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Exodus<\/a><\/strong> was founded in 1979 by guitarists Kirk Hammett<\/strong> and Tim Agnello<\/strong>, drummer Tom Hunting<\/strong>, and vocalist Keith Stewart<\/strong>. Hammett<\/strong> famously left the band in 1983 to go join Metallica<\/a><\/strong> after they split with Dave Mustaine<\/strong>, and was eventually replaced by guitarist Rick Hunolt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Metallica<\/a><\/strong> went on to release their debut album Kill ‘Em All<\/em> in 1983, while Exodus<\/a><\/strong> released their (eternally underrated) thrash classic Bonded By Blood<\/em> in 1985\u2026 but what would’ve happened if Hammett<\/strong> stayed in Exodus<\/a><\/strong>? Apparently they’d have some of those sweet Kill ‘Em All<\/em> riffs.<\/p>\n In an interview with Metal Hammer<\/em> (via Guitar.com<\/a><\/em>), Hammett<\/strong> noted that he felt less bad about taking his riffs over to Metallica<\/a><\/strong> than he did about leaving his longtime friends in Exodus<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n “The [riffs] came from songs that I had written, music that I had written,” said Hammett<\/strong>. “I consider them my parts. I didn’t feel guilty about that, but I did feel guilty about leaving the band I started in high school.<\/p>\n “I have known [Exodus<\/a><\/strong> drummer] Tom Hunting<\/strong> since I was 16 years old, I’ve known [Exodus<\/a><\/strong> guitarist] Gary Holt<\/strong> since I was 17. We’re all close to this day, but there was a lot of guilt there for a while. A little bit of remorse. But I really felt that Metallica<\/a><\/strong> was my calling. I feel more comfortable playing in Metallica<\/a><\/strong> than I ever did in Exodus<\/a><\/strong>, so go figure.”<\/p>\n It’s especially interesting for Hammett<\/strong> to make these comments considering he was never credited as a songwriter on Kill ‘Em All<\/em>. The album was credited as being written by frontman James Hetfield<\/strong> and drummer Lars Ulrich<\/strong>, with Mustaine<\/strong> receiving credits for “The Four Horsemen”, “Jump In The Fire”, “Phantom Lord”, and “Metal Militia”. And then obviously “(Anesthesia) \u2013 Pulling Teeth” was all the majesty of Cliff Burton<\/strong> alone.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n