Any metalhead who hears the phrase “80’s era Metallica” will IMMEDIATELY conjure visions of James, Lars, Kirk and Cliff (R.I.P.) and be transported back to the days of yore, back before Metallica was a household name, back before they were part of The Big Four of Thrash Metal Royalty, back before Master of Puppets was even a “thought”. Back to 1984 and the badassness of Ride The Lightning.

Ride The Lightning, Metallica’s 2nd album is, without a doubt, one of THE most glorious sophomore SLAMS (not slumps) in Metal history (like right up there with Paranoid and Vulgar Display of Power). Given that it’s recently celebrated its 36th anniversary, we here at Metal Nerdery HQ felt that it was time to DIVE in a bit further to this thrashsterpiece and give it the Metal Nerdery Treatment.

So prepare your favorite relaxer and JOIN US as we go back to the Days of Yore (let’s call it Pre-Puppets-Thrash-Core) and discuss some of the trivia associated with the album, go through some of the tracks, and address how hilarious “misheard lyrics” can be.

Visit www.metalnerdery.com/podcast for more on this episode

Listen on iTunes, Spotify, Podbean, Google Play or wherever you get your Podcasts.

Follow us on the Socials:

Email: [email protected]

(00:00): 1 st Official METALLICA Metal Nerdery Episode: Ride The Lightning Album Dive/Lightning vs Puppets and the context of #bolth/Released 07/27/1984 (36 years young!)

(05:16): The mystery of James’ master wrystery/#clinky and some RTL factoids/Intro to Fight Fire with Fire/Loudwire Metallica Ride The Lightning FACTS

(10:40): The title inspiration (Thank you Stephen King!)/Songwriting credits* (see also the prior Metal Nerdery episode regarding the Great Riff Conspiracy(?))/A moment of beer (and a FREE plug!)/#itswhatbitchesdrink/The Metallica Sonic “Palette”/A Tangentional connection to RJD/Flemming Rasmussen/#squealer

(15:51): Imagine RTL sans James/Fade to Black/The hatred of Escape/Bill’s tangentional postproduction notes relative to KEA/sophomore SLAM (NOT Jinx!)

(20:00): The Tracks: Fight Fire with Fire (#bookingalonghella #waitwhat #looksotired/Look for our future Metal Nerdery #misheardlyrics episode/#weallshalldie because #bartsingslikeamotherfucker

(24:47): Ride The Lightning (and capturing the magic with a click track)/#themiddleofthemiddle/#waitforit/6:35

(30:28): That’s NOT a bell! / For Whom the Bell Tolls and Bill’s Tangentional Perspective/How to also play Fairies Wear Boots/The Staples of the Metallica Set

(34:14): Fade to Black, Metallica and Star Wars/#eyepissing/Trapped Under Ice

(40:33): Escape (Metallica gets croutons!)/Creeping Death (and Cliff ‘Em All)/#cantbeloudenough/Matt’s misheard lyrics/#revveduplikeadouche/Remember that guitar solo!?/#bringbackconcerts

(48:48): Call of Ktulu (Wizards of Metal)/The Metallica Sonic Palette/#whatsthatnoise (Bill’s Remix #justkidding)/The experience of listening to an album vs listening to a download/The tsunami of harmonies (GO BUY THIS ALBUM!!)/The Visual vibe of Metallica’s sound