Metal Massacre 1

💿️ Record Metal Massacre 1 🌎 Country (US)  ⚔️ Band Various artists • Format Various artists • Published Mon 14 Jun 1982

Tracklist

First Pressing (Metal Blade Records – MBR 1001) 1982

A01	Cold Day in Hell	STEELER
A02	Live for the Whip	BITCH
A03	Captive of Light	MALICE
A04	Tell The World	RATT
A05	Octave (instrumental)	AVATAR
B01	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	CIRITH UNGOL
B02	Dead of the Night	DEMON FLIGHT
B03	Fighting Backwards	PANDEMONIUM
B04	Kick You Down	MALICE
B05	Hit the Lights (First Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METTALLICA

Second Pressing (Metalworks Records – MBR 1001) 1982

A01	Chains Around Heaven	BLACK ‘N BLUE
A02	Live for the Whip	BITCH
A03	Captive of Light	MALICE
A04	Tell The World	RATT
A05	Octave (instrumental)	AVATAR
B01	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	CIRITH UNGOL
B02	Dead of the Night	DEMON FLIGHT
B03	Fighting Backwards	PANDEMONIUM
B04	Kick You Down	MALICE
B05	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METALLICA

Third Pressing (Metal Blade Records – MBR 1001) 1984

A01	Chains Around Heaven	BLACK ‘N BLUE
A02	Live for the Whip	BITCH
A03	Captive of Light	MALICE
A04	Octave (instrumental)	AVATAR
B01	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	CIRITH UNGOL
B02	Dead of the Night	DEMON FLIGHT
B03	Fighting Backwards	PANDEMONIUM
B04	Kick You Down	MALICE
B05	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METALLICA

Fourth Pressing (Metal Blade Records – MB1001) 2022
40 anniversary reissue

A01	Cold Day in Hell	STEELER
A02	Live for the Whip	BITCH
A03	Captive of Light	MALICE
A04	Tell The World	RATT
A05	Octave (instrumental)	AVATAR
B01	Chains Around Heaven	BLACK ‘N BLUE
B02	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	CIRITH UNGOL
B03	Dead of the Night	DEMON FLIGHT
B04	Fighting Backwards	PANDEMONIUM
B05	Kick You Down	MALICE
B06	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METALLICA

All pressings

First pressing	Second pressing	Third pressing	Fourth pressing
Cold Day in Hell			Cold Day in Hell
	Chains Around Heaven	Chains Around Heaven	Chains Around Heaven*
Live for the Whip	Live for the Whip	Live for the Whip	Live for the Whip
Captive of Light	Captive of Light	Captive of Light	Captive of Light
Tell The World	Tell The World		Tell The World
Octave (instrumental)	Octave (instrumental)	Octave (instrumental)	Octave (instrumental)
Death of the Sun (1982 version)	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	Death of the Sun (1982 version)	Death of the Sun (1982 version)
Dead of the Night	Dead of the Night	Dead of the Night	Dead of the Night
Fighting Backwards	Fighting Backwards	Fighting Backwards	Fighting Backwards
Kick You Down	Kick You Down	Kick You Down	Kick You Down
Hit the Lights (First Pressing)
	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)
10 tracks	10 tracks	9 tracks	11 tracks

* Fourth pressings on the song Chains Around Heaven, is now moved after Octave and before Death of the Sun.

