Review Summary: The Start of Something New
If we view Kill 'Em All as the "Baby of Thrash Metal," Ride the Lightning takes its sound and matures it into its late teenage years. The blistering-fast aggressiveness of Kill 'Em All is still very much present. However, there are a few key moments where we hear Metallica slow down and streamline their riffs into full-fledged songs, some being ballads, that were practically unheard of before the release of this album in 1984.
Almost 40 years later, the metal world has still not heard anything close to the magnitude of For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fade to Black, or Creeping Death. These are classic heavy metal songs that even people outside of the scene adore or, at the very least, recognize.
What separates Metallica from the rest of the Big 4 of Thrash, and the rest of the metal world, for that matter, is the undeniable chemistry between guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. Ever since they formed Metallica in 1981, these two gifted musicians have been on a mission to take the world by storm through the art form of heavy metal. If Metallica's momentum started with Kill 'Em All, Ride the Lightning propels them into a realm of heavy metal practically unheard of at the time of the album's release.
Metallica's presence is felt almost immediately on Fight Fire with Fire, with the song's acoustic intro, which turns into a complete Molotov cocktail of riffage. With this very track, Metallica lets the world know that they not only play very fast but can write an excellent song at the same time. The title track, Ride the Lightning, solidifies the songwriting structure shown on a couple of songs off Kill 'Em All, namely The Four Horsemen and Seek & Destroy, and further showcases James' and Lars' songwriting abilities.
Then comes the ominous ring that kicks off For Whom the Bell Tolls, which, to this day, still makes the hair on my arms stand up. Another aspect of Metallica that separates the band from the rest of the pack is the late and almighty Cliff Burton, who comes through the most on For Whom the Bell Tolls with one of the most distinctive and recognizable basslines, not only in metal but music in general.
The song that shook the metal world up and cements itself as one of the greatest tracks in Metallica's discography, and rock/metal in general, is Fade to Black. As Metallica's first ballad, and one of the first ballads written in the history of thrash metal, it's no wonder how Metallica came to be what they are today. If you show Fade to Black to someone, and they don't, at the very least, appreciate the song for what it is, I'd advise you to drive them straight to a mental clinic.
Previous guitarist, Dave Mustaine, leaves his mark on a couple of the album's tracks, namely, Ride the Lightning and The Call of Ktulu, but where Kirk Hammett shines brightest is on Creeping Death, a staple in Metallica's discography and live performances. The "Die!" bridge section is one of the greatest moments in the history of heavy metal to this day.
Ride the Lightning set the tone for years to come in the world of heavy metal. Metallica was the first to write this kind of metal album and do it incredibly well, which is the defining characteristic that separates the wolves from the sheep. Ride the Lightning is a hallmark on the timeline of heavy metal, and it is an album that has set the benchmark for what every metal band should strive to create since its release.
