Ride the Lightning is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica. The album was released on July 27, 1984 by the independent record label Megaforce Records. The album was recorded in a three-week span with producer Flemming Rasmussen at the Sweet Silence Studios inCopenhagen, Denmark. The artwork, based on the band's concept, represents an electric chair in the midst of thunders. The album title was taken from a passage in Stephen King's novel The Stand. Few months after its release, Elektra Records signed Metallica to a multi-year contract and reissued the album. It was certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2012 for shipping six million copies in the United States.

 

source: youtube

 Probably this is one of the best album that Metalllica did produce in the past years. This is one of the earliest tapes that I have. It's really a vintage recording and the sound of this album is not that saturated as the latest efforts from the band. This shows the best of Metallica in their riff and basic thrashing power which is missing these days. This is the best album that was produced in that era. This album shows how Kirk Hammet and James Hetfield make the best thrashing riffs in that period. Cliff Burton lays the bass riff foundation of this whole recording. And the aggressive attack of Lars Ulrich drumming pushed to the maximum. So far I missed the good sound production of this album which is not present in their modern recordings. 

 

source: youtube