Year of Release: 1985 (2002 reissue)
Label: Combat
Running time: 31:20
The Bad: Uneven songwriting, poor production on the original.
Highlights: 'Looking Down the Cross', 'Skull Beneath the Skin', 'Rattlehead'.
Lowlights: 'These Boots', title track.
Killer moment: The blistering-fast riff that starts off 'Rattlehead' and lasts for much of the song has yet to meet its match.
Most compelling reason to buy this album: To hear some buried tracks rarely heard on radio or live.
Megadeth raw. Those two words accurately describe the experience of "Killing is my Business … and Business is Good!" (which started an annoying trend of long Megadeth album titles with ellipses, question marks and/or exclamation points, which was resumed on the pointless "Still Alive … and Well?" in 2002).
Often overlooked and underappreciated, "KIMB" is the start of Megadeth's rise to thrash greatness. The production, because of extensive drug use and a limited budget, is shoddy, resulting in a difficult listen. But if one can get past poor production, some buried classics can be found here. Unfortunately, "KIMB" suffers from some uneven songwriting, which divides the album into serious thrashers ("Looking Down the Cross", "Loved to Deth", "The Skull Beneath the Skin") and goofy ranting thrashers (the title track, "Mechanix", "These Boots").
Still, all the music shreds, as Mustaine unleashes is frustrations of his then-recent exit from Metallica. A cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots" falls under the goofy category of songwriting, and starts yet another annoying early Megadeth trend – totally out of place covers of songs by almost totally non-related artists. (This song, because of legal reasons, was left off a later reissue of KIMB but was edited in horrible fashion and restored to a 2002 sorely needed remix of the album). And yes, everyone knows "Mechanix" is Dave's version of "The Four Horsemen" by Metallica. This version is far less introspective and much faster, showcasing Mustaine's superior ability to that of his former comrades.
"KIMB" gives an insight into the origins of Megadeth, and contains some great tracks with killer riffs that never made it on to radio, compilations, live albums or even concerts ("Looking Down the Cross", "Rattlehead") that deserve to be heard. "Rattlehead," in fact, is one of the fastest songs the band ever recorded, and it's doubtful any band could play it today. The production, however, muddles the process considerably, as one must search for the killer riff at times. Be warned – it's not perfect, but still great thrash.
(Note: Raw Power reissued KIMB in February 2002 with remixed original songs, murky demos of "Last Rites / Loved to Deth", "Mechanix" and "The Skull Beneath the Skin", as well as intended original artwork and insightful song-by-song liner notes.) My rating: 7
LOVED TO DETH
YOUR BODIES EMPTY NOW
AS I HOLD YOU
NOW YOUR GONE I MISS YOU
BUT I HOLD YOU
I REMEMBER BAD TIMES
MORE THAN GOOD
THERE'S NO COMING BACK
EVEN IF WE COULD
I LOVE YOU TO DETH
IF I CAN'T HAVE YOU
THEN NO ONE WILL
AND SINCE I WON'T
I'LL HAVE TO KILL
MY ONLY LOVE, SOMETHING
I'VE NEVER LEFT
NOW YOU'VE GONE TO HEAVEN
AND I'LL BURN IN HELL
I LOVE YOU TO DETH
AND NOW I'M DOWN BELOW
AND WHAT DO I SEE
YOU DIDN'T GO TO HEAVEN
YOUR DOWN IN HELL WITH ME
AND NOW YOUR COMING BACK
BABY, TAKE ME, PLEASE
I REALY THINK I WOULD
IF YOU WEREN'T SUCH A SLEAZE
I LOVED YOU ONCE BEFORE
YOU KEPT ME ON A STRING
I'D RATHER GO WITHOUT
THAN TAKE WHAT YOU WOULD BRING
I LOVE YOU TO DETH
KILLING IS MY BUSINESS...AND BUSINESS IS GOOD
I AM A SNYPER
ALWAYS HIT THE MARK
PAID ASSASSIN
WORKING AFTER DARK
LOOKING THROUGH THE NIGHT
USING INFRA-RED
MY TARGET ON YOU
AIMED AT YOUR HEAD
$10,000 UP FRONT
$10,000 WHEN I'M THROUGH
AND I KNOW JUST WHAT TO DO
AND YA KNOW I'LL DO IT TOO
THEN I'M COMING BACK FOR YOU
BACK FOR YOU!
