Metallica - Ride the Lightning
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Free Music Notes for Ride the Lightning
Free Music Review: I could write a whole book about Lightning, Master, Justice
Hit: 5 Stars
One very thoughtful quote I once read has not escaped my memory yet. Actually, it never will because it's so true. "Metallica can be defined as: Classical music played by a heavy metal band." Anyone who has more than just casually but closely listened to "Ride the Lightning" "Master of Puppets" and "...And Justice For All" (for which I have written all reviews by the way) will by no means disagree with this definition of one of the greatest Bands ever. I don't want to say that it is the greatest band of all time, although in my opinion it is, because others will disagree with my critic, and simply because "of all time" is a really long time. Metallica's music is original, ingenious, intelligent, creative, passionate, melodious, inspiring, magnificent and powerful. It is a blast to listen to it. The way they structure their songs is just ingenious. From start to finish, their songs are so perfectly structured that it is just awe-inspiring. "Ride the Lightning" is an amazing record in every sense of the word. Like Master and Justice it stands out as one of the greatest heave metal records ever. I have listened to a lot of music in my life. Ranging from the 60's to the colorless Rap-age that finds popularity in the first decade of the third millennium, and I can assure anyone that this band has by far created the best music of the last century. It is a blast to listen to it. Take Ride the Lightning for example. What a record!!! From Fight Fire with Fire to Call of Ktulu this is a record that is just mind-blowing. It is hard to describe in words. The best track I personally think is "Fade to Black." This is one beautiful song. Everything in this song is perfect to the last touch. It is an absolute classic just like the whole Album itself. From its breathless intro with the acoustic guitar to the lyrics and the solos at the end-it's just classic!! But what really makes this song stand out from all the other ones on this Album, is Kirk Hammet's guitar play right after the second chorus. This is one of the most passionate guitar riffs I have ever heard, perfectly accompanied with the song's last few lyrics before the song "fades to black" with the sad solos.
Another great song on this album is the title epic "Ride The Lightning." This song has a roaring intro, which gives it a very powerful start, and when you first listen to it in the beginning, it feels at times like you have been listening to this song for 30 minutes, when in fact it's only been like 3 minutes. It is so complicatedly structured that you could not get burned out on this if you listened to it forever. It's just a great song. I personally think that this is Metallica's best theme song, superior even to Master of Puppets and ...And Justice For All.
Another unforgettable explosive is "Creeping Death." I love the intro(again! nothing new) to this song but the coolest part is the way Lars kicks in with his drums right after it. It just sounds so cool. It always puts a smile on me even while I'm typing now. The rest is history. An ingeniously structured song, with a kick-ace guitar solo with so much energy to put out "Fire with Fire."
The rest of the Album is just as breathtaking but those three songs are my personal favorites-and I don`t expect all of you to agree with me. The others are by no means to be left in the shadow.
So if you know anyone who thinks that Metallica just plays brainless, directionless, music with no feeling and meaning behind it whatsoever has not listened to this "classical" band close enough.
Like I said, I could write a whole book analyzing their three best records "Lightning" "Master" and "Justice." They are inspiring with their power and scale, and if you have not yet listened to them then I hope that you will choose to do so soon. You are in for a treat. That's a promise!
-LightningMasterJustice
Free Music Review: Metallicas BEST
Hit: 5 Stars
The year is 1984.Metallica's new album is "Ride The Lightning" this is a masterpiece album and there 2nd and most definetly there best!Has several hits from it and great vocals,Lyrics,Riffs,Solos,Bass,Bridge and Drumming.
