Metallica’s breakthrough second studio album, Ride the Lightning was released on July 27th 1984 and was produced through Megaforce Records. The album was recorded between Feb. 20th and March 14th of 1984. It has a play time of 47 minutes and 26 seconds. One of the hit singles from this album is Creeping Death which was released on Nov. 23rd, 1984. Ride the Lightning peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200, without radio exposure. The album sold half a million copies in the US by November 1987. It was certified 6x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2012 for shipping six million copies in the US. Many rock publications ranked Ride the Lightning in their best albums lists, saying how much of a lasting impact it had on the genre. Metallica’s previous album Kill ‘Em All which was released on July 25th, 1983, helped establish a heavy, thrash metal sound that they fleshed out in Ride the Lightning. At the time, thrash metal wasn’t that big, and Ride the Lightning helped launch it into the mainstream with its hard, fast paced sound. Rhythm guitarist and Vocalist, James Hetfield, gives Metallica a powerful and unique sound and feel, which carries on throughout the rest of their albums. I personally love this album and many of the songs on it. Kirk Hammet and James Hetfield deliver some amazing solos and really show off their songwriting talent.