I DO THE "GETTING RID OF"
DON'T TELL ME WHY
DON'T NEED TO HEAR THE TRUTH
DON'T NEED THE LIES
NOW PAY ME QUICKLY
AND NOW WE'RE THROUGH
IT BRINGS ME GREAT PLEASURE
TO SAY MY NEXT JOB IS YOU
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT
KILLING IS MY BUSINESS
AND BUSINESS IS GOOD (REPEAT)
YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE IT
THE SKULL BENEATH THE SKIN
MEAN AND INFECTOUS
THE EVIL PROPHETS RISE
DANCE OF THE MACABRE
AS WITCHES STREAK THE SKY
DECADENT WORSHIP OF
BLACK MAGIC AND SORCERY
IN THE WOMB OF THE DEVILS DUNGEON
TRAPPED WITHOUT A PLEA
SEE THINGS IN AGONY
NECROSIS IS THE FATE
PINS STICKING THROUGH THE SKIN
THE VENOM NOW SEDATES
LOCKED IN A PILLORY
NOWHERE TO BE FOUND
SCREAMING FOR YOUR LIFE
BUT NO-ONE HEARS A SOUND
HELLPP MMMEEEEEE
PREPARE THE PATIETS SCAL
TO FEEL AWAY
METAL CAPS HIS EARS
HE'LL HEAR NOT WHAT WE SAY
SOLID STEEL VISOR
RIVETED CROSS HIS EYES
IRON STAPLES CLOSE HIS JAWS
SO NO ONE HEARS HIS CRIES
THE SKULL BENEATH THE SKIN
NOW YOUR DRAWN AND QUARTERED
YOUR BONES WILL MAKE THE X
SYMBOL STANDS FOR POISON
AND IT'S CHAINED TO YOUR HEAD
AND AS WE FOLD YOUR ARMS
TO MAKE THE HOLYCROSS
WE CROSS THE CRUCIFIX
RELIGION HAS BEEN LOST
THE SKULL BENEATHE THE SKIN
THESE BOOTS
YOU KEEP SAYING YOU GOT SOMETHING FOR ME
SOMETHING YOU CALL LOVE, BUT I CALL SEX
YOU'VE BEEN KISSING WHEN YOU OUGHT-A-BE-A SCREWING
AND NOW SOMEONE ELSE CAN KISS YOUR ASS
THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING
THAT JUST WHAT THEY'LL DO
AND ONE OF THESE DAYS THESE BOOTS
ARE GONNA WALK ALL OVER YOU
YOU KEEP LYING AND THERE AIN'T NO BELIEVING
AND YOU KEEP SAME'N WHEN TOU OUGHT-A-BE-A LEAVING
NOW WHATS RIGHT IS RIGHT BUT YOUAIN'T BEEN RIGHT YET
THESE BOOTS...
YOU'VE KEEP DRESSING WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE DRESSING
AND YOU KEEP THINKING WHAT YOU'LL NEVER GET BURNED HA!
I JUST FOUND ME A BRAND NEW BOX SPRING MATTRESS
WHAT YOU KNOW BITCH YOU GOT A LOT TO LEARN
THESE BOOTS...
ARE YOU READY BOOTS?
ARE YOU READY BOOTS?
ARE YOU READY BOOTS?
START WALKING!
AND YOU THINK I'M KIDDING, DONT YA ?!
RATTLEHEAD
HERE I COME
STAND UP AND PLANT YOUR FEET
LISTEN I'M LETTING OFF STEAM
NOW THROW YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR
LET IT LOOSE I DON'T FUCKIN CARE
RATTLE HEAD
A DOSE OF METAL YOU NEED
TO BANG YOUR HEAD TIL YOU BLEED
IT'S TIME FOR SNAPPING SOME NECK
SLASHING, THRASHING TO MegadetH
RATTLE HEAD
YOU, YOUR HEAD IS POUNDING WITH PAIN
WINNING, SINNING, BEGINNING
FEEDING, THE NEEDING FOR BLEEDING
BASHING, SMASHING, CRASHING
FRYING, ANHILEALATING YOU!
THERE'S SOMEONE BACK IN THE SHADOWS
YOU FEEL THOUGH YOU CAN'T SEE HIS EYES
HE'LL BASH YOUR HEAD IF YOU CROSS HIM
AIN'T QUITE YOUR AVERAGE GUY
DON'T WEAR NO LEATHER TO "FIT IN"
DON'T WEAR NO SPIKES TO BE "COOL"
DON'T WANT NO WOMAN BESIDE HIM
JUST MAKE IT FAST, LOUD AND RUDE
I'M A RATTLEHEAD
RATTLE YOUR GODDAMN HEAD!
