For Whom The Bell Tolls: Metallica Catalogue Project Begins with Two Deluxe Box Sets

February 18, 2016 By Mike Duquette — 1 Comment

Metallica - Kill 'Em AllYears after Metallica took control of their own masters through their Blackened Records imprint, the metal masters will begain a super deluxe rollout of their classic hard rock albums.

The band announced details for extensive reissues of their first two albums, Kill ‘Em All (1983) and Ride the Lightning (1984), vault-clearing affairs that offer the remastered original albums alongside rare and unreleased B-sides, demos, rough mixes and video footage across CD, DVD and vinyl. Altogether, there are six LPs, two picture discs, 11 CDs and two DVDs between these two packages!

Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, Metallica–comprised of singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett (replacing original guitarist Dave Mustaine, who would later form metal outfit Megadeth) bassist Cliff Burton (only 19 when the band formed) and Danish-born drummer Lars Ulrich–had an unbeatable combination of volume and speed in hard rock. Alongside Anthrax, Megadeth and Slayer, the group pioneered the thrash metal genre, changing the face of hard rock in the 1980s and 1990s. Eight Grammy Awards, five consecutive No. 1 albums and 110 million records later, the expansion of their catalogue is long overdue.

Following the cassette-only reissue of the band’s self-released No Life ‘Til Leather demo for Record Store Day 2015, Kill ‘Em All (featuring “Jump in the Fire,” “Seek & Destroy” and “Whiplash”) and Ride the Lightning (featuring the title track, “Fade to Black” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls”) will feature an unprecedented dive into the Metallica vaults.

Kill ‘Em All will feature remastered versions of the album on LP and CD and will be augmented by three live sets from Paris, New Jersey and California on LP and CD; a picture disc recreation of the original “Jump Into the Fire” single (take heed: all offerings on vinyl will include download cards); plus a pair of bonus CDs featuring interviews, rough mixes and the contents of the “Whiplash” EP released in England. Another live set at Chicago’s Metro, released in part on a VHS compilation in 1987, debuts in full here. The box also includes a hardback book of unseen photos and a collectible patch.

Metallica - Ride the LightningRide the Lightning also includes the remastered album on LP and CD, plus four live sets from Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and England’s Castle Donington (the latter three making their physical debut after being offered as downloads on Metallica’s live archive site); a picture disc version of the “Creeping Death” single, featuring two non-LP B-sides; two more bonus CDs with radio interviews, demos and rough mixes; and a DVD featuring more pro-shot live footage for MTV, Danish TV and more. Physical swag in the box includes a hardback book of unseen photos, a mini-book of handwritten lyrics and three posters.

Both sets (as well as straight remasters on LP and CD) are available to pre-order for release on April 15.

Kill ‘Em All: Deluxe Box Set (Blackened, 2016)

4LP/5CD/1DVD Box Set: Amazon U.S.

Remastered CD: Amazon U.S.

Remastered LP: Amazon U.S.

LP 1: Original LP remastered (Megaforce Records MRI-069, 1983)

  1. Hit the Lights
  2. The Four Horsemen
  3. Motorbreath
  4. Jump in the Fire
  5. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  6. Whiplash
  7. Phantom Lord
  8. No Remorse
  9. Seek & Destroy
  10. Metal Militia

LPs 2-3: Live @ Espace Balard, Paris – 2/9/1984 *

  1. The Ecstasy of Gold
  2. Hit the Lights
  3. The Four Horsemen
  4. Jump in the Fire
  5. Phantom Lord
  6. No Remorse
  7. Ride the Lightning
  8. Motorbreath
  9. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  10. Whiplash
  11. Seek & Destroy
  12. Metal Militia

Picture Disc: Jump in the Fire (based on U.K. 12″ – Music for Nations 12KUT 105, 1983)

  1. Jump in the Fire
  2. Seek & Destroy (“Live” At The Automat)
  3. Phantom Lord (“Live” At The Automat)

CD 1: Original LP remastered

CD 2: Interviews & Radio IDs*

  1. Metal Forces Interview with Lars – January 1984
  2. Radio IDs with Lars, James & Cliff – 1984

CD 3: Rough Mixes from Lars’ Vault, Bootleg Tracks and “Whiplash” EP

  1. Motorbreath (Rough Mix) *
  2. Hit the Lights (Rough Mix) *
  3. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth (Rough Mix) *
  4. Seek & Destroy (Rough Mix) *
  5. Whiplash (Rough Mix) *
  6. The Four Horsemen (Rough Mix) *
  7. Seek & Destroy (NOT Live from The Automat) *
  8. Phantom Lord (NOT Live from The Automat) *
  9. Jump in the Fire
  10. Whiplash (Special Neckbrace Remix)
  11. Seek & Destroy (“Live” At The Automat)
  12. Phantom Lord (“Live” At The Automat)

CD 3, Tracks 9-12 released on Megaforce 12″ MRS-04, 1983

CD 4: Live @ J Bees Rock III, Middletown, NJ – 1/20/1984 *

  1. The Four Horsemen
  2. Jump in the Fire
  3. Fight Fire with Fire
  4. Ride the Lightning
  5. Phantom Lord
  6. Seek & Destroy
  7. Whiplash

CD 5: Live @ The Keystone, Palo Alto, CA – 10/31/1983 *

  1. Hit the Lights
  2. The Four Horsemen
  3. Jump in the Fire
  4. Fight Fire with Fire
  5. Ride the Lightning
  6. Phantom Lord
  7. When Hell Freezes Over (“The Call of Ktulu”)
  8. Seek and Destroy
  9. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  10. Whiplash
  11. Creeping Death
  12. Guitar Solo
  13. Metal Militia

DVD: Live @ The Metro, Chicago – 8/12/1983

  1. Hit the Lights * +
  2. The Four Horsemen * +
  3. Jump in the Fire * ++
  4. Phantom Lord *
  5. No Remorse
  6. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth *
  7. Seek and Destroy *
  8. Guitar Solo *
  9. Metal Militia

+ No audio ++ Partial audio

Tracks 5 and 9 released on $19.98 Home Vid Cliff ‘Em All – Elektra VHS 40106-3, 1987

Ride the Lightning: Deluxe Box Set (Blackened, 2016)

4LP/6CD/1DVD Box Set: Amazon U.S.

