It would be a damn shame if I had a Rocktober devoted to the '80s without showcasing a song from Metallica. To prevent such a miscarriage of justice, I give you the title track to my favorite Metallica album, 1984's Ride the Lightning.
What may seem weird -- since Metallica has been such a big band for 30+ years and is rightly considered one of the best heavy metal bands ever -- is that there was a time (much of the '80s) when Metallica was building its following and selling a solid number of albums without having any radio play or videos on MTV. It wasn't until 1989 that the band had its first song chart on the Billboard Hot 100 ("One" from 1988's ...And Justice for All album).
I want to take you back to that "before" time. After the violent frantic energy of the band's debut album, Kill 'Em All, for Ride the Lightning, Metallica's songwriting and playing developed into more than just speed -- or metal up your ass, if you will -- thanks in large part to bassist Cliff Burton introducing music theory to the other band members and also taking a larger role in songwriting. The result was a more complex album, both lyrically and musically.
There are so many classic Metallica songs on the album, like "Fade to Black," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Creeping Death," and the title track, which is my choice. Back when I would do stupid things like 10ks (once a year), "Ride the Lightning" would always be the first song I'd listen to during a race. Co-written by Burton, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and former band member Dave Mustaine, it starts out with a driving bassline and beat, with a wicked riff. From there, Hetfield snarls lyrics sung from the perspective of a wrongly accused inmate on his way to the electric chair. Kirk Hammett wails on some solos in the middle of the song. It's simply a fantastic thrash metal song.
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