Today, July 25, marks the 25th Anniversary of the release of Metallica’s debut album, KILL ‘EM ALL.  Originally released by then fledgling Megaforce Records, KILL ‘EM ALL heralded a major shake-up in the Old Guard of Metal.  These acne-pitted youngsters in ripped-up jeans and sleeveless t-shirts turned up the heat a notch or three on the Iron Maiden’s, Ozzy’s and Judas Priest’s of the world.  A combination of NWOBHM, punk and good ol’ American kick-assness, KILL ‘EM ALL still stands as a testimony to what being young, hungry, drunk and pissed-off can accomplish.  As opposed to, say, LOAD or RELOAD, which stands as a testimony to what being middle-aged, sober, mellow, rich art-collectors can accomplish.

Let’s also not forget original lead-guitarist, Dave Mustaine, who co-wrote a lot of the tunes on KILL ‘EM ALL.  It’s too band the rest of the band woke him up at 6 AM to send him back home from New York to California on a Greyhound bus before he could record a lick for the album.

Here’s to ya, Young Metallica!  Cheers!*