(Rated this album with 8 out of 10) Reviewed by
doolittle72436
from Lafe, AR
Though not as complex and melodious as later efforts, Metallica's debut is tremendous in that it pretty much gives birth to the speed/thrash metal genre. Highlights on the album, in my opinion, have to be: "The Four Horsemen", and apocalyptic song with some of the trademark tempo changes that would later predominate their work. "Motorbreath", with it's relentless energy, is three minutes of pummeling brute speed. Cliff Burton's bass solo "(Anesthesia)-Pulling Teeth" is a fine showcase of his absolute virtuosic flair on the bass, playing what sounds like a guitar solo, so high are the notes he plays. "No Remorse" is the first in a long line of songs about war that would culminate in the epic "One" on the ...And Justice For All LP. Fine riffing on this one. Then there's "Seek And Destroy", which rocks along at the closest thing to mid-tempo on this album. There are lesser songs like "Phantom Lord", "Metal Militia", and "Whiplash" (fans swear by this song but I've never been able to get into it). Still, as Metallica albums go, it's a must have, as are all of the first five.
