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Album
Ride the Lightning
Metallica →961,942 listeners24,963,421 plays
thrash metalheavy metalmetal1984metallica
about this album
"Ride the Lightning" is the second studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 27, 1984, by Megaforce Records. The album was recorded over a three-week period with producer Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. Its cover art, conceived by the band, depicts an electric chair struck by lightning emerging from the band’s logo. The album title was inspired by a phrase from Stephen King’s novel "The Stand," referring to execution by electric chair. While primarily a thrash metal album, "Ride the Lightning" features a broader musical approach than Metallica’s debut, "Kill 'Em All." The inclusion of acoustic guitar passages, extended instrumental sections, and more complex harmonies reflected the band’s evolving sound and growing musical proficiency. Bassist Cliff Burton introduced the band members to music theory and contributed significantly to the songwriting process. The album was the final Metallica release to include songwriting contributions from former guitarist Dave Mustaine and the first to feature input from his replacement, Kirk Hammett. Production costs were covered by Metallica’s European label, Music for Nations, due to financial limitations at Megaforce Records. Upon release, the album received positive reviews from critics, who regarded it as a more ambitious and musically mature work compared to its predecessor. Metallica supported the release with the Bang That Head That Doesn’t Bang European tour in 19
