Best Ever

This is a must have for any Metal or Metallica Fan Awesome Sound this is rock history just listen it blows you away

I took the ride when I was 12, and it's still my favorite

If Metallica's 1983 "Kill 'Em All" wrote the book on thrash metal, then their sophomore release "Ride The Lightning" re-wrote the book on what metal was capable of. It was simply revolutionary at the time. Since "Kill 'Em All", the members of Metallica had seriously expanded their talents, technique and their approach with this groundbreaker. Every track offers something new, and experimental. The instruments aren't the only improvement. Hetfield's lyrics are much more personal, and conscious. The extended instrument arrangements blow everything from "Kill 'Em All" out of the water. Tracks such as "Fade To Black" and "The Call of Ktulu" were absolutely phenomenal works, untouched by the standards of 1984. And although it's up for debate, Hammett's guitar solos are my favorite on this album. Check out the two and a half minute guitar solo on "Ride The Lightning", that left my body covered with goose bumps as a teen, and still does to this day. Other highlights include "Fight Fire with Fire," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls". This album rocks in epic proportions.



Overall, Metallica ruled the world at this point in time. There was no limits to their re-invention of raw, hardcore thrash metal. I was a huge Metallica fan growing up, and this one got spun the most. This is a absolute must have for anyone that claims they are a Metallica fan.

Ride The Lightning

Ride the Lightning, ...And Justice for all and Raining blood by slayer are the best metal albums ever created so here is my review of RIDE THE LIGHTNING it was made in 1984 and was 'tallica's second album



1. Fight Fire with Fire (8.5/10)

Really Fast opening song but starts out with an acoustic beginning. Song is about the Counterblow of a nuculear war hence the name fight fire with fire.



2. Ride The Lightning (9/10)

title track a true metal masterpeice it is one of the more stronger songs on here. it is obviously about electric chair execution but doesnt exactly protest it since James is actually for the death penalty(good for him) unfortunately Dave Mustaine wrote some of the lyrics before he was fired, so beware some of the lyrics are a little cheesy in a mustaine kind of way. It also has one of the best solos ever.



3. For Whom The Bell Tolls (9/10)

This song is fast with a nice rythm to it, the lyrics are great like just about every song james writes. This song is about a battle from a h.p. lovecraft story and some spanish civil war battle. The song could have been longer and the ending is a little boring but still a good song. This song is especially good live.



4. Fade to Black (10/10)

The first power ballad Metallica ever did, lyrically its the best song on the album and the riffs are excellent especially at the end of the song. One of the best songs on here. The song obviously deals with Suicidal feelings, but was written when the guys were pissed and sad about fans stealing all their equipment on the kill 'em all for one tour in '83.



5. Trapped Under Ice (8/10)

A short but fast as hell song about drowning under ice as the title clearly tells you. This song is very underrated by alot of the fans, i like it alot.



6. Escape (7.5/10)

By far the weakest song on the album but definelty not a bad song. I'm not completely sure what this song is about but i think it has to do with either escaping from prison or being rebellious and different from what others expect from you.



7. Creeping Death (10/10)

My Favorite song on the album without question, It is a very fast paced song with no let up. I love the par where james yells die by my hand etc. the riff in it is so sweet. Its a favorite to hear live especially during the die, die, die part becuz all of the fans start to chant it while james sings the die by my hand i creep across the land killing first born men part. The song is about the angel of death sent by god that kills the pharoahs son in the bible.



8. Call of Ktulu (9/10)

My second favorite instrumental that metallica has done right after To Live is To die on the justice album, the lead guitar and drums are awesome in call of ktulu.



Overall i give this album a 10/10 it is pretty much perfect and Fade to Black, Creeping Death, Bells, Call, Fire, and Ride pic up all the slack Ice and escape leave even though those songs are not too bad.

Their finest hour

Ride The Lightning (1984.) Metallica's second album.

In 1984, Metallica got something they so desperately needed - a major record deal. After cutting their first album on Megaforce Records, Elektra discovered the band and brought them onto their label. In addition, the band was really beginning to find their voice around this time period. How does the band's second album, Ride The Lightning, measure up? Is it the Metallica masterpiece so many people say it is, or is it a typical sophomore slump album? Read on for my review.

