Kill 'em All: Kill'em All was recorded in just 2 weeks in May 1983. the former guitarist Dave Mustaine had just been fired by the band, due to conflicts with other members, above all James Hetfield. Though Mustaine actively participated in the songwriting he didn't take part at the recording, he was soon replaced by Kirk Hammet who played for the album just after one month he joined Metallica. "Metal Up Your Ass" was the original chosen title but the band was forced to change it by the label, and they chose Kill'em All. "Metal Up Your Ass" would have become soon a slogan among Metallica fans and one can still spot at their gigs, t-shirts with this title and the artwork that Metallica proposed for it. At the time there were debates whether Metallica had been the first to play so aggressive and so "thrashy", they certainly paid tribute to their influences like Venom, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Diamond Head, Judas Priest and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) as a whole, combined with the rage and fury of punk. Whether Kill'em All was the first or not, one thing is recognized by everyone; Thrash and Speed were there to stay and Hard Rock and Heavy Metal would have never been the same anymore.

Artist: Metallica
Year: 1983
Type: Studio Album
Format: Vinyl
Produced by: Paul Curcio
Genre: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, Thrash
Musicians: Cliff Burton (backing vocals, bass), James Hetfield (guitar, vocals), Kirk Hammet (guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums, Percussion)