As many people will know, Metallica have a new album coming out this year, following up 1997's Re-Load. I thought it would be nice to go all the way back to 1983, when first album, Kill 'Em All was released. Metallica are no doubt a Metal band, but back in these days and more noticably on this album, they bordered the line of Thrash Metal, which is basically very fast Metal, like Slayer for example. Now this isn't one of Metallica's best albums, but it still manages to be brilliant.

James Hetfield - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Kirk Hammett - Lead Guitar
Cliff Burton - Bass
Lars Ulrich - Drums

It's time now to get onto the important stuff, which basically means I'm gonna review all the tracks on the album and give them a rating out of 10. Firstly I will set out a track listing for you all, just for the sheer fun of it.

1. Hit The Lights
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Hit the lights is a very typical 80's metal song. A nice few crunching riffs and a blinding solo, this track is no exception. It isn't one of the best metallica songs, far from it and is a pretty bad song for the opener of an album. All that aside don't let this track put you off the rest of the album, as things only get better.

2. The Four Horsemen
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This is now a name Metallica are often referred to and is a fantastic tune. The track starts off with a speedfest and a very catchy riff, which ends with the drums pounding. The chorus generally slows the song down which is nice to see and has James Hetfield using his lyrical talents. The song kind of portrays Metallica as of course the four horsemen of the apocalypse and is a song which many times refers to death and still manages to keep me happy! They’ll never find out what’s wrong with me. Getting nearer the end of the song a slow, melodic solo is started out, which then kicks back into the main riff. A nice song to get the album finally going.

3. Motorbreath
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One of the more shorter songs on the album at 3:03, Motorbreath is still a classic. James Hetfield seems to sing very laid back on this track. The way he says Motorbreath on the chorus is so strange but weirdly you find yourself also singing it like him. The main riff as usual, is stunning, although the solo is not a trademark Metallica one. A nice short song on an album full or long songs.

4. Jump In The Fire
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By far the most catchy song on the whole album. The intro reminds me of a circus tent for some reason. The main riff is just so simple, but very effective. This was a song that Dave Mustaine wrote along with Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield and you can actually tell by some parts of the song that he had an influence on it. It just smells of a song off one of Megadeth's earlier releases. The solo on this track is quite literally stunning and just shows that even in there early days they were full of class. The song finished then with the solo still being blasted out in the background. One of the early Metallica Classics.

6. Whiplash
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Now this is what you call classic early Metallica! this song wouldn't have sounded out of place on such masterpieces as Master Of Puppets and Ride The Lightning. Basically whiplash is a mad Speedfest of guitars and some fast paced singing by James Hetfield. Even the chorus doesn't really slow the song down, although it does include with it a nice catchy riff and some groovy drum beats. I hope they play this damn song at Leeds as it would be a nice treat, to bring 'em back to the old school. Not much of a solo in this song as its not a very song one, but the speed of the song makes up for that. Up there with the top 20 Metallica songs ever!

7. Phantom Lord
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This is a song where you get to hear what a class drummer Lars Ulrich really is. He adds a few snazzy drumbeats to an already good track. The chorus is again a catchy affair, with James Hetfield just knowing exactly where to bang his lyrics in. The song slows down after around 3 minutes and kicks into a soft melodic style for around a minute, the the crazy crazy solo comes in place as usual and its again a stunner. A nice song to listen to, but is not an essential listen.

8. No Remorse
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James Hetfield sums it up perfectly on this song, with the lyrics "no remorse, no repent, we don't care what it meant" referring to war, as he often did in later songs. The song itself is an easy one on the ear, but does include the odd frantic moment, like at the start where straight away a solo is played to great effect. Although James Hetfield had a throat infection for most of this album he does rather well on vocals. No Remorse is indeed a catchy and well though out track, but still lacks that cutting edge.

9. Seek & Destroy
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Ah, now this, like Whiplash is classic old school Metallica with a classy finish. This is perhaps the only song I can play on guitar off this whole album, which doesn't automatically mean its crap. The main riff is one of the best Metallica ever made and is so simple its unbelievable. It seems that James Hetfield must have banged a few strepsils down his throat for this song as he sounds much more clearer on this track than any other on the album, He even manages to scream 'Destroy' on the chorus. This is personally one of my favourite Metallica songs ever and is well worthy of it. I think it was also the only song released on the album, although I could be wrong. Everything gels in this song, which is nice to see, as some songs don't.

I would recommend this album fully to fans of Metallica, but not so much fans of the newer music, you know like all the shite like Sum 41, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit etc etc... because it won't suit you're style. Although Kill 'Em All is not an essential album to your Metallica collection like MAster Of Puppets, it's still a very good album, especially saince it was a debut album. It can be bought from all music stores at around £12 - £17 on CD.