#2 Ride the Lightning (1984)
METALLICA’s second album, Ride the Lightning, was a more polished, sophisticated, and ambitious continuation of Kill ‘Em All. The group showed off their growing music potential and redefined the norms of thrash with “Fade to Black” – cited as the first power ballad in thrash history. Hetfield’s vocals were also maturing, and the lyrics were less juvenile and avoided heavy metal clichés. The album was also received with more widespread acclaim than their debut and peaked at 100 on the billboard 200, despite no radio exposure. The album includes timeless classics like “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Fade to Black”, and “Creeping Death”. All three of which are recognizable to a large section of the human population. Ride the Lightning is widely considered to have changed the band’s trajectory and some believe it is their most influential album.
Highlights: “Ride the Lightning”, “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Fade to Black”, “Creeping Death”
#1 Master of Puppets (1986)
The crowning achievement of thrash metal. Master of Puppets showcases METALLICA at their absolute peak, from sound, to production, to vocals, to songwriting. The album features dynamic music and song arrangements, a more refined approach and layered writing. Master of Puppets introduced a new complexity to thrash metal that many others have tried, and failed, to replicate. By 1986, Hetfield was more in control of his vocals and the early days of hoarse shouting was in the rear-view mirror.
Master of Puppets is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time, is credited with consolidation the American thrash metal scene, and is preserved in the Library of congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Highlights: Let be honest, every track hear is a highlight, but some personal favorites include: “Battery”, “Master of Puppets”, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”
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