This was my first real taste of metal and I thought metal couldn’t get much better than this, I still think that today. In my opinion there is only one Metallica album that is better than Ride The Lightning and that is Master Of Puppets.
1. Fight Fire With Fire- Not bad for an opening track, as it starts off with a cool little acoustic guitar part for about 40 seconds. After that’s done its all distortion, the whole band thrashes out. The chorus is plainly “fight fire with fire the ending is near” nothing truly astonishing about the song except maybe the guitar solo and Lars. One major downside is Hetfeild’s singing but makes an effort with his energy he puts in every Metallica song. 3/5
2. Ride The Lightning- Most people would disagree with but this is one of Ride The Lightning’s lesser songs I find but is still a good song. The intro is probably the most recognizable part of the song with its choppy instrumentation. Instrumentally this song is one of the best of the album especially the guitars. My favorite part is probably the guitar solo or the chorus. No major downside to the song. 3.5/5
3. For Whom The Bell Tolls- This is definitely my favorite song off the album. The intro and pre-verse are flawless along with every part of the song. The verse is powerful with Hetfeild’s voice; Hetfeild really shows his overall song ability in this song. The chorus is simple but catchy. Every part of the song is excellent but the drums are a little simple. The outro gets a little drowsy while its fading out though. 5/5
4. Fade To Black- The song opens with a few seconds of quite then goes to the acoustic guitar which is unforgettable. The song slowly builds into the verse that shows Metallica’s emotional side with the subject of suicidal thought. There isn’t really any chorus to the song just goes from verse to verse. The best part of the song is the ending which shows the excellent skill of Kirk Hammet and his guitar, also the ending has a lot of energy to it. 4/5
5. Trapped Under Ice- This song is filled with thrashing on guitar, drums and even vocals most energetic song o the album. The verse fast heavy, fast, distorted and fits into the chorus what else can you ask for. The chorus is sort of boring but good enough. The best part is once again the guitar solo also the rest of the guitar part is good too. The down side is Hetfeild’s voice again. Some people said this song wasn’t that good but I don’t see why. 4.5/5
6. Escape- Again another fine track but I find the energy has shortened since the last track. The intro is filled with instrumentation in just a few seconds…wow. I like the verse, which sounds a little like Trapped Under Ice. As for the chorus, it’s a little boring but manages to fit in. The best part is the part after the guitar solo with the pounding drums. The only con is the chorus. 4/5
7. Creeping Death- I really like the drums in this song because of the oomph it gives to the intro. The verse is pretty standard it also gives you the urge to bop your head. The chorus is a good part to hum along with. The guitar solo is once again exceptional, the drums are also accountable. The song sounds pretty much the same as any other song on the album. 3.5/5
8. The Call Of Ktulu- This is Metallica’s big instrumental song from Ride The Lightning and focusing mainly on the guitar. The song pretty much goes on & on with the instruments but is extremely impressive for a sophomore album. 4/5
Pros- All instruments
-For Whom The Bell Tolls
- The Call Of Ktulu
Cons- Hetfeild’s voice
- Some songs get boring
