Metallica – Ride The Lightning

With Kill 'Em All the three Californians and the Dane had delivered the initial spark for thrash metal in the previous year, an equally brutal and precise banging manifesto of a new era for all headbangers. On the follow-up they show an astonishing musical growth, but they still bang. None of the musicians is older than 22 at this point. This improvement is mainly due to the two "new" co-moshers: Bassist Cliff Burton and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett were not yet part of the lineup when the songs of Kill 'Em All were written. This time around, they're able to participate, co-writing on six (Cliff) and four (Kirk) of eight tracks. (Even ex-colleague Dave Mustaine, who was kicked out before Kill 'Em All and later founded Megadeth, still gets two credits)

Especially Cliff Burton, the oldest of the four, makes his presence felt. Of course, chief songwriters Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield have matured overall since the debut, but Cliff's broad musical range, which goes beyond youthful rocking, clearly adds depth and variety. He teaches his peers the basics of music theory, something the others emphasize throughout the decades that follow.

Above all, it's noticeable that Metallica don't consistently push the accelerator on Ride The Lightning like they did on their debut. There's generally more variety, more elaborate arrangements, tempo changes, midtempo stompers, acoustic guitars, instrumental passages and increased polyphony. Hetfield still screams around, sure, because metal needs to flow, but he does it better than he used to. In any case, no one would have expected the classically inspired intro to Fight Fire With Fire, which sounds like it was played by a chamber ensemble with acoustic guitars. Which, of course, doesn't change the fact that after 40 seconds a capital thrash riff blares out that even surpasses the banging of the first album. But one thing after the other....

The result is eight tracks that are now metal staples: The aforementioned Fight Fire With Fire brings together a classic intro, quality thrash riffs and crafty guitar harmonies; lyrically, Hetfield is still moving in the fairway of the times as he sings about the apocalypse, as he should. With the briskly marching title track Ride The Lightning the neck muscle twitches afterwards, while the band musically turns up: The complex number lasts six minutes with many parts and a majestic solo part, in which Kirk shows his class. Theme this time: the death of a condemned man in the electric chair, which reminds a bit of Iron Maiden's Galgeneops Hallowed Be Thy Name. (Didn't anyone say this was about "shiny happy people")

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