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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Fight Fire With Fire |
| 2. Ride The Lightning |
| 3. For Whom The Bell Tolls |
| 4. Fade To Black |
| 5. Trapped Under Ice |
| 6. Escape |
| 7. Creeping Death |
| 8. The Call Of Ktulu |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Don't let that classical-guitar opening to "Fight Fire with Fire" fool you--Ride the Lightning packs a heavy-metal wallop. While not as ambitious as the subsequent Master of Puppets, this early Metallica album is indubitably one of their best. Thematically, it explores death and dying from myriad points of view: nuclear war ("Fight Fire with Fire"), electric-chair execution (the title track) and drowning ("Trapped Under Ice"). Interestingly, the best track on this album is probably "Fade to Black", a slower, more introspective song about suicide. There's also "Creeping Death", which remains a concert favourite. An excellent mix of rapid-fire guitar riffs, rip-roaring solos and singer James Hetfield's trademark growl, this is thrash metal at its finest. --Genevieve Williams
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The best way to judge an album's quality is how good it sounds years after its release. This is harder for metal bands, as their music can sound dated, their lyrics cheesy and the whole thing, well, a bit naff.
Metallica, however, are not one of these bands. They were always the most intelligent of the thrash bands, with James Hetfield's lyrics examining dark, serious subject matter. ''Ride The Lightning'' is a perfect example of this cerebral approach, with tracks like the epic ''Creeping Death'' and the seminal ''For Whom The Bell Tolls'' showing challenging subect matter can be combined with thrash riffs, without dumbing down the latter.
This intelligence is also reflected in the musicianship, which is nothing short of exceptional. Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and the late, great, Cliff Burton are all superb, their talent and vision are evident throughout, notably on ''The Call Of Ktulu'', which, despite being an instrumental, looses none of its power or heaviness.
To pick a standout track is hard, not least in 2007, 23 years after its release, when many, if not all, of the songs are regarded as thrash classics. I believe ''Fade To Black'' deserves a special mention though: its emotive, yet powerful lyrics, great Hetfield vocals, and a stunning acoustic intro, matched only by the epic outro.
The contrast from the intimacy of the opening to the heaviness of the outro shows Metallica's true genius. Heavy, yet intelligent, matching outstanding musicianship with the ability to write great songs. The best compliment though, is that it still sounds fantastic today.
Metallica, however, are not one of these bands. They were always the most intelligent of the thrash bands, with James Hetfield's lyrics examining dark, serious subject matter. ''Ride The Lightning'' is a perfect example of this cerebral approach, with tracks like the epic ''Creeping Death'' and the seminal ''For Whom The Bell Tolls'' showing challenging subect matter can be combined with thrash riffs, without dumbing down the latter.
This intelligence is also reflected in the musicianship, which is nothing short of exceptional. Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and the late, great, Cliff Burton are all superb, their talent and vision are evident throughout, notably on ''The Call Of Ktulu'', which, despite being an instrumental, looses none of its power or heaviness.
To pick a standout track is hard, not least in 2007, 23 years after its release, when many, if not all, of the songs are regarded as thrash classics. I believe ''Fade To Black'' deserves a special mention though: its emotive, yet powerful lyrics, great Hetfield vocals, and a stunning acoustic intro, matched only by the epic outro.
The contrast from the intimacy of the opening to the heaviness of the outro shows Metallica's true genius. Heavy, yet intelligent, matching outstanding musicianship with the ability to write great songs. The best compliment though, is that it still sounds fantastic today.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a gr8 album, it shows a more mature metallica and natural progression from the brutal debut kill em all. The songwriting is much improved as well. unlike the debut, this album has one fixed theme, which is "death". A recurring theme
for the next few albums. Each track has brilliant musicianship, and hetfeilds vocals are just feral, and inspired. hammetts solos are just BRILLIANT, hands down. i dont think he can ever top the soloing from this album. All in all, quality thrash metal, arguably the best one ever.
for the next few albums. Each track has brilliant musicianship, and hetfeilds vocals are just feral, and inspired. hammetts solos are just BRILLIANT, hands down. i dont think he can ever top the soloing from this album. All in all, quality thrash metal, arguably the best one ever.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Featuring 8 tracks that display complex and powerful drums and riffs, played with extreme power and alarming efficiency and technicality. Approached and vocalised by deeply insightful doom inspired lyrics, the mood and intensity is of that which parades on high tension, fatal aggravation and existential stress.
The feel of the album is very serious. There is no space for comedy or light heartedness. The style is very certain and the passionate belief projected throughout its sound works to full efficiency!
The track arrangments are incredibly complex and the timing between the musicians is matched by the milisecond!
Although 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is certain to generate appreciation, the stand out track on this album, 'Fade To Black', features a comtemplative intro, after which a perfectly played and recorded acoustic section that hits the heights of all possible comprehension. When the vocals kick in accompanied by the superb druming, proceeded with a graciously dealt riff it makes for a euphoric moment!
Every track projects quality, and the final instrumental track, although lacking in Vocals, is no exception.
The feel of the album is very serious. There is no space for comedy or light heartedness. The style is very certain and the passionate belief projected throughout its sound works to full efficiency!
The track arrangments are incredibly complex and the timing between the musicians is matched by the milisecond!
Although 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is certain to generate appreciation, the stand out track on this album, 'Fade To Black', features a comtemplative intro, after which a perfectly played and recorded acoustic section that hits the heights of all possible comprehension. When the vocals kick in accompanied by the superb druming, proceeded with a graciously dealt riff it makes for a euphoric moment!
Every track projects quality, and the final instrumental track, although lacking in Vocals, is no exception.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great album, But not their best.
A great album with some classic metallica anthems, I dont rate it as their best because i think Master of puppets is, Or up there with the best albums produced by Metallica, For... Read more
Published 15 days ago by jonmax
It's been said before
This is my favourite album by the band. The blue print has been made for everything that followed. No self indulgence, just 8 great songs, one after the ear-bleeding other. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jimothy
Ride the Lightning CD
This is a present to my Grandson aged 11 - he rates it 5 stars - FABULOUS! I am not so sure aged 77!
Published 4 months ago by D. M. Harrington
very good
what a brilliant record, an unbelievably good looking cover, it arrived in first class condition, in great packaging, would recommend this to anyone, for themselves or as a great... Read more
Published 5 months ago by carol
My personal favourite!!!
A lot of people say that master of puppets is the "definitive" metallica album! i have to say in my opinion its ride the lightning but believe me its a close run thing!! Read more
Published 11 months ago by Marshall
JHR
Having recently seen the tribute band Mentallica i thought it was time to add the real thing to my collection. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Pataread
One of the Albums You *Must* Own
This album is practically on every Top Metal Albums list ever, often in the top 10. To see 9 out of 66 people give this less than the full five stars compels me to review it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Veers
exellent
brilliant album from the kings of metal its hard to fault the album realy and is possibly the best.everyone knows most of these songs but only bell tolls gets widely recognised or... Read more
Published 19 months ago by meaton
This 2nd Metallica album is their best.
This 2nd Metallica album is their best. Its still Thrash but the riffs and arrangements are more intricate, the lyrics are more intelligent and biting, there's more of a dynamic to... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Alister King
Great thrash metal
For those familiar with Metallica through their self-titled 1991 album, also known as the black album, their 2nd album, released in 1984 will sound a lot different. Read more
Published on 9 May 2010 by klaher
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