era which almost killed rock.
One way I saw it was, hair metal semi-suicidally started to become a parody of itself by the early 90’s and it opened the door for all that bleak-sounding, navel-gazing grunge and alt-rock that sucked all the air out of the room and left little for newer rock bands to breathe (in the U.S., anyway). I just didn’t give a hoot in hell for Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Blind Melon, Oasis, or any other of that ilk. I’m not saying that it shouldn’t have been so; one man’s trash is another man’s treasure and all that, but it was a sharp 90 degree turn in short order that knocked the pins out from under a lot of good, successful rock bands from the 70’s onward. Someone coming of age in the 90’s probably thought bands like Metallica, Maiden, and the like were already dinosaurs, and bands like AC/DC and Priest were leftovers in the cutout bin. But there was still that ‘over 30 and you’re done’ mentality then, too. I can remember as far back as 1990 or so, and a co-worker and I saw Robert Plant at the old Cap Center in Landover. (Manic Nirvana tour, I believe - the first one where he relented and started throwing Zep tunes into the mix.) We remembered thinking, “God, Plant’s like, 41 or 42 now. Is he still gonna be able to hit those high notes?” Yup. He did. All of them. I think just about every band in this thread is still vertical and on their game. You’ll know it’s time to give it up when one of the Stones drop dead. Or Ian Anderson. LOL
Not a metal fan, but respect what they brought to music.
For those of you who are, check out our film “Other Walls 2 Fall” where, among the bands/artists we talked to, we had a group from Tehran who smuggled us footage at risk of their own lives. The film isn’t available in totality, but you can see a good trailer with them in it at www.rockinthewallstudios.com under projects, and if you like it, I can send you a copy of the movie for $10 and shipping.
80s rock suffers from 80s production. I really dig the album and those guys had an awesome bassist, and it is kinda washed out. In general everyone in the 80s had awful bass and tinny drum sound. No matter if the music was good or crappola.
Freegards
“Their first 4 albums were incredible, then they went to shit on the Black Album and never were able to get it back.”
Check out their latest. I dug it :-) ... I only like old Metallica (the albums with Cliff Burton). I didn’t care for “... And Justice For All” (MoP rehash), “Black” (only liked 2 tracks), “Load” (bad), “Reload” (horrible), “St. Anger” (beyond garbage), or “Death Magnetic” (unspeakable puke).
Megadeth blows them away in every single aspect ... except album sales and fans :-). Still, Dave Mustaine is almost entirely responsible for their sound. Moreover, Dave is as based as they come (outside of his stupid rants against Reagan/old men in the late 80s and his eventual vote for Clinton in 1992 ... Mustaine figured it all out once he kicked his drug habit, found Jesus, and got his life in order :-) ).
Those two, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and older Anthrax are the only metal bands I still like. I do need to see if there are any newer metal bands out there though ... I really miss the sounds :-) ).
Blackie Lawless had a Reagan-bashing song back then and is now a Christian conservative.
When it comes to Metal, the Thrash genre was the best IMHO. I will always favor Megadeth over Metallica, Anthrax and Slayer. Dave Mustaine, while I wouldn’t say he was always conservative has mostly been a patriot, while Metallica is filled with leftist d-bags.
As someone already mentioned, Metallica made 4 solid albums to begin with, although I still really like the Black album, it’s unarguably expertly produced. My favorite Metallica album is ...And Justice For All for the epic-ness of all the songs.
Dave Mustaine owns though, for quality of lyrics, riffs, and not screwing with his sound too much. The Risk album seems like nothing more than an experiment. The ultimate thrash metal album for me is Rust In Peace, but everyone has different tastes.
Yes indeedy. Not a day goes by that I don't think back to exactly where I was standing and what I was doing, when this world-shaking Mega Event happened.
I prefer the modern Metallica.
Hardwired is every bit the Masterpiece that Master of Puppets was. But more melodic, textured and complex.
The band is getting better with age. Few can claim that.
The first time I heard “Whiplash” I knew my musical tastes were forever changed. Kill ‘Em All is still a great album.
I’m wearing one of my many Motorhead shirts right now. I had the pleasure of meeting Lemmy a few years before he passed and gave him a bottle of absinthe as a birthday/Christmas gift. Great guy!
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