tracklist CD / LP	song	band	time	year	press	other release (year)	label	also member known as
01 / A01	Cold Day in Hell	STEELER	4:17	1982	1st/2nd/4th	Cold Day in Hell 7" (1982) - original Cold Day in Hell LP (1983) -rerecord	Ravage Records - MAK-0111 Shrapnel Records – SHRAPNEL 1007 US	Keel, Yngwie Malmsteen, Riot, etc
02 / A02	Chains Around Heaven	BLACK ‘N’ BLUE	3:45	1984	2nd/3rd/4th 4th press has changed to tracklist LP B01, before Death of the Sun.	Black ‘N Blue (1984)	Geffen Records – XGHS 24041 US	Keel, Kiss, etc
03 / A03	Live for the Whip	BITCH	5:19	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	4 Song Demo (18 Feb 1982) - Live for the Whip (Metal Massacre 1 version) Damnation Alley (1982) – EP - new version	Metal Blade Records – MLP MBR 1002	-
04 / A04	Captive of Light	MALICE	3:21	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	Crazy in the Night (1989) – Compilation	Metal Blade Records – 7 73414-2	-
05 / A05	Tell The World	RATT	3:16	1982	1st/2nd/4th	Ratt (1983) – EP - different version	Time Coast Records – TC-2203 US	Whitesnake, Salty Dog, etc
06 / A06	Octave (instrumental)	AVATAR	3:48	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	-		Warlord, not the pre-Savatage
07 / B01	Death of the Sun	CIRITH UNGOL	3:56	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	King of the Dead (1984) Death of the Sun – different version King of the Dead (2017) Death of the Sun "Metal Massacre" aka "Alternate Mix" – same version	Enigma – E 1089	-
08 / B02	Dead of the Night	DEMON FLIGHT	2:35	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	Dead Of The Night (1982) – EP Dead of the Night (new version) different version	Metal Blade Records – MBR 1003	-
09 / B03	Fighting Backwards	PANDEMONIUM	3:44	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	Demon (1980) – Demo different version? Heavy Metal Soldiers (1983/2011)	Retrospect Records – RR-460 US Re-releases 2011 from MBR 1983	-
10 / B04	Kick You Down	MALICE	4:28	1982	1st/2nd/3rd/4th	-		-
11 / B05	Hit the Lights (First Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METTALLICA	4:25	1982	1st	-		Megadeth
12 / B06	Hit the Lights (Second Pressing) (Leather Charm cover)	METALLICA	4:12	1984	2nd/3rd/4th	No Life ’til Leather (6 Jul 1982)		same
13	demo, cancel	MÖTLEY CRÜE
14	Merciless Onslaught (instrumental), cancel	METAL CHURCH

Credits

Executive Producer – Brian Slagel • Assistant Producer – John Kornarens • Transfer, Audio Restoration and Mastering (Tracks 1-10) by Patrick W. Engel at Temple Of Disharmony in July 2021 • Track 11 Remastered by Howie Weinberg at Howie Weinberg Mastering, Los Angeles, CA • Track 11 Remaster Executive Producer Greg Fidelman, Audio Fixes by Greg Fidelmann & Kent Matche • Album Cover Design and Production Elaine Offers • Album Concept by Brian Slagel • Additional Layout by Brian J Ames • Mastered by Joe Borja • Remastered by Eddy Schreyer • Redesign by Eliran Kantor (2022)

---

- band members -

• Brian J. Ames – 12/13 years then in 1982
• Brian Slagel – 20/21 years then in 1982

---

- music industry, artwork, photography, mention or various misc -

• Brian J. Ames – 12/13 years then in 1982
• Brian Slagel – 20/21 years then in 1982

Editions

Ampex

ID: 25791
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/ampex-mm/
Title: Ampex MM

Release label: Ampex

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Metal Blade Records

ID: 25943
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-us-mbr-3984-14041-2-3/
Title: CD: US (MBR 3984-14041-2) 3

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-2

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Metal Blade Records

ID: 25944
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-us-mbr-3984-14041-2-4/
Title: CD: US (MBR 3984-14041-2) 4

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-2

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Metal Blade Records

ID: 31696
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/test-press-mm/
Title: Test Press MM

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: MB 1001

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Mon 14 Jun 1982 Metal Blade Records, Limited 10,000 copies

ID: 2660
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-metal-blade-mbr-1001-first-pressing/
Title: LP: (Metal Blade; MBR 1001) [first pressing]

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: MBR 1001
Release date: Mon 14 Jun 1982
Limited: 10,000

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Thu 01 Jul 1982 Metalworks Records

ID: 20575
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/metalworks-records-mbr-1001/
Title: LP: (Metalworks Records – MBR 1001) [second pressing]