Remastered CD: Amazon U.S.

Remastered LP: Amazon U.S.

LP 1: Original LP remastered (Megaforce Records MRI-769, 1984)

  1. Fight Fire with Fire
  2. Ride the Lightning
  3. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  4. Fade to Black
  5. Trapped Under Ice
  6. Escape
  7. Creeping Death
  8. The Call of Ktulu

LPs 2-3: Live @ The Hollywood Palladium, Los Angeles – 3/10/1985

  1. The Ecstasy of Gold
  2. Fight Fire with Fire
  3. Ride the Lightning
  4. Phantom Lord
  5. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  6. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  7. No Remorse
  8. Fade to Black
  9. Seek & Destroy
  10. Creeping Death
  11. Am I Evil?
  12. Motorbreath

Picture Disc: Creeping Death (based on U.K. 12″ – Music for Nations 12KUT 112, 1984)

  1. Creeping Death
  2. Am I Evil?
  3. Blitzkrieg

CD 1: Original LP remastered

CD 2: Interviews *

  1. Metal Forces Interview with Lars – November 1984
  2. WUSC Cleveland Interview with Cliff & Kirk – February 1985
  3. Metal Madness Interview with Lars – March 1985

CD 3: Demos and Rough Mixes from Lars’ Vault *

  1. Ride the Lightning (Studio Demo)
  2. When Hell Freezes Over (“The Call of “Ktulu”) (Studio Demo)
  3. Creeping Death (Studio Demo)
  4. Fight Fire with Fire (Studio Demo)
  5. Ride the Lightning (Garage Demo)
  6. When Hell Freezes Over (“The Call of “Ktulu”) (Garage Demo)
  7. Fight Fire with Fire (Garage Demo)
  8. Ride the Lightning (Boom Box Demo)
  9. Blitzkrieg (Rhythm Track Rough Mix)
  10. Am I Evil? (Rhythm Track Rough Mix)

CD 4: Live @ Kabuki Theatre, San Francisco – 3/15/1985

  1. Fight Fire with Fire
  2. Ride the Lightning
  3. Phantom Lord
  4. The Four Horsemen
  5. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  6. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  7. No Remorse
  8. Fade to Black
  9. Creeping Death
  10. Guitar Solo
  11. Am I Evil?
  12. Motorbreath

Previously released as download on LiveMetallica.com

CD 5: Live @ The Lyceum Theatre, London – 12/20/1984

  1. Phantom Lord *
  2. The Four Horsemen
  3. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth
  4. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  5. No Remorse
  6. The Call of Ktulu *
  7. Seek & Destroy
  8. Whiplash
  9. Creeping Death *
  10. Guitar Solo *
  11. Metal Militia

Tracks 2-5, 7-8 and 11 previously released as download on LiveMetallica.com

CD 6: Live @ Castle Donington, United Kingdom – 8/17/1985

  1. Creeping Death
  2. Ride the Lightning
  3. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  4. The Four Horsemen
  5. Fade to Black
  6. Seek & Destroy
  7. Whiplash
  8. Motorbreath

Previously released as download on LiveMetallica.com

DVD

Live @ The Metal Hammer Festival, St. Goarshausen, Germany – 9/14/1985

  1. Creeping Death *
  2. Ride the Lightning *
  3. Disposable Heroes *
  4. No Remorse *
  5. (Anesthesia) – Pulling Teeth *
  6. For Whom the Bell Tolls *
  7. The Four Horsemen
  8. Fade to Black
  9. Seek & Destroy
  10. Whiplash *
  11. Fight Fire with Fire *
  12. Guitar Solo *
  13. Am I Evil? *
  14. Motorbreath *

Live @ MTV’s Day on the Green, Oakland Stadium, CA – 8/31/1985

  1. Creeping Death *
  2. Ride the Lightning *
  3. For Whom the Bell Tolls
  4. Interview with Lars and James *

Danish TV *

  1. Lars Ulrich When He Was Young (Lars’ first television interview)
  2. SPOT – Lars Ulrich

All tracks not marked * released on $19.98 Home Vid Cliff ‘Em All – Elektra VHS 40106-3, 1987

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Mike Duquette
Mike Duquette

Mike Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he was a teenager. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, having written at and worked for all three major catalogue music labels and contributing to Allmusic, Billboard, Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Classic Rock. He's penned liner notes for Verve, Chess, Mondo and Soul Music Records.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with his wife, a cat named Ravioli, twin daughters and a large yet tasteful collection of music.

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1 thought on “For Whom The Bell Tolls: Metallica Catalogue Project Begins with Two Deluxe Box Sets”

  1. Mark

    It’s too bad the demos and rough mixes aren’t included on a second disc for the standard remastered CDs. That would have been an incentive to re-buy these albums. Also, I wish “Am I Evil?” and “Blitzkrieg” weren’t deleted off the remastered “Kill ‘Em All” CD.

    Reply

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