Metallica Album: “Ride the Lightning”

This cd, like Metallica's "Master of Puppets" was re-mastered by DCC and sounds just as awesome. I know many metallifans are skeptical about purchasing these re-masters, but to my ears, the superior sound quality is there and is noticeable. I have owned a recording of this album (Ride the Lightning) on either record or cd since 1984, and have heard it probably a million times since then. When I heard the remastered cd version today, I heard many things that I hadn't heard before. For example: The clarity in the intro solo by Hammett on "Fade to Black, the way Cliff Burton's roaring, howling lead bass was meant to stand out on "The Call of Ktulu", crisper drums and background vocals on "Creeping Death" and "Trapped Under Ice" are just some of the many sonic improvements on this cd. I understand that it's a lot of money for a cd that most people who are fans of the band already own. But if you are a long time or serious fan/collector, this is a true must have. If you are on a tight budget, or think the standard cd sounds good enough, don't bother. The cd also features re-packaging just like the original album (right down to the original megaforce records label in the upper right hand side of the back cover), though the differences are minimal from the standard issue cd, but noteworthy to the serious fan. I can only hope and pray that the horrendously recorded "And Justice For All" receives a similar treatment in the very near future.

First, I must say that "Ride the Lightning" is one of the best heavy metal albums ever released. The songs are incredible, the song writing is untouchable, and the lead guitar work is masterful.

The standard issue Elektra Records version of Ride the Lightning WAS remastered by Elektra technicians back in 1995. However, after being remastered, the album seemed a lot less heavy and there seemed to be a "jagginess" so to speak in the overall sound. But this isn't really noticable until you hear the near-perfect remaster by DCC.

The difference between this and the standard issue CD is the overall sound of the music. The music now sounds like it was recorded especially for CD (which cannot be said for the Elektra version). The sound seems more polished and eliminates most of the "jagginess" in the sound, and the dynamics are accentuated perfectly. For example, the intro solo in Fade To Black now really blends together and sounds like it should - Kirk's guitar work dynamically interlacing with the acoustic guitar (in the standard CD, the intro solo seemed detached somewhat). These things may not mean much to most people, but to me it makes listening to the album more enjoyable. Highly recommended if you have the money.

I used to hate heavy metal and detest it as pure noisy trash. Then one day I found an audio tape of "Ride the Lightning" for a bargain price and decided to buy it. That tape is long worn out, and I had to buy a CD to replace it!

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is, in my opinion, a classic Rock song, to be loved by any Rock music lover, not only heavy-metal lovers. It is strong and powerful. It is my Metallica favorite, and worth the price of the entire disk.

The contrast between the opening notes and the body of "Fight Fire With Fire" is interesting. It gives this song its special flavor.

My next favorite is "Creeping Death", for its fast rhythm and melody.

All songs on this album have easily-listened-to melodies despite their heavy-metal coating, unlike pure heavy-metal albums such as "Master of Puppets", "...And Justice for All" and "Kill 'em All". Only the Black Album (named simply "Metallica") competes with it, but about it I'm gonna write a seperate review. I also quite liked "Load", though it is more complicated.

In short: I recommend "Ride The Lightning" for anyone looking for something that is more than pure "heavy metal", something that has beauty and brilliance.

I bought this CD about a month ago and back then I thought it was good, if unexceptional. Over time, this album grew on me until I now regard it as metal perfection. Ride the Lightning combines the rapid-fire riffs of Kill 'em All with some slower moments in track 4, Fade to Black. Another exceptional part of Ride the Lightning is its flow. Fight Fire with Fire gets me pumped up with its insanely fast riffs. Then the tempo slows a little with the title track and a little more for For Whom the Bell Tolls. It settles way back for Fade to Black then picks up again for Trapped Under Ice. Escape is easily the worst song on the album, but that's not to say it's bad, it's just that the others are so good. Escape's faults are forgotten with the great,heavy track Creeping Death. Finally comes Call of Ktulu. I think this is the true masterpiece of the album. It's the best instrumental Metallica has done (it blows Orion out of the water). After that 9 minute tour de force you can sit back and feel proud to own this masterpiece of metal.

Metallica's debut "Killém All" was an angry thrashing beast that displayed an abundance of youthful aggression, while hinting at more subtle possibilities within its underbelly. "Ride the Lightning", while still thrashing hard at times with grand metal flair, is a far more mature release, and is the real commencement of the hugely commercially successful Metallica institution. This is the Metallica that managed to be both critically praised for their musicianship and inspired songwriting, while unearthing their lofty position within a whole generation of adoring fans. This was not just rebellious teenagers bashing their instruments and screaming irrationally like so many outsiders would try to suggest of the metal genre in general. This was intelligently crafted music, with genuine themes (the death sentence, suicide, even Egyptian based) and creatively fashioned tracks with varying tempos and feel. It's an extremely important album in Metallica's history and an extremely important album in metal history itself.

"Ride the Lightning" has lost none of its power today, over 20 years after its release. The title track, "Fade to Black", "Creeping Death" and "The Call of Ktulu" are simply some of the band's finest tracks, all being part of the band's staple live set for years to come. The only thing that stops "Ride the Lightning" from being my personal favourite Metallica release are the slightly less drool inducing "Trapped Under Ice" and "Escape". Yet even those tracks are far superior to anything the band has released in about the last 15 years.

James, Kirk, Lars and Cliff made history with this album and no metal fan should be without it. It's one of those exceptionally rare moments where a few individuals can join so seamlessly, all playing a vital role and fulfilling a vision in unity. An undeniable classic.