Release label: Metalworks Records
Release number: MBR 1001
Release date: Thu 01 Jul 1982

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Thu 01 Jul 1982 Metalworks Records

ID: 21512
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-can-metalworks-records-mw-6363/
Title: LP: CAN (Metalworks Records – MW 6363)

Release label: Metalworks Records
Release number: MW 6363
Release date: Thu 01 Jul 1982

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Thu 01 Jul 1982 Metalworks Records

ID: 21551
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-metalworks-records-mbr-1001/
Title: MC: (Metalworks Records ‎- MBR 1001)

Release label: Metalworks Records
Release number: MBR 1001
Release date: Thu 01 Jul 1982

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Sun 01 Jan 1984 Metal Blade Records

ID: 2662
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/lp-metal-blade-records-mbr-1001-third-pressing/
Title: LP: (Metal Blade Records; MBR 1001) [third pressing]

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: MBR 1001
Release date: Sun 01 Jan 1984

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Sun 01 Jan 1984 Enigma Records

ID: 2661
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-1984-metal-blade-records-ec-1065-enigma-records-ec-1065/
Title: MC: 1984 (Metal Blade Records – EC 1065 / Enigma Records – EC 1065)

Release label: Enigma Records
Release number: EC 1065
Release date: Sun 01 Jan 1984

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Sun 01 Jan 1984 Metal Blade Records, Limited 1,000 copies

ID: 15634
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/metal-massacre-limited-edition-picture-disc-box/
Title: Metal Massacre: Limited Edition Picture Disc Box

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: Sun 01 Jan 1984
Limited: 1,000

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Sun 01 Jan 1984 DECK

ID: 25939
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mm-deck-mc/
Title: MM DECK MC

Release label: DECK
Release date: Sun 01 Jan 1984

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 21548
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-mbr-phcr-16158/
Title: CD: (MBR PHCR-16158)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: PHCR-16158
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 2663
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-metal-blade-mbd-14041/
Title: CD: (Metal Blade; MBD 14041)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: MBD 14041
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 21518
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-eu-mbr-3984-14041-2/
Title: CD: EU (MBR 3984-14041-2)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-2
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 25942
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-us-mbr-3984-14041-2-2/
Title: CD: US (MBR 3984-14041-2) 2

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-2
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 21528
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-mbr-3984-14041-4/
Title: MC: (MBR 3984-14041-4)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-4
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Sat 01 Jan 1994 Metal Mind Records

ID: 21540
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/mc-metal-mind-records-clas-0018-94/
Title: MC: (Metal Mind Records ‎- CLAS 0018 94)

Release label: Metal Mind Records
Release number: CLAS 0018 94
Release date: Sat 01 Jan 1994

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Thu 10 Nov 1994 Metal Blade Records

ID: 21522
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-us-mbr-3984-14041-2/
Title: CD: US (MBR 3984-14041-2)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: 3984-14041-2
Release date: Thu 10 Nov 1994

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Mon 01 Jan 1996 Metal Blade Records/Paradoxx Music

ID: 21546
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-paradoxx-music-oxx-1575-1-mbr-1575-1/
Title: CD (Paradoxx Music; OXX 1575-1 / MBR 1575-1)

Release label: Metal Blade Records/Paradoxx Music
Release number: OXX 1575-1/1575-1
Release date: Mon 01 Jan 1996

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Tue 02 Feb 1999 Metal Blade Records

ID: 2668
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-double-whammy/
Title: CD (Double Whammy)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: Tue 02 Feb 1999

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Thu 01 Jan 2004 Metal Blade Records

ID: 21530
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/cd-mbr-cdmzorro-76/
Title: CD: (MBR CDMZORRO 76)

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release number: CDMZORRO 76
Release date: Thu 01 Jan 2004

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Fri 22 Apr 2022 Metal Blade Records, Limited 2,000 copies

ID: 25703
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/40th-anniversary-clear-vinyl/
Title: 40th Anniversary Clear Vinyl [fourth pressing]

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: Fri 22 Apr 2022
Limited: 2,000

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Fri 22 Apr 2022 Metal Blade Records, Limited 5,000 copies

ID: 25702
Permalink: https://cirithungol.org/edition/40th-anniversary-ruby-red-vinyl/
Title: 40th Anniversary Ruby Red Vinyl [fourth pressing]

Release label: Metal Blade Records
Release date: Fri 22 Apr 2022
Limited: 5,000

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The New Heavy Metal Revue Presents
“Metal Massacre”

Various artists sampler album featuring a Cirith Ungol song. This was the first record released on Metal Blade Records and this is the holy record.