Fight Fire With Fire:Probably the fastest song.Starts very spanish flavoured and acoustic and in the back round lightning fast guitar starts to fade in untill the acoutic guitar is gone and this faster then slayer song uses very dark and interesting lyrics and vocals and a great chorus of "FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE!"
this album has shorter songs then MOP but this song is so fast that you can feel the power and vocals as he screams "FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE FIGHT!!!"Leading to a quick fast solo and ends this 4:45 long masterpiece and could be my favorite song here.200/100
Ride The Lightning:This song is 6:41 long and has a booming intro before the heavy slow guitar kicks in and vocals that are higher then normal and have some fast interludes this song has many solos and slower riffs but they pick up sometimes untill they are very fast picking and James has several different vocals and verses and the chorus works great and this great song ends the same way it began.A highlight and a great song and I say the best solo.90/100
For Whom The Bell Tolls:Begins with a bell and then strong heavy guitar comes in but not really fast the beginning of this song is a instrumental untill the sinister vocals come in and the song gets heavier.Though most of this 5:10 long song is pretty much the same it has 2 great solos(Well leads anyway but the solo comes in the end) and the lyric of "Look into the sky just before you die!ITS THE LAST TIME YOU WILL!".A great classic that is not as fast as the others.100/100
Fade To Black:The calm beginning and slow verses make this song a depressing sad song that does not have many heavy parts.Although this 7:00 long song has a chorus of heavy guitar the song is awsome but overated and it is not heavy at all except at the end when everything is heavy with vocals similar to the ones from "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and ends with a lengthy solo.88/100
Trapped Under Ice:A furious 4:00 long song and has many screams,Fast guitar and furious pounding drums with great lyrics and this song shows how great metallica can be but what I really like is the chorus and solo they rule.100/100
Escape:A great song that has many hard core riffs and great vocals but what really gets me is the chorus oh yeah that is addictive personally I believe this is 1090000% underated.100/100
Creeping Death:WOW!Fast guitar opens this famous song and continues like that for the whole 6:43 of this song and so many great verses and choruses and ends with the famous chant of "DIE DIE DIE!" but the chant is awsome and the cool egyptian scale at the end is cool and the chant is "DIE!By my hand I creep across the land killing first born man...DIE! DIE! by my hand I creep across the land killing first born man DIE!" and Cliff's shouting in the backround of "DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!Is replaced by the croud live.200/100
The Call Of the Ktulu:There best instrumental ever and starts calm and stays like that but catches up with drums and a bit more heaviness occasionally for the first 6 minutes of this song so very long part with no heavy guitar really untill a breakthrough comes and heavy guitar starts to pound into this track and lasts untill 8:22 when it slows down and then speeds up and Cliffs lead bass solo speeds very quick to the end of 8:54.There 2nd longest instrumental.Though this is kinda plain at points when it is going medieval it sounds like a door opening in the middle which is weird.200/100
This masterpiece get 888 points of greatness.GET IT NOW!
Free Music Review: A Must for Any Fan of Heavy Metal
Hit: 5 Stars
Metallica's second studio album Ride the Lightning was released in 1984. It came only one year after their debut Kill `Em All. Although many of the mainstays on Metallica's set list are present on this album, it's sadly underrated. Many Metallica fans consider Master of Puppets to be their masterpiece but all of the elements that make Master a thrash epic are evident in Ride the Lightning.
When one first listens to the album they may wonder if they bought the right album. The opening track "Fight Fire With Fire" begins with a joyful guitar arrangement that seems more at home on the soundtrack to Bambi. In a moments notice, the façade is dropped and a torrential rain of sixteenth notes punctuated by power chords assaults the listener. James Hetfield mirrors the rhythm guitar part with his vocal, which lyrically is about the concept of M.A.D, or mutually accepted destruction. One highlight of this song apart from the furious rhythm guitar would have to be the dual guitar harmony part that comes in near the finish that is reminiscent of the work of Iron Maiden.
The title track is thematically about a man that is on death row dreading his execution in the electric chair. While the chorus is catchy, the rest of the song is rather uninspired and consists of little more than eighth notes on the low E string being played at a moderate pace.
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is one of the three tunes off of this record that nary a Metallica concert goes without. One of the main highlights of the song is Cliff Burton's bass playing. Also, the main riff of this song is one of the most identifiable riffs in all of heavy metal.
