Ride the Lightning

"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 1984 and a subsequent North American tour in 1985, including performances at major festivals such as Monsters of Rock and Day on the Green. Following the album’s initial success, Elektra Records signed Metallica to a multi-year contract and reissued the record. "Ride the Lightning" reached number 100 on the Billboard 200 and later peaked at number 48. Initial American pressings totaled 75,000 copies, with sales surpassing 500,000 by late 1987. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album six times platinum in 2012 for shipping six million copies in the United States. "Ride the Lightning" has been widely recognized in retrospective rankings as one of the most influential albums in the development of thrash metal. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.