Cirith Ungol has played live with Steeler, Bitch, Malice, Ratt and Pandemonium.

Steeler

• Ron Keel – Voice, lead, rhythm guitars. Michael Dunigan – Vocals, lead and rhythm guitars. Tim Morrison – Bass guitar, vocals. Robert Eva – Drums, Percussion, and Vocals. Allen Isaac – Engineer.
• Some of the members was Keel, Yngwie Malmsteen, Riot, etc.
• Source: Search, Amazon, Wiki.

Bitch

• Betsy Weiss – Lead vocals, David Curruth – guitars. Richard Zusman – bass. Robby Settles – Drums. Joe Borja – Engineer.
• Betsy Weiss of Bitch (book of For The Sake of Heaviness – The History Of Metal Blade Records, chapter Selected Interviewees’ Top Metal Blade Album Picks): 1) Cirith Ungol – Frost And Fire, 2) Riot – Fire Down Under, 3) Various Artists – Metal Massacre, 4) Armored Saint – March of the Saint, 5) Y&T – Y&T Live.
• Source: Homages, search, Bitch website, FB, Wiki, Amazon

Malice

• James Neal – vocals. Mick Zane – guitars. Jay Reynolds – guitars. Mark Behn – bass. Pete Laufman – drums. Bob Stoutenburg – Engineer.
• Malice has two of the tracklist – Captive of Light and Kick You Down.
• Source: Search, Wiki, Amazon

Ratt

• Stephan E. Pearcy – lead vocals. Robbin Crosby – lead guitar, vocals. Warren De Martini – lead guitar and vocals. Matt Thorne – bass guitar, vocals. Khut Maier – drums. Dan Tarsha – engineer.
• Some members are also member of Whitesnake, Salty Dog, etc
• Source: Search, Wiki, Amazon

Avatar

• Darien Mann – guitars. Anthony Kornarens – guitar. Diane Kornarens – bass. Marc Moreno – drums. Gary Dulac – Engineer.
• Octave is instrumental. Assistant producer John Kornarens is sibling of guitarist Anthony Kornarens. This is the only song that is instrumental. At least the other song Flying Man was vocals. Some members are also member of Warlord, not the pre-Savatage. Kornarens = Arens.
• Source: Search, Diane Arens @ Youtube

Black ‘n Blue

• Jaimie St. James – vocals. Tommy Thayer – guitars. Patrick Young – bass guitar. Pete Holmes – drums. Mike Moore – engineer.
• Some members are also member of Keel, Kiss, etc. The band Black ‘n Blue is identical to the concert film Black and Blue by Black Sabbath and Blue Öyster Cult, but only the title, it’s no connection to the band.
• Source: Search, Amazon, website

Cirith Ungol

• Tim Baker – vocals. Jerry Fogle – guitars. Robert Garven – drums. Michael Flint – bass. Tim Nelson – engineer.
• Previous Unreleased. Death of the Sun from Metal Massacre is a different version than the one found on the full length King of the Dead album. There is two slightly different version of Death of the Sun – Metal Massacre is 1982 version aka alt. mix, and King of the Dead is 1984 version. There is a common misconception that this album featured Cirith Ungol’s first recording. This is not true, as they already had an album out. Frost and Fire was released already early 1981, and they started the band from the early 1970’s.

Demon Flight

• Rick Gerard – vocals, bass. Francis White – drums. H. Michael Osuna – guitars. Joe Borja – engineer.
• Source: Search, Amazon, Virginia and The Slims (pre-Demon Flight)

The borders of the two releases of bands – Cirith Ungol above and Demon Flight below – is exactly the same painting. What is the original source of these painting on borders ? See more here of the logos.

