JoeLumb's Album Review Metallica's "Ride The Lightning" (1984)

 For those who believe that "Master of Puppets" released in 1986 was the recording where they found their trademark sound. All "Puppets" did was show their maturity in songwriting,however it was "Ride the Lightning" that Metallica comprised of Singer/Rhythm Guitarist James Hetfield,Drummer Lars Ulrich,Bassist Cliff Burton and Lead Guitarist Kirk Hammett had solidified their trademark sound. 

"Ride the Lightning" showcased Metallica's musical growth and lyrical sophistication. Metallica began recording the album on February 20,1984 at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen,Denmark produced by Fleming Rasmussen. It was Lars Ulrich's idea to create "Ride the Lightning" outside the United States,due to his admiration for Rasmussen because he liked his work on Rainbow's 1981 release "Difficult to Cure" At first Rasmussen had never heard of Metallica until he heard their demos and he was impressed due to them showing alot of promise. The Band finished recording "Ride the Lightning" on March 14th.

For those that wonder who came up with the album title "Ride the Lightning"? Kirk Hammett took the name from a passage in Stephen King's "The Stand" the cover art shows an electric chair in the midst of lightning bolts. "Ride the Lightning" was released on July 27,1984 although the original album budget was $20,000 the final expense was 10K more (equivilant to today's budget over $88,000) Their European label Music for Nations paid the studio cost since Megaforce Records owner and Metallica's label could not afford them at that time. Due to the lack of promotion for "Ride the Lightning" via Megaforce,that lead to the band parting ways with Zazula. Then an executive for Elektra records (a label that had The Doors and Motley Crue) saw Metallica perform at The Stone Gig in San Francisco. Metallica invited Elektra Records chairman and head of promotion to see their gig at The Roseland Ballroom in New York in the month of August where they along with Anthrax opened for Canadian band Raven. The staff at Elektra Records was pleased and they signed with the label on September 12,1984. "Ride the Lightning" would be re-released on Elektra on November 19,1984 Cliff Bernstein and Peter Mensch of Q Prime became the band's new managers. 

Ride the Lightning was the last album Dave Mustaine received wiring credits for as he co wrote the title track and contributed to the instrumental album closer "The Call of Ktulu"

"Ride the Lightning" peaked the Billboard charts at #100 and as of present day the album is 6 times platinum (the actual number is 6,950,000 units in the U.S. alone) the fourth highest selling Metallica album behind "Master of Puppets" "...And Justice for All" and the 1991 Black Album. So what are my favorite tracks from "Ride" Fight Fire with Fire,the title track,For Whom the Bell Tolls,Fade to Black and Creeping Death. 

My Overall Rating for "Ride the Lightning is a 8/10 it was the album that I felt Metallica found their trademark sound.

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