About The Song
“Seek & Destroy” is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica and the ninth track from their debut studio album, Kill ‘Em All (1983). It was also featured on the demo No Life ‘Til Leather. It was the first song the band recorded in a studio. “Seek & Destroy” has been frequently performed at the group’s concerts since its live debut in 1982 and had been Metallica’s closing song from the Madly in Anger with the World Tour to the Metallica By Request Tour. It is the third-most performed song in the band’s history, having been played 1,610 times as of October 2024, behind only “Creeping Death” (1,637) and “Master of Puppets” (1,757).
During the 2004 documentary film about Metallica, Metallica: Some Kind of Monster, the song is used when footage of the band down the years is shown highlighting the progression in the group’s appearance and sound over time. In AOL Radio’s list of the 10 Best Metallica Songs, “Seek & Destroy” was ranked at number 4, and Allmusic’s Steve Huey chose the song as an AMG Track Pick from Kill ‘Em All.
Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the song was placed on the list of post-9/11 inappropriate titles distributed by Clear Channel.
The song is about feeling the urge to kill, but not literally doing it. During the Kill ‘Em All for One Tour, Hetfield would jokingly say that it was about hunting. It is said to be heavily influenced by the Diamond Head song “Dead Reckoning”. The first three mini-solos are derived from the song “Princess of the Night” by Saxon. Metallica added the final solo. Since the song’s debut on Kill ‘Em All, Hammett has apologized for the unusual pitch of the string bend which occurs at 3:47 to 3:48, during the solo. It is, in fact, a mistake or “bum note”.
Video
Lyrics
Alright
We’re scanning the scene in the city tonight
We’re looking for you to start up a fight
There’s an evil feeling in our brains
But it’s nothing new, you know it drives us insane
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Come on now
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy (I see ya)
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy
There is no escape and that’s for sure
This is the end, we won’t take anymore
Say goodbye to the world you live in
You’ve always been taking and now you’re giving
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Searching, seek and destroy (come on, everybody)
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy
Let’s go, come on
Our brains are on fire with the feeling to kill
And it won’t go away until our dreams are fulfilled
There is only one thing on our minds
Don’t try running away ’cause you’re the one we will find
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Running, on our way
Hiding, you will pay
Dying one thousand deaths
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy
Searching, come on, seek and destroy
Searching, seek and destroy (come on)
Searching, seek and destroy