Metallica to release historic demos cassette

Metallica will release a limited edition cassette 'No Life 'Til Leather' for Record Story Day in April.

'No Life 'Til Leather' digs into the Metallica archives. The seven tracks were recorded in 1982, one full year before Metallica would release their debut album.

The 1982 Metallica line-up still featured Dave Mustaine on lead guitar and Ron McCovney on bass. Mustaine joined the band in 1981 and was fired in 1983. He did not play on the first album but is credited as co-written on four songs, including 'The Four Horsemen', still a popular placement in the Metallica setlist today. Mustaine went on to form Megadeth.

McCovney was Metallica's original bass player. He left not long after this recording in 1982 and was replaced by Cliff Burton who died in 1986. Burton was replaced by Jason Newsted. Newsted left in 2001 and was replaced by Robert Trujilo.

In a statement Metallica said, "This year we decided to celebrate Record Store Day with our friends at independent retail by taking a huge leap back in time to our humble beginnings with that little rectangle of plastic known as the "demo tape." In 1982 we recorded seven songs that became our initial calling card known as No Life 'til Leather and it led us to our first record deal . . . the rest, as you some of you may know, is history! We hope you enjoy this little walk down memory lane with us and that you will continue to join us in supporting independent record stores around the world".

An expanded version of 'No Life 'Til Leather' will be released on CD midyear.
No Life 'Til Leather tracklisting

Hit The Lights
The Mechanix
Motorbreath
Seek & Destroy
Metal Militia
Jump In The Fire
Phantom Lord

Recorded July 6, 1982 at Chateau East Studio, Tustin, CA.

More from Noise11.com