This is 1983: James 20, Lars 19, Cliff 21, and Kirk 20. At the young age of 20, they released one of the most influential records in the history of thrash metal: Kill ‘Em All.
The song, “Seek & Destroy”, is the ninth track from ‘Tallica’s debut album. Since its live debut in 1982, it is the third-most performed song in the band’s history, having been played 1,610 times as of October 2024. It is also said to be heavily influenced by the Diamond Head song “Dead Reckoning”.
Rolling Stone has frequently highlighted “Seek & Destroy” and Kill ‘Em All as foundational to thrash metal. They’ve described the song as a “blueprint for the genre”. AllMusic has praised “Seek & Destroy” for its “anthemic quality” and “driving force”, noting its importance in establishing ‘Tallica’s early sound and its influence on the thrash metal scene.
Slayer’s Kerry King has cited “Seek & Destroy” as a major influence on his band’s sound. Anthrax’s Scott Ian has highlighted “Seek & Destroy” as a key track that helped inspire the thrash metal movement. Testament’s Chuck Billy has mentioned it as a song that inspired Testament’s approach to thrash metal. He has praised its combination of heavy riffs and memorable melodies.
Kill ‘Em All was critically praised at the time of its release in 1983 and has since been regarded as a groundbreaking album for thrash metal because of its “precise musicianship, which fused new wave of British heavy metal riffs with hardcore punk tempos.”
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