Metallica To Reissue Legendary 'No Life 'Til Leather' Demo For The First Time Since 1982

Record Store Day will bring something extra special for metalheads and Metallica fans this year as the Holy Grail of all metal demos is set to be officially reissued for the first time since 1982. Recorded with their original lineup, which featured future Megadeth mastermind Dave Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney, the No Life 'til Leather demo made the band's reputation in underground heavy metal tape trading circles and laid the foundation for the thrash uprising to follow. On April 18th, it will see release once again as a special limited edition replica of the original cassette, before being reissued on vinyl and CD this summer as part of an ambitious reissue program.

Recorded barely a year into Metallica's existence, No Life 'til Leather was among the band's earliest recordings, and their first to get notice outside the band's native Southern California stomping grounds. Featuring the lion's share of material that would later resurface on their 1983 debut Kill 'Em All, it also features the rarity "The Mechanix," which Mustaine would re-record on Megadeth's  first album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!, and Metallica would re-title "The Four Horsemen." Drummer Lars Ulrich told Rolling Stone Magazine the demo is the first in a series or archival releases which will see the band raiding the vaults of their earliest and rarest recordings. 

[mtvn_player vid="755119" id="1682189" autoplay="true"]

Hear Metallica's Lars Ulrich talk about the band's earliest influences and his love of hard rockers Deep Purple, in this bonus clips from That Metal Show. 

[Photo: Getty Images]