Álbum Kill 'Em All (Metallica)

Kill 'Em All de Metallica

Álbum de Metallica

  • Fecha de lanzamiento: 25 de Julio de 1983
  • Sello Discográfico: Megaforce Records
  • Compositores: James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, Dave Mustaine
  • Productores: Paul Curcio, Jon Zazula

Valora este álbum

Kill 'Em All es un álbum de Metallica, publicado en 1983 por Megaforce Records. El disco incluye 10 canciones, entre ellas «Hit the Lights», «The Four Horsemen», «Motorbreath» y «Jump in the Fire».

Kill 'Em All, el álbum debut de Metallica, lanzado en 1983, es una declaración de guerra sónica que marcó el nacimiento de un nuevo género: el thrash metal. Crudo, rápido y furioso, el álbum canalizó la energía del punk rock y la complejidad técnica de la Nueva Ola del Heavy Metal Británico (NWOBHM) para crear algo completamente nuevo y electrizante. Aunque no fue un éxito comercial masivo en su lanzamiento inicial, su influencia underground fue inmensa, estableciendo la plantilla para el thrash metal e inspirando a incontables bandas. Es el sonido de cuatro jóvenes músicos hambrientos, desatando una agresión musical que cambiaría las reglas del juego para siempre.

Grabación y contexto

A principios de los 80, Metallica era una banda emergente en la escena underground de la Bay Area de San Francisco. Tras ganarse una reputación con su maqueta "No Life 'til Leather", consiguieron un modesto presupuesto de Jon Zazula, dueño de la tienda de discos Rock'n'Roll Heaven y fundador del sello Megaforce Records, para grabar su primer álbum. El proceso de grabación en los Music America Studios de Rochester, Nueva York, fue rápido y de bajo presupuesto.

Un evento crucial justo antes de la grabación fue la expulsión del guitarrista principal Dave Mustaine debido a sus problemas con el alcohol y su comportamiento errático. Fue reemplazado por Kirk Hammett, guitarrista de Exodus, quien tuvo que grabar sus solos sobre las pistas de guitarra rítmica ya escritas por Hetfield y Mustaine. Pese a su expulsión, Mustaine recibió créditos de composición en cuatro de las diez canciones del álbum.

El título original del álbum iba a ser "Metal Up Your Ass", pero fue rechazado por la distribuidora. Fue el bajista Cliff Burton quien, frustrado, sugirió el título definitivo: "Kill 'Em All" ("Mátalos a todos"), en referencia a los ejecutivos de las discográficas.

Estilo y propuesta sonora

El sonido de "Kill 'Em All" es la definición del thrash metal en su forma más pura: rápido, agresivo y técnicamente exigente. Está dominado por los riffs de guitarra de James Hetfield, caracterizados por su velocidad y el uso de la técnica del "downpicking". La batería de Lars Ulrich es frenética y llena de energía, mientras que el bajo de Cliff Burton, a menudo distorsionado, no solo proporciona una base rítmica sino que también tiene un papel melódico, como se demuestra en su solo "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth".

Líricamente, el álbum está impregnado de temas de violencia, rebelión y la camaradería de la escena del metal, reflejando la energía juvenil y la actitud de la banda en ese momento.

Las canciones clave

El álbum se abre con la velocidad vertiginosa de "Hit the Lights", un llamado a las armas para los fans del metal. "The Four Horsemen", una épica de siete minutos originalmente escrita por Mustaine, es una de las piezas centrales del disco. "Motorbreath" es un tributo a la banda Mötorhead, una de sus mayores influencias.

El primer sencillo, "Whiplash", es a menudo citado como una de las primeras canciones de thrash metal de la historia. "(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth" es un innovador solo de bajo de Cliff Burton, que utiliza efectos de distorsión y wah-wah para crear un sonido único y melódico. El himno en directo "Seek & Destroy", con su ritmo más lento y su estribillo coreable, se convirtió en un pilar de sus conciertos durante toda su carrera.

Estreno y resultados comerciales

"Kill 'Em All" no entró en las listas de Billboard 200 hasta tres años después de su lanzamiento, en 1986. Sin embargo, su impacto en la escena del metal underground fue inmediato y masivo. Con el tiempo, ha vendido más de 3 millones de copias solo en Estados Unidos.

Lo que dijo la crítica

La crítica inicial fue en su mayoría de medios underground, que lo aclamaron como un álbum revolucionario. Con el tiempo, la crítica mainstream ha reconocido su inmensa importancia. AllMusic le dio cinco estrellas, describiéndolo como "el verdadero nacimiento del thrash". "Kill 'Em All" no solo fue el comienzo de la discografía de Metallica, sino el punto de partida de todo un género musical.