"Fade to Black" was a big departure from everything Metallica had done previously. This is Metallica's version of a power ballad. Unlike the rest of Metallica's songs up to this point which had all implemented a heavily distorted rhythm guitar, "Fade to Black" included a finger picked passage for the intro and verse sections. The song contains three tasteful solos by Kirk Hammett which are much more melodic than most of his work at the time and is far better than his "noodling" on Kill `Em All. The song was such a departure from their regular sound that it prompted many fans to call the band sellouts. The song also received flack from the PMRC for its lyrics about suicide. Many fans have stated in Metallica's defense that the song helped them in rough times in their lives.
"Trapped Under Ice" is a good song but when compared to the other stellar tracks on the album, it just doesn't compare.
"Escape" is lyrically about a person being who they want to be instead of letting others control their life.
"Creeping Death" is another standout track that no Metallica performance goes without. The song is about the plagues depicted in Exodus. The song seems anything but holy when the band starts chanting "Die" over Hetfield's thundering rhythm guitar. The song is concluded by one of Hammett's more memorable solos and then Hammett and Hetfield joining in for some more Iron Maiden-esque harmony guitar parts.
"Call of Ktulu" is an epic instrumental based upon the story of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft. The song is very creepy as it employs great use of chromatics in many of the riffs. For the last half of the song, Kirk Hammett's lead guitar pyrotechnics takes center display.
Ride the Lightning is perhaps Metallica's finest album. Even thought there are some tracks which obviously don't stand out as much as the album's premiere tracks, they are all great songs, better than what most other bands in the genre are capable of. Every fan of heavy metal needs to have this album in their collection.
Free Music Review: Ride The Lightning
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard Metallica, I was like 8. I saw 'One' on Muchmusic one night, just browsing channels. Little did I know, that I would later be a huge fan of this band with a video I didn't really understand (it rhymes, and yes, it's a corny line).Anywho, Metallica's RTL album is definitely one of their best. Although millions say that Master Of Puppets, AJFA, my personal fave, or the Black album are the best, RTL, like these others, has an incredible sound that truly brings out the best of this Heavy Metal band.
Fight Fire With Fire; the first track. Leading in with the famous 'soft' opening riffs, this song flys into a heavy, fast paced song that almost never lets up. A very good choice to start things off.
Next is the title track, Ride The Lightning. Much like 'Fire', it is fast paced and heavy, although it seems to slow a bit at the bridge, another Metallica trait. Still, one wicked track.
The next two songs, For Whom The Bell Tolls, and Fade to Black, possibly the two best songs on the album. For Whom the Bell Tolls is like AC-DC's Hells Bells, for the only reason that they have the bells. This track has excellent lyrics, a very eerie riff and excellent drums. Quite possibly, the best song off the album. But, wait, there's more...
Fade to Black. If you are a die-hard Metallica fan, you'll know that the band pretty much re-invented Metal Ballads. Here's one of many. Fade is all around an excellent song, the intro is especially catchy. This ballad brings out the best in Metallica, and, personally, sends chills down my back. Along with For Whom The Bell Tolls, the two songs are the best off this album. But, it's only half over.
Trapped Under Ice, fast paced, heavy, and, well, unnoticed, for the most. This song, which opens with a solo, unlike the others, not only completes the Black Magic combo, Fire( Fight Fire With Fire), Lightning (Ride The Lightning) and, of course Ice (Trapped Under Ice), but also plays out much like Fire and Lightning, fast paced through and through, and heavy. This particular track, seems to have a couple solos in it, courtesy of Kirk Hammet. A track worth listening to.
Then, as we wind down, Escape comes in. Escape plays out slower than the other tracks, and sounds like RTL, if it were slowed down a bit, the way the lyrics sound. Escape, in my opinion, is kind of just filler. It does have its strong points, but its not a song I'm particularly fond of. However, the riffs and drums sound good, so, please, don't pass this track by.
The last song with lyrics, Creeping Death, opens fast, with very good drums. This song has very good drumming, and for this album, it is the best of any song. But, hat my opinion. Good riffs, and good lyrics. Also a great track, but which one isn't? Fast paced and heavy, like most of the songs, its an excellent way to wind down the album, although, I would've swapped its place with Escape.
