Metallica Kill Em All Song List |link| Jun 2026

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: Often cited as the song that started it all, it originally appeared on the Metal Massacre compilation in 1982.

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Track two, "The Four Horsemen," stands as perhaps the most musically sophisticated song on the album. This track is the center of the infamous Mustaine-Metallica rivalry. Originally titled "The Mechanix" and written by Mustaine, the song was reworked by Hetfield and new guitarist Kirk Hammett. Mustaine's version was a straightforward song about sex in a garage, but Metallica transformed it into an epic, biblical narrative about the harbingers of the apocalypse. The track is notable for its "galloping" rhythm section and a melodic, extended guitar solo section that breaks from the sheer speed of the surrounding tracks. It proved that thrash metal could be intricate and progressive, not just fast.

The album's creation was marked by significant lineup changes, including the dismissal of guitarist (who received co-writing credits on four tracks) and his replacement by Kirk Hammett just before recording. metallica kill em all song list

Before Kill ‘Em All , heavy metal was largely defined by the theatrical swagger of Judas Priest, the dark fantasy of Black Sabbath, and the mainstream hooks of Iron Maiden. Then four young musicians from Los Angeles—James Hetfield (vocals/rhythm guitar), Lars Ulrich (drums), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar, soon replaced by Kirk Hammett), and Ron McGovney (bass, replaced by Cliff Burton)—decided to strip away every ounce of polish and replace it with speed, aggression, and raw, unfiltered energy.