Fight Fire With Fire starts the album. This one kicks off with a soft acoustic guitar solo, but quickly explodes into an onslaught of classic heavy metal, dealing with the theme of nuclear war. Hetfield's vocals aren't great in this song, and the instruments could have been better. This is one of the two weaker songs featured on the album, but it's not bad. This album has a title track, you ask? You bet it does. And you know what else? IT'S AWESOME! The entire song is fast paced, the guitars experimenting with different tones. Hetfield's vocals are perfect in this track dealing with a man falsely accused of a crime who is given the death penalty. A Metallica classic, even if it wasn't ever popular. For Whom The Bell Tolls starts with the chiming of a bell, and soon becomes a heavy metal tale of medieval war. Awesome lyrics and arrangement of them exist here. This is the definitive classic Metallica track, and will probably always be my favorite song of theirs. Hell, it's the song that got me into heavy metal in the first place! On Fade To Black, Metallica does a BALLAD?! Shocked? I was too. But, once I'd heard the song I'd realized my shock was in vain. The song kicks off with an acoustic guitar solo, and before you know it, acoustic and electric meet in perfect harmony. Hetfield has NEVER sounded this good! For a track about suicide, his voice matches the mood perfectly. An experiment that more than paid off. Trapped Under Ice features a higher pitched, faster voice for Hetfield, in a shorter song dealing with fear of drowning, and being forever imprisoned beneath the water. The guitars here are a bit generic, but good. After the second verse, a session features some of the best guitar and vocals ever heard in a Metallica song. Not the best song on the album or even very popular, but more than worthwhile. Escape kicks off with interesting guitar melodies, but the verses and chorus seem questionable, though interesting. Hetfield's voice becomes lower in the fading out of the song. Creeping Death is an epic track about slavery in ancient Egypt that kicks off with some awesome bass, and soon the vocals of James merge perfectly with the instruments. A Metallica classic, enough said. The Call Of Ktulu features no vocals from Hetfield here, just nine minutes of instruments. This is an awesome instrumental, and the perfect way to close a masterpiece of an album.

That's Ride The Lightning for you. If you only get one Metallica album, this would be a fine choice. Burton was still alive. The band was really Metallica, not the posers using that name that exist today (I know it's the same people, but they've changed!) No heavy metal collection is complete without this gem.

THIS ALBUM KICKS ASS!!!!!

This is one of the best albums ever!! Every song is amazing. Great solos great riffs. If u don't buy this album u r a failure to all metalheads. Just kiddin lol.

Wall To Wall Sound

Okay, we all know the history behind the 1984 classic. For those who are questioning the fact that you should buy the DCC Remastered 24 Karat Gold Disc, well i will be more then glad to give some reasons why.....

Reason 1) It's sounds way better then the 1995 Elektra CD. Reason 2) You can actually hear Lars' drum head and Double Bass drum. Reason 3) For all us old fans who owned the original vinyl, you finally get the original artwork, check out the sleeve inside the jewel case, you'll say to yourself "that's so old-school". Reason 4) You can actually hear the guitars and bass guitar clear, due to fact they did use a "filler" on this record. Reason 5) Listen to your favorite track then compare it to the Elektra version and hear the sound quality at work. Reason 6) If your like me, and were starting to give up on Metallica, hearing this and the DDC version of "Master Of Puppets" will keep make these 2 albums timeless and alive in your collection forever.

Buying the DCC 24 Karat Gold Disc of "Ride The Lightning" and "Master Of Puppets" made me realize that this is all i need to keep Metallica alive in my heart, despite year after year i have been drifting away from Metallica and making it hard for me to listen to their albums. Remastering "Ride..." and "Master..." made me feel good, knowing DCC remastered the two albums that help define the thrash metal in the early and mid 1980's (don't forget "Kill 'Em All"). Everything else Metallica did after 1988 is just hard and not worth listening too. For all the little kids out there buying new Metallica stuff, buy this and learn something from the original bangers, who knew how thrash our generation in the 1980's. To all the 80's bangers out, be true and PLAY IT LOUD!!!!!!

yyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

this is the greastest metallica and thrash metal album ever