THE CHOSEN ONES
YOU DOUBT YOUR STRENGTH OR COURAGE
DONT COME TO JOIN WITH ME
FOR DETH SURELY WAITS YOU
WITH SHARP AND POINTY TEETH
AN ANIMAL SO WICHOUS
NO OTHERS FOUGHT AND WON
SO ON THE FIELDS OF BATTLE
WE ARE THE CHOSEN ONES
HUMAN BONES BLANKET THE DIRT
OF THE HEATHENS LAIR
THAT WE MUST PASS THE DEN OF DETH
THE ONLY PATH FROM HERE
BUT I WALK IN THE LIGHT
THE TIME TO DIE HAS COME
NO-ONE SHALL TAKE MY LIFE
I'M OF THE CHOSEN ONES
BLACK SHADOWS FILL THE SKY
AS THE CREATURES EYES GROW NEAR
RISE THE SHIELD OF THE HOLY PILGRIMS
HIGH INTO THE AIR
HEAVENS POWERS FILL MY ARMS
ONWARD NOW TO FIGHT I'M SENT
OH THE BEAST IS COMING
TO PUT YOU TO THE TEST
LOOKOUT!
NOW THIS LAND IS MINE TO PILLAGE
RAPE, AND STEAL, AND TAKE AT WILL
NEVER LET YOU CROSS THIS PATH
I REIGN FOR NOW I STAY TO KILL
LOOKING DOWN THE CROSS
NOW BEFORE THEY TAKE ME
AND MY BLESSED LIFE
NOW YOU'LL NOW WHY DETH
WAS SUMMONED HERE TONIGHT
I RECALL MY PERILS
THEY'LL KILL ME IN PRIDE
NO, I CAN'T RUN AWAY
THERE'S NO PLACE TO HIDE
THOUGH TOO MUCH TO LIVE FOR
I OWE ENOUGH TO DIE
ASK NOT FOR SALVATION
MY DETH SHALL MEAN THEIR LIVES
HATRED AND GUILT THE ALTER THEY'VE BUILT
HIGH PRIESTS OF SIN
DESTINY, FADE THE WICKED ONES GATE
BECKONING YOU IN
DOWN THE WALKWAYS
THROUGH THE BLOOD STAINED TOWN
LOOKING DOWN THE CROSS
BLEEDING FROM THE CROWN
LED TO STAY
TO DIE BESIDES THE THIEVES
KILL THE KING
OF THE WORLD TO BE
AND NOW TO YOU, THIS WILL COME
A PUTRIFTING PESTOLENCE
MORE NOXIOUS THAN THE SERPENTS BREATH
MALE VOLENTY DESTINED
MORE CORRUPT THAN THE MALICE OF CHORONZON
MORE DISEASE THAN THE WIND
OF THE MOONLIGHT SUN
PUTRIFACTION YOU'VE CAUSED
NO NEED FOR CONFESSION
NOW YOU WISH YOU HAD A GOD
TO STEP YOUR DEMOLITION
CRUSHING THE BONES OF THE HUNDRED FOLDS
SWINGING THE JUDGEMENT HAMMER
MAN, WOMAN, CHILD NO-ONE IS SAFE
THE HEADS OF THE DEAD ARE THE BANNER
AND THIS WAS ALL YOU GOT
SO DON THESE BROKEN WINGS
SANDS OF TIME RUN OUT
BELLS OF HADES RING
IS THIS A NIGHTMARE
TO UNHALLOW THY NAME
SMELL OF BRIMSTONE
DANCING IN THE FLAMES
NO HELP NOW
AS YOU FULFILL HIS TASK
CHIEF OF EVIL
HAS GOT YOU BY THE ASS
SET FREE
NO SHAHON THE THRONE
JUST A DREAM?
YOUR WEEPING ALL ALONE
LOOKING DOWN THE CROSS
(SPEAK NO EVIL)
I'M LOOKING DOWN THE CROSS
(SPEAK NO EVIL)
MECHANIX
IMAGINE YOU WERE AT MY STATION
AND YOU BROUGHT YOUR MOTOR TO ME
YOUR A BURNER YEAH A REAL MOTOR CAR
SAID YOU WANNA GET YOUR ORDER FILLED
MADE ME SHIVER WHEN I PUT IT IN
PUMPING JUST WON'T DO YA KNOW LUCKILY FOR YOU
WHO EVER THOUGHT YOU'D BE BETTER
AT TURNING A SCREW THEN ME
I DO IT FOR MY LIFE
MADE MY DRIVE SHAFT CRANK
MADE MY PISTONS BULDGE
MADE MY BALL BEARINGS MELT FROM THE HEAT
WE WERE SHIFTING HARD WHEN WE TOOK OFF
PUT TONIGHT ALL FOUR ON THE FLOOR
WHEN WE HIT TOP END YA KNOW IT FEELS TOO SLOW
I'M GIVING YOU MY ROOM SERVICE
AND YA KNOW IT'S MORE THAN ENOUGH
OH ONE MORE TIME YA KNOW I'M IN LOVE
Back Next
[Metallisux]
[Downloads]
[Reviews and Lyrics]
[Pics]
[FAQ]
[other band sites]
[Dark.30]
[WANTED]
[Games]
[Links]