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THE REVIEW
Since I was a bit fed up with always reviewing unknown records, now, like many bands do, to gain fame I am decidedly throwing myself into the commercial.
Ride the Lightning: Metallica's second album.
It seems unnecessary to recall who they are, their career, the style, and all the facts-curiosities about a band: for those, there's the internet.
It introduces us to the 46 minutes of this CD with the arpeggio of Fight Fire With Fire, a typical thrash metal song: aggressive, straightforward but perhaps even a bit (too) simplistic in songwriting. It should be noted that the feeling of "already heard" comes from the fact that almost twenty years have passed since this album was released, and much water has flowed under the bridge in the meantime. At the time, every single riff must have been a groundbreaking novelty for those listening to this album, while nowadays all that progressively faded away.
It continues with Ride the Lightning, whose initial riff is worth twenty years of Metallica, reaching what is very likely the most covered song by beginner metal bands due to its simplicity: For Whom the Bell Tolls.
Four chords or a little more, very few variations, Ulrich's continuous, almost epic mid-tempo, just enough to create a masterpiece with a unique emotional charge.
Then it proceeds with Fade to Black, a classic Metallica-style ballad, really very beautiful and never predictable or banal in melodic solutions or solos, and with a really very heartfelt and profound lyric.
After the quite negligible Trapped Under Ice and Escape, two really unforgivable missteps by Metallica, it closes beautifully with Creeping Death, a headbanging song that has become one of 'Tallica's most famous, and with The Call Of Ktulu, a splendid instrumental whose title, like the lyrics of The Thing That Should Not Be, is inspired by the tales of Providence's genius, H.P. Lovecraft.
Ultimately this record represents a step in the natural evolution of Metallica, and the antechamber to worldwide fame. It's a pity that a perfect album is ruined by the qualitative void left by Trapped Under Ice and Escape.
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Summary by Bot
Ride The Lightning, Metallica's second album, marks an important step in thrash metal's evolution. Featuring iconic songs like 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' and 'Fade to Black,' it combines aggression with emotional depth. Some weaker tracks slightly detract from an otherwise classic and influential record. The album remains essential for fans and metal enthusiasts.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. They rose from the Bay Area thrash scene with early albums like Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning, achieved mainstream success with 1991's Metallica (The Black Album), and have released a long-running and often debated catalog since.173 Reviews
Other reviews
By metaldiablo
"Ride the Lightning" is an authentic pillar of metal destined to rise and become a sort of bible for up-and-coming bands.
‘Fade to Black,’ the first poignant ballad from Metallica with equally tear-jerking lyrics: the highlight of the package that alone is worth the price of the CD.
By Sir Psycho Sexy
Ride The Lightning can be listened to by both those who are not genuine fans of the genre and by the most convinced metalheads.
Metallica manages to construct decidedly beautiful and full of character songs with only three or four riffs, not impossible to reproduce, but then they insert guitar solos worthy of the best Kirk.
By AR (Anonima Recensori)
In this second album, Metallica come into play with all their technique and fury.
'For Whom The Bell Tolls' and 'Fade To Black' are indisputable masterpieces of the Four Horsemen discography and the history of metal.
By Alvaro Il Metallaro
Ride The Lightning, released in 1984, in my opinion is a masterpiece in the history of music, mainly thanks to the genius of Cliff Burton, the bassist.
In my opinion, it is Hetfield’s best vocal performance.
By FedeHetfield
This is indeed Metallica's darkest album, a mix of death, despair, war, and suicide.
'Fade to Black'... one of the most beautiful and saddest ballads ever written.
