Kill 'Em All is a seminal heavy metal album by the band Metallica. Released in 1983, Kill 'Em All fuses heavy metal and elements of hardcore punk, and is often said to be the first thrash metal album.

The album's title was originally Metal Up Your Ass, but the record distributors refused to release an album with such a name. It was renamed Kill 'Em All in reference to the record industry's distributors.

"The Four Horsemen" was first written when Dave Mustaine was a member of the band, and called "The Mechanix". When Mustaine was kicked out, the lyrics and title were changed, and a slower middle section was added, featuring a harmonised guitar solo by Kirk Hammett. When Mustaine formed Megadeth he recorded the original version for their first album Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good! (1985).

The song "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)" is a bass solo by Cliff Burton. An instrumental track, with accompaniment on drums by Lars Ulrich, it features Burton's distinctive style of playing, incorporating heavy distortion, use of the wah-wah pedal, and tapping.

An early re-issue of the album by Elektra Records added the songs "Blitzkrieg" and "Am I Evil?".

Kill 'Em All peaked at #120 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, but not until 1988 (see 1988 in music).

Track listing

1. "Hit the Lights" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 4:17
2. "The Four Horsemen" (Hetfield/Mustaine/Ulrich) - 7:08
3. "Motorbreath" (Hetfield) - 3:03
4. "Jump in the Fire" (Hetfield/Mustaine/Ulrich) - 4:50
5. "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth" - 4:14
6. "Whiplash" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 4:06
7. "Phantom Lord" (Hetfield/Mustaine/Ulrich) - 4:52
8. "No Remorse" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6:24
9. "Seek & Destroy" (Hetfield/Ulrich) - 6:50
10. "Metal Militia" (Hetfield/Mustaine/Ulrich) - 6:06

Singles

"Jump In The Fire" was released in 1984 with "Seek And Destroy (Live)", and "Phantom Lord (Live)"

"Whiplash" as a single in the US only. Side A: "Jump In The Fire", "Whiplash (Special Neckbrace remix)", Side2: "Seek And Destroy", "Phantom Lord"

Personnel

• James Hetfield - Guitar, Vocals
• Lars Ulrich - Drums
• Cliff Burton - Bass
• Kirk Hammett - Guitar
• Jon Zazula - Executive Producer
• Paul Curcio - Producer
• Chris Bubacz - Engineer
• Andy Wroblewski - Assistant Engineer
• Bob Ludwig - Mastering