Widely regarded as the first definitive thrash album, Metallica’s
Kill ‘Em All, though forceful, declarative and crushing, was a punishing exercise in music business protocol. While it upped the ante on the precision, rage and songwriting of bands like Venom and Diamond Head, it was a record that, from the start, was ruled by compromise and control.
Kill ‘Em All wasn’t the original title. Metallica wanted to call the album
Metal Up Your Ass, but when Important, the distribution outlet of their label, Megaforce, balked, they were forced to change the name. As the story goes, bassist Cliff Burton’s reaction was hardly favorable. “Aw, man, f k ‘em. F k those f kers! Just kill ‘em. Kill ‘em all,” he declared. And the album title was born.