Pandemonium

• David Resch – lead guitar. Eric Resch – bass, vocals. Chris Resch – Lead vocals. Kevib Fitzgerals – drums.
• Source: Search, FB, Wiki, Amazon

Metallica are listed as “Mettallica” on the first edition. Their song Hit the Lights on the first pressing is a different version than the version that appeared on the second pressing.

• The first pressing has James Hetfield (vocal, bass, rhythm guitar), Lloyd Grant (lead guitar), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar – credited, but not actually playing), Ron McGovney (bass guitar – credited, but not actually playing) and Lars Ulrich (drums).
• The second pressing has James Hetfield (vocals), Dave Mustaine (lead guitar, backing vocals) and Ron McGovney (bass guitar) and Lars Ulrich (drums).

It is the same as that included in the No Life Til Leather demo (July 1982). Hit the Lights are actually not a original Metallica song, but originally from Leather Charm, so therefore Metallica are covering Hit the Lights. Still some of the same members are Hetfield. and McGovney. Another Leather Charm band was a fan of Metallica. Click here to have official compilation of the Metallica v/a album and also here to have a list of a list of Metallica demos for more details about the Metallica song. There is also 40th Anniversary of the album.

MC and MC (Mötley Crüe and Metal Church)

They wanted to have Mötley Crüe from their album Too Fast for Love (10 Nov 1981), but they dropped out at the last minute. Not sure which song they had cancelled. Also Merciless Onslaught (instrumental) by Metal Church is planned, but cancelled.

Who was on the first Metal Massacre release, and how did you find and choose those acts?

I just knew everybody in the scene. They would all just come to the record store. I knew pretty much everybody in the scene. It was Ratt, Steeler, Malice, Avatar, Cirith Ungol, Bitch and of course, Metallica.

Brian Slagel, metalupdate.com interview

Brian [Slagel] was putting out his first album “Metal Massacre 1” and starting his own label Metal Blade Records. We were one of the first bands he chose.

Robert Garven, Sleazegrinder interview

Cirith Ungol gigged with legends like Steeler, Bitch, Ratt, Pandemonium, and Malice. One cancelled show even saw Metallica taking their slot.

FB MM1, FB MM2

“Original Metal Massacre contract” is included as bonus content in Official Night Demon Episode #25 – The Story of Cirith Ungol – Part 1.

Ralph the Reaper

Mascot Ralph the Reaper is a fantasy character that is often depicted wielding tools such as an axe 🪓 or pick ⛏️, closely resembling the well-known figure of the Grim Reaper, a universal symbol for death. Ralph the Reaper, much like the Grim Reaper, embodies the inevitability and mystery of death, but with a slightly more playful or fantastical twist in his design.

This death-themed mascot has been associated with Metal Blade Records, making multiple appearances in the record label’s iconic logos and album covers over the years. Some notable examples include Restless/Metal Blade Tribune (April 1986) — A magazine that featured metal news and updates, which showcased the mascot. The Best of Metal Blade – Volume 1 (1985) — This compilation album showcased the label’s top acts of the time, and featured Ralph the Reaper in its branding. The Best of Metal Blade – Volume 2 (1987) — A follow-up compilation with Ralph’s continued presence. Metal Blade Records – 20th Anniversary (2002) — Celebrating two decades of the label’s influence in metal, Ralph was once again prominently displayed. Metal Blade Records – 30th Anniversary (2012) — The celebration of 30 years of the label included Ralph the Reaper as part of the commemorative imagery. And the “Metal Massacre” series.

Ralph’s presence in these materials helps define Metal Blade Records’ identity within the metal community, associating the label with both the heavy, dark tones of the genre and the personification of death, which is often explored in metal music.

Read the book:

For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records

Metal Blade Records

The Metal Voice

Metal Massacre: The Story of the Legendary Album

Thunderflix, mailchimp, seen on 7th Mar 2025.

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Shopping (archive): Metal Massacre 1

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