METALLICA

(UNITED STATES)

RIDE THE LIGHTNING

(1984)
LABEL:

ELEKTRA ENTERTAINMENT

GENRE:

THRASH

TAGS:
Epic, Low vocals, Rasping vocals
""Ride The Lightning" shows a band that has reached a surprising maturity. Metallica doesn't just continue the effort of the first opus, which makes this album a real gem."
ZOSO (08.01.2009)  
4/5
(0) opinions (0) comment(s) (1) Biography + (4)
Thirteen months before, Metallica launched a huge paving stone in the pond of metal music with a snarling, fast, violent "Kill 'Em All". The musical landscape was turned upside down, and it will be then frequent to hear that Metallica had just invented the Thrash metal, alongside bands like Slayer, Megadeth or Anthrax

With this "Ride The Lightning", Metallica astonish once again. The progress shown by the band in the space of a few months is frightening. James Hetfield's vocals are much more worked, and allow the band to produce more elaborate vocal lines, like on "Fade To Black". Lars Ulrich leaves little by little the stereotyped game of the first opus and animates the songs in a more effective way ("Call Of Ktulu"). Moreover, a stylistic evolution appears. Indeed, if the strong moments of the fast Thrash of "Kill 'Em All" are still present on "Fight Fire With Fire" or "Trapped Under Ice", the Americans allow themselves more constructed pieces, like the heavy "For Whom The Bell Tolls", or the formidable instrumental that is "Call Of Ktulu", in which the plans are linked with ingenuity.

The band even dares a ballad, "Fade To Black", which will become a great Metallica classic, with its perfectly mastered solo that shows Kirk Hammett's progress. The guitar parts are moreover highlighted by the impeccable production of Rasmussen (who will be their regular producer until "And Justice For All"). Thus the melodic side of certain songs, such as "Creeping Death" or "Ride The Lightning", is perfectly transcribed without losing the aggressiveness, sometimes still teenager, of the group.

The new intelligence of Metallica also concerns the arrangement of the songs, which allows a fluid listening, and which will serve as a model for the following albums. The themes are also more detailed and allow to erase the "garage band" label that sticks to Metallica. The record companies will not be mistaken, Eleckra will sign the group shortly after the first release by the label Megaforce.
- Official website

Did you know?

A French printer mistakenly produced green sleeves for "Ride The Lightning". These editions are now considered rare collectors' items.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Fight Fire With Fire - 04:45
02. Ride The Lightning - 06:37
03. For Whom The Bell Tolls - 05:10
04. Fade To Black - 06:57
05. Trapped Under Ice - 04:04
06. Escape - 04:24
07. Creeping Death - 06:36
08. The Call Of Ktulu - 08:54

LINEUP:
Cliff Burton: Basse
James Hetfield: Chant / Guitares
Kirk Hammett: Guitares
Lars Ulrich: Batterie
   
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