Metallica - Metal Militia (1983) LP Metal Records

Sometimes I'll buy a record knowing I could be in for a total piece of shit in terms of quality, just to have something that is either A) rare or B) somehow noteworthy or C) the one record I need to finish a band's catalog. This purchase was actually all three.

This happens to be an LP version of the infamous No Life 'Till Leather casette demo that was passed around in the underground - the one that got Metallica a record deal with Megaforce. It also has the Whiplash demo on it, which was a pre-studio recording demo made specifically for Megaforce - sometimes known as the Megaforce demo or the Whiplash/No Remorse demo as it is only those two songs.

The later demo is actually clear on this LP and probably the only reason to own it. The No Life Till Leather demo is pretty poor interms of quality as it is presented here. You have to dime the volume to hear anything on my stereo (and my stereo shakes the windows at about 6). Its taken from pretty washed out source material.

On the plus side, its got bitchin' cover art and its the only copy of the Whiplash demo I have. It did also fuel me to find a good copy of the No Life 'Till Leather demo, which I did just a bit ago...



It does highlight Metallica at the beginning of their career, at a time when they kicked serious ass all over the metal scene. The recordings were made with Dave Mustaine on the guitar, so you get to hear his original leads and 'The Four Horsemen' is actually 'The Mechanix', Dave Mustaine's version he later recorded with Megadeth.

You also get some of the vocal highs James was trying for early on as he was still trying to emulate Diamond Head's Sean Harris.



I love these demos and the raw feel from a band so known for their studio cleanness. Say what you will about what they have become - yes, I cringed pretty much all the way through 'Some Kind Of Monster' - what they were was something that will never be repeated.