The genius of Ride The Lightning is not in any individual song, although it contains several fabulous ones. Rather, its remarkable characteristic is a complete lack of a weak point. From the opening acoustic balladry of “Fight Fire With Fire” to the rising bassline that ends “The Call Of Ktulu”, everything works amazingly well.

“Fight Fire With Fire”, “Ride The Lightning”, “Trapped Under Ice”, and “Escape” are prime examples of the nascent thrash metal genre. “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Creeping Death” are simpler but no less enjoyable. “Fade To Black” is, in my mind, easily the greatest metal ballad ever written. The achingly beautiful guitar solo that closes the piece could bring me to tears, if I were in the proper mindset. The instrumental closer, “The Call Of Ktulu”, demonstrates what can happen when four highly talented musicians have the opportunity to tell a story unhindered by vocals and typical song structure: section after section where no instrument is merely accompanying the other, but all four are weaving a tapestry of sound.

This was the first album on which James Hetfield displayed his talents as a serious lyricist, with songs inspired by literature (“For Whom The Bell Tolls”, “The Call Of Ktulu”), religion (“Creeping Death”), and social justice (“Ride The Lightning”).Ride The Lightning is a masterpiece, and should be part of the collection of any fan of heavy metal music.