Album of the Day

With their second studio album, lightning struck for Metallica - the 1984 collection earned the band a label deal with Elektra and set them on the path to heavy metal stardom. Cut in Copenhagen, Denmark with co-producer Flemming Rasmussen, RIDE THE LIGHTNING was a major step forward from the quartet's debut; the arrangements display greater harmonic complexity, and James Hetfield's lyrics have broadened in scope to touch upon social issues including the terrors of modern war (“For Whom The Bell Tolls”) and capital punishment (the title track). Metallica's bold sonic experimentation was all the more impressive given that the band's gear had been stolen three weeks before they hit Denmark, and tour commitments gave them less than a month in the studio. In spite of these hurdles, RIDE THE LIGHTNING became a thrash metal milestone, and we'll give it another ride today in honor of Hetfield's 60th birthday.