Listado de Canciones

  1. Hit the Lights4:17

    Letra

    No life till leather We are 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 You know our fans are insane We are 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 are gonna rip right through your brain We got the lethal power It is 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
  2. The Four Horsemen7:08

    Letra

    By the last breath of the fourth winds blow Better raise your ears The sound of hooves knocks at your door Lock up your wife and children now It's time to wield the blade For now you have got some company The Horsemen are drawing nearer On the leather steeds they ride They have 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 has all been planned The quartet of deliverance rides A sinner once a sinner twice No need for confession now 'Cause now you have got the fight of your life The Horsemen are drawing nearer On the leather steeds they ride They have 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 have had to endure And what you have put others through Death Deliverance for you for sure There is 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 judgment hammer down Safely inside armor blood guts and sweat The Horsemen are drawing nearer On the leather steeds they ride They have come to take your life On through the dead of night With the four Horsemen ride Or choose your fate and die
  3. Motorbreath3:03

    Letra

    Living and dying laughing and crying Once you have seen it you will never be the same Life in the fast lane is just how it seems Hard and it is heavy dirty and mean Motorbreath Its 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 its full speed or nothing I am taking down you know whatever is in my way Getting your kicks as you are shooting the line Sending the shivers up and down your spine Motorbreath Its 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 is about You only live once so take hold of the chance Don't end up like others the same song and dance Motorbreath Its 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
  4. Jump in the Fire4:50

    Letra

    Down in the depths of my fiery home The summons bell will chime Tempting you and all the earth To join our sinful kind There is a job to be done and I'm the one You people make me do it Now it is 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 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 am 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
  5. (Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth3:27
  6. Whiplash4:06

    Letra

    Jason, you're too fucking metal man Too metal for your own good You guys want some more don't ya we're just getting warmed up now man how about some more old shit from kill em all eh you don't mind if we speed it up some huh? So, we need to see some action out there if you fucking don't know by now makes us feel real fucking good so, uh, get your dancing shoes on. you know the words follow me motherfucker Adrenaline starts to flow thrashing all around Acting like a maniac (Whiplash) hey man, I need to see some action out there come on you pussies! yeah, you guessed it, it's whiplash one two four three two and a half Late at night all systems go come to see the show We do our best, you're the rest You make it real you know There is a feeling deep inside That drives you fuckin' mad A feeling of a hammerhead You need it oh so bad Adrenaline starts to flow thrashing all around Acting like a maniac (Whiplash) yeah whiplash Bang your head against the stage Like you never did before Make it ring, make it bleed Make it fucking sore In a frenzied madness With your leather and your spikes Heads are bobbing all around It is hot as hell tonight Adrenaline starts to flow thrashing all around Acting like a maniac what is it? (Whiplash ) it's fucking whiplash Here on the stage the Marshall noise Is piercing through your ears It kicks your ass kick your face Exploding feeling nears Now is the time to let it rip To let it fuckin' loose We are gathered here to maim and kill 'Cause this is what we choose Adrenaline starts to flow thrashing all around Acting like a maniac (Whiplash) yeah, give it to me one time hey hey hey (hey hey hey hey) yeah, here we go yeah whiplash. get it and fuck em up The show is through the metal is gone It is time to hit the road Another town, another gig Again we will explode Hotel rooms and motorways Life out here is raw But we will never stop we will never quit 'Cause you're Metallica Adrenaline starts to flow You're thrashing all around Acting like a maniac hey hey (hey hey hey hey hey) yeah thank you Mexico city, we'll see you around good night from Metallica thank you!
  7. Phantom Lord4:52

    Letra

    Sound is ripping through your ears The deafening sound of metal nears Your bodies 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 death pains The fists of terrors 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
  8. No Remorse6:24

    Letra

    No mercy for what we are doing 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 its way across the land We don't need the 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 one 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 hear The furious fighting Swords are like lighting It all becomes frightening to you Know death is near No remorse
  9. Seek and Destroy6:50
    vídeo del tema Seek and Destroy
    Alright... We're scanning the scene In the city tonight We're looking for you To start up a fight There is 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've always been taking And 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 (Bridge and solo) 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 Ah ha ha ha ha...
  10. Metal Militia6:06

    Letra

    Thunder and lightning the gods take revenge 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 On through the mist and the madness We are 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 Iron clad soldiers Join or be conquered the law of the land What will befall you The metallization of your inner soul Twisting and turning On through the mist and the madness We are trying to get the message to you Metal Militia Metal Militia Metal Militia We are as one as 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 On through the mist and the madness We are trying to get the message to you Metal Militia Metal Militia Metal Militia