RIDE THE LIGHTNING

Metallica

Prog Related

4.11 | 726 ratings

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On to the second Metallica release. I am not a fan of the first one at all and I kind of hope that this one isn't so one track minded.

"Fight Fire with Fire" - Nice acoustic guitar opening leading into some very heavy riffing and adrenaline inducing drumming. Immediately the band sounds more mature to me than they did on their first offering. The only negative comment I have relating to this track is that Hetfield is singing a simplistic nursery rhyme kind of chant which the music would be better served without. The band is coming into its own here thus far.

"Ride the Lightning" - A head banger. Good solid heavy metal rock. Again I feel this would be better served without the simplistic lyric structure although Hetfields vocals are way better here than they were on the first album. The track slows and changes structure nicely further on in lending a little ambiance to the proceedings.

"For Whom the Bell Tolls" - Dramatic track opening with sound of a bell punctuating the hard metal. I'm reminded of "Pantera" here. Hardcore riffing and nice Hetfield vocals that for once fit nicely into the track.

"Fade to Black" - Nice acoustic intro with electric lead coming in. Best I've heard from the band thus far into their discography. Dang! Metallica - I didn't think you had it in you. Very much more mature album from the lads thus far. The track shares its name with good things - an good early computer game, a good movie - and it is a good thing as well. I'm reminded of Iron Maiden on into the track.

"Trapped Under Ice" - Ominous beginning leading into the dreaded speed thing. The first let down on the album for me. The hardcore speed thing with chanted lyrics doesn't grab me.

"Escape" - Thankfully things are slowed down a little here again. Interesting enough little track.

"Creeping Death" - I can't help but think of Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos when I listen to this music. I haven't explored that fully within Metallica's music - it was obviously an influence on the music and subject matter.

"The Call of Ktulu" - I wonder why they didn't substitute Cthulhu for Ktulu in the name of the track. More of the same in this track.

A way better offering than the first release was. A more mature sounding band with some interesting subject matter and more than that - more ambiance and dare I say it? - melody. I don't like Metallica but having said that I must give this album its due. It is not the influence on prog metal that some perceive - there are metal bands that are for sure but this is only but one of them. As an example of influence on prog metal listen to "Saxon's" "Dallas One pm") Metallica do perform well here and it is an album that I will continue to toy with. For me a three and a half star rated album which for the hell of it I'm going to push to a four - it is a thrash metal classic and it does make a statement.

sukmytoe | 4/5 | 2013-8-3

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