Search - Various Artists :: Metal Massacre 1

SECOND earliest official release of Metallica

K-Man | Scotland | 11/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The only reason I own this is for the early recording of the Metallica track 'Hit The Lights' which personally I find alot more enjoyable than the raw, dusty album version with a prepubescent Hetfield screeching down the microphone. Here we hear him noticably younger and hadnt yet adapted his raw, growling vocals that he was once heralded for. Quite an enjoyable listen indeed.



Just to clarify (for the confused) this IS the re-released version of Metal Masscre Vol. 1 and DOES feature Dave Mustaine (on lead guitar only).



The 'first version' of the track was recorded and pressed in 1981 and originally featured session guitarist (Lloyd Grant) however this has since then been discontinued and would be VERY hard to obtain.



The 'second version' was recorded during a session in 1982 along with 3 other tracks (Mechanix, Jump In The Fire, Motorbreath - general interest) This was the version that was then pressed onto Metal Masscre Vol. 1 and is also the version you see here. Still very collectable, still very enjoyable. Glad I could clear that up."

It all started here (and I'm talking about more than just Me

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 11/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

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While I totally understand that the first Metal Massacre compilation is most noteworthy for featuring the earliest recorded work by Metallica, I'm a bit surprised that no one has mentioned the album's role in launching another heavy metal institution - namely Metal Blade Records.



Put together on a shoestring budget, Metal Massacre I was for the emerging West Coast metal scene what Metal for Muthas, Vol. 1 was for the NWOBHM scene, an early showcase of a handful of dedicated and talented bands that were changing the musical landscape. Now you can debate the lasting impact of bands like Pandemonium and Avatar, but the West Coast scene had a huge impact on the overall heavy metal sound, and bands like Malice, Black `n Blue, and of course Metallica were at the forefront of that scene. Metallica, who contributed a raw early version of Hit the Lights to Metal Massacre I, was obviously the major success story of this album, but Black `n Blue, Cirith Ungol, Bitch, and Malice all had respectable careers spanning multiple albums.



More than just the launching pad of Metallica's legendary career, Metal Massacre I was an early snapshot of a chaotic and energetic time in the history of heavy metal. The success of this compilation led to the release of further Metal Massacre albums and the eventual launch of Metal Blade Records, which is why it deserves to be considered a metal milestone, not just a footnote in the Metallica story.

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