The end to this exceptional musical masterpiece, is the instrumental, The Call of Ktulu. Many fans say that it is, not a very good instrumental. Clocking in at nearly nine minutes, who could blame people for not finding it that good? Well, I find it is a very good instrumental. The guitars create some very good sounds to give this instrumental a little bit of an evil edge, something that adds to the track. Drumming sounds a little bit like the rest of the album, as far as the way they are played, not by their sound. Ktulu winds the album down slowly, while still keeping a fast paced sound to it. It isn't so heavy though. But, nonetheless, it brings perfect closure to the album.
8 tracks of some of the finest Heavy Metal music can be found on this album. If you are a Metallica fan, new or old, grab this album. You won't be sorry...
Free Music Review: Another perfect Metallica album
Hit: 5 Stars
Metallica's second album, 1984's "Ride the Lightning," was the first real metal album I ever bought. When I bought it, I was looking for a really heavy album, so when the first track began with an acoustic intro, I was sorely disappointed. Luckily, however, I skipped to the next song, the title track, and its booming intro brought a big smile to my face. Ah, nostalgia.
With 1983's "Kill `Em All," Metallica helped create thrash metal; but they followed up their debut with their sophomore album, which was released only a year later. Most metalheads have given it the credit it deserves, but I feel "Ride the Lightning" is still somewhat underrated, since the album that followed this one was "Master of Puppets."
"Ride the Lightning" is still fast. Most of it shoots by like...well, lightning; but it's slower, darker, heavier and more mature than "Kill `Em All." James' voice is somewhat lower than it was, and his lyrics are improved. As the above Amazon editorial review mentions, James discusses several different ways to die: Armageddon, capitol punishment, suicide, being trapped under ice, etc.
"Fight Fire with Fire" has the aforementioned acoustic intro, but it's just a tease-it doesn't last. The power chords fade in and the song becomes a breakneck speed, with rip-roaring, almost Slayer-esque guitar work. Lyrically, this songs seems to be about the Apocalypse.
"Ride the Lightning" is the album's most popular single. It's another thrashy number, with booming rhythms, fiery chug and churn riffs (which go from fast to faster to slow to fast), and an awesome, lengthy Hammett solo. "Ride the Lightning" has good lyrics about being executed by the electric chair, and it also has a surprise ending, but most of this song is an instrumental.
"For Whom the Bell Tolls" is slower paced, but still loud and heavy. The first two minutes of this song is an instrumental, beginning with a bell ringing, then the heavy, repetitive, churning guitars kick in. This song has another good, winding solo near the end.
"Fade to Black" is really morbid because it has depressing, introspective lyrics about suicide. It begins with a distant guitar solo, but the acoustic strums actually make the first part of this song rather pretty. (Pretty in a dark and depressing way, but pretty nonetheless.) The choruses still have heavy riffs, and the end is an ascending and cascading solo.
"Trapped Under Ice" is very fast paced with another short but sweet guitar solo near the middle.
"Escape" has vocals which make it radio ready (it has good vocal hooks). Most of the song has propulsive riffs with thunderous drumming, but the choruses are slower.
"Creeping Death" begins with machine gun guitars and drumming, before changing to another fast beat with guitars that burn straight ahead. And, of course, there's another stellar solo near the end.
"The Call of KTULU" is the album's instrumental. In my opinion, this song IS as great as "Orion" (from Metallica's next album, "Master of Puppets,") and it's a very good way to end the album. It starts out slowly and ominously with wind wooshes, but then it suddenly becomes a lot faster. This song builds well and has superb guitar and drum work.
So, this disc is another wonderful landmark album and it's still one of the best C.D.'s of the past two decades. All of the qualities of a classic metal or thrash metal album are here: long songs (about 6 minutes per song), rapid fire riffs, ripping solos, an instrumental track, and even some acoustic guitar licks. In conclusion, if you want a complete metal collection, or if you just like heavy metal, you need this album more than you need your next breath.