Metallica

Released: July 25, 1983

Songwriter: Lars Ulrich James Hetfield

Producer: Paul Curcio

[Verse 1]
Late at night, all systems go, you've come to see the show
We do our best, you're the rest, you make it real, you know
There's a feeling deep inside that drives you fucking mad
A feeling of a hammerhead, you need it, oh, so bad

[Chorus]
Adrenaline starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash!

[Verse 2]
Bang your head against the stage like you never did before
Make it ring, make it bleed, make it really sore
In a frenzied madness with your leathers and your spikes
Heads are bobbing all around, it's hot as hell tonight

[Chorus]
Adrenaline starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac
Whiplash!

[Verse 3]
Here on stage, the Marshall noise is piercing through your ears
It kicks your ass, kicks your face, exploding feeling nears
Now's the time to let it rip, to let it fucking loose
We're gathered here to maim and kill, cause this is what we choose

[Chorus]
Adrenaline starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac

[Bridge]
Here we go!

[Guitar Solo]
Whiplash!

[Verse 4]
The show is through, the metal's gone, it's time to hit the road
Another town, another gig, again we will explode
Hotel rooms and motorways, life out here is raw
But we'll never stop, we'll never quit, 'cause we're Metallica

[Chorus]
Adrenaline starts to flow
You're thrashing all around
Acting like a maniac

[Outro]
Whoa, whoa

Like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden before, Metallica has managed to transcend the genre from which it was originated. To their metal fanbase they are considered one of the Big Four bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer; however Metallica is also one of the most commercially successful bands in all of rock music, having sold 110 million records including the 16x platinum Metallica, which stands as both the highest selling metal album of all time and most successful album of the past 25 years.

Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles after drummer Lars Ulrich placed an advert in the classifieds newspaper The Recycler, which was answered by singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield. They were soon joined by lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth after being kicked out of the band because of his substance and alchohol abuse, and bassist Ron McGovney, a childhood friend of Hetfield. These two early members were replaced with Cliff Burton (who relocated the band to San Francisco) and ex-Exodus lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett to form the band’s classic line-up.

The band released three albums, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All, 1984’s Ride The Lightning and 1986’s Master of Puppets before the tragic and untimely death of Cliff Burton on September 27th, 1986.

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Kill ‘Em All

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Kill ‘Em All