METALLICA: RIDE THE LIGHTNING

SCORE: 98/100

More melodic and cinematic than their debut, 'Ride The Lightning' is where Metallica REALLY kick off for the better. The album dives more into heavy metal territories while still keeping the thrash metal sound of their debut on the burner as well, and the songs are even more entertaining and fast-paced than what was on 'Kill 'em All'.

It's even more impressive comparing this album to their debut than it would be listening to this before any other projects of theirs, and the overall structure of this album is deeply awe-inspiring. This is exactly what all metal albums should strive to be, and they manage to make long, riffy songs sound like they come naturally to all of the members of the band.

'Ride The Lightning' has more experimentation and substance than their previous albums, with all of the tracks differing from one another while still keeping a consistent sound. This sets the album apart from their previous work which had sounds that all sounded very similar to one another. There are genuine standouts and highlights throughout the album - but the project in its entirety sounds like one massive victory lap for the band.

Some of their absolute best material can be found on this album, and although it is a little lengthy (in terms of how long the songs go on for), it's more than worth your time. The songs ride on incredibly well and they keep the energy high and dedicated throughout the entire runtime of the project.

The technical skill of Metallica is something to truly marvel at, and the stunning soundscapes on 'Ride The Lightning' showcase why they are considered to be one of the greatest metal bands of all time. It's clear why they were (and are still) so popular, and an album like this under your belt is a feat that not many other bands could say they have achieved.

'Ride The Lightning' is even more intense than you could ever expect it to be, and it's a masterful showcase of exactly what made Metallica so great in their prime. This being their second album makes the project as a whole that much more impressive, and this is a metal album that you simply cannot go without listening to. Essential is an understatement.

It's hard to make an album sound so instrumentally impressive, but Metallica managed to make one of the most technical metal albums the world has ever seen. There will simply never be another 'Ride The Lightning'.

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