Ride the Lightning

Ride the Lightning is a work on which METALLICA, taking the raw speed of the debut as its starting point, at once widened the songs’ construction, melody and emotional range. James Hetfield’s riffs are heavier still, and Kirk Hammett’s leads, Cliff Burton’s bass and Lars Ulrich’s rhythm support the complex development. Beyond mere speed, it steps into a more ambitious, constructive thrash metal. The overwhelming weight of “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” the melancholy-filled melody of “Fade to Black,” and the racing of “Creeping Death” show a strength beyond simple speed. Songs like “Fight Fire with Fire,” “Trapped Under Ice” and “The Call of Ktulu” carve the band’s dramatic growth too. Balancing speed and constructive beauty, aggression and lyricism at a high level, it is a decisive record that greatly expanded the possibilities of thrash metal.