Ride the Lightning
Updated: 12/11/2025, 12:55:11 PM Wikipedia source
Ride the Lightning is the second album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on July 27, 1984, by the independent record label Megaforce Records. The album was recorded in three weeks with producer Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The artwork, based on a concept by the band, depicts an electric chair being struck by lightning flowing from the band logo. The title was taken from a passage in Stephen King's novel The Stand, in which a character uses the phrase to refer to execution by electric chair. Although rooted in the thrash metal genre, the album showcased the band's musical growth and lyrical sophistication. Bassist Cliff Burton introduced the basics of music theory to the band and had more input in the songwriting. Beyond the fast tempos of its debut Kill 'Em All, Metallica broadened its approach by employing acoustic guitars, extended instrumentals, and more complex harmonies. The overall recording costs were paid by Metallica's European label Music for Nations because Megaforce was unable to cover it. It is the last album to feature songwriting contributions from former lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, and the first to feature contributions from successor Kirk Hammett. Ride the Lightning received a highly positive response from music critics, who saw it as a more ambitious effort than its predecessor. Metallica promoted the album on the Bang That Head That Doesn't Bang European tour in late 1984, and on its North American leg in the first half of 1985. The band performed at major music festivals such as Monsters of Rock and Day on the Green later that year. Two months after its release, Elektra Records signed Metallica to a multi-year deal and reissued the album. Ride the Lightning peaked at number 100 on the Billboard 200 with virtually no radio exposure and has since reached number 48. Although 75,000 copies were initially pressed for the American market, the album sold half a million by November 1987. It was certified 6× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2012 for shipping six million copies in the United States. Many rock publications have ranked Ride the Lightning on their best album lists, saying it had a lasting impact on thrash metal.
Infobox
Released
July 27, 1984 (1984-07-27)
Recorded
February 20 – March 14, 1984
Studio
Sweet Silence (Copenhagen)
Genre
Thrash metal
Length
47:26
Label
MegaforceElektra
Producer
MetallicaFlemming RasmussenMark Whitaker
Tables
Professional ratings · Reception and legacy
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
Review scores
Chicago Tribune
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal
Review scores
10/10
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
The Guardian
The Guardian
Review scores
The Guardian
Review scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
10/10
Q
Q
Review scores
Q
Review scores
Rock Hard
Rock Hard
Review scores
Rock Hard
Review scores
10/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic
Review scores
Sputnikmusic
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10 |
| Encyclopedia of Popular Music | |
| The Guardian | |
| Pitchfork | 10/10 |
| Q | |
| Rock Hard | 10/10 |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
| Sputnikmusic | |
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (1984–2023)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
38
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (1984–2023)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
49
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (1984–2023)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peakposition
116
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (1984–2023)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peakposition
145
Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)
Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)
Chart (1984–2023)
Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen Soundscan)
Peakposition
33
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1984–2023)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
20
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (1984–2023)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
9
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (1984–2023)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
126
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (1984–2023)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
21
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Chart (1984–2023)
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)
Peakposition
39
Irish Albums (IRMA)
Irish Albums (IRMA)
Chart (1984–2023)
Irish Albums (IRMA)
Peakposition
55
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Chart (1984–2023)
Italian Albums (FIMI)
Peakposition
66
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1984–2023)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
99
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1984–2023)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
32
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (1984–2023)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
40
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Chart (1984–2023)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Peakposition
4
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Chart (1984–2023)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Peakposition
35
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Chart (1984–2023)
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)
Peakposition
36
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1984–2023)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
31
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (1984–2023)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
35
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1984–2023)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
87
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1984–2023)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
48
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
Chart (1984–2023)
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
10
| Chart (1984–2023) | Peakposition |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) | 38 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) | 49 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) | 116 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) | 145 |
| Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen Soundscan) | 33 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 20 |
| Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) | 9 |
| French Albums (SNEP) | 126 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 21 |
| Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) | 39 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA) | 55 |
| Italian Albums (FIMI) | 66 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 99 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 32 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) | 40 |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV) | 4 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) | 35 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) | 36 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 31 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) | 35 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 87 |
| US Billboard 200 | 48 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) | 10 |
· Charts › Year-end charts
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Chart (2020)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Position
53
Chart (2021)
Chart (2021)
Chart (2020)
Chart (2021)
Position
Position
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Chart (2020)
Polish Albums (ZPAV)
Position
59
| Chart (2020) | Position |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV) | 53 |
| Chart (2021) | Position |
| Polish Albums (ZPAV) | 59 |
· Certifications
Australia (ARIA)
Australia (ARIA)
Region
Australia (ARIA)
Certification
3× Platinum
Certified units/sales
210,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Region
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)
Certification
2× Platinum
Certified units/sales
40,000‡
Germany (BVMI)
Germany (BVMI)
Region
Germany (BVMI)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
500,000‡
Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009
Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009
Region
Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
25,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)
Poland (ZPAV)
Region
Poland (ZPAV)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
20,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Platinum
Certified units/sales
300,000‡
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
7× Platinum
Certified units/sales
7,000,000
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 3× Platinum | 210,000‡ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 100,000^ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 2× Platinum | 40,000‡ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 500,000‡ |
| Italy (FIMI) sales since 2009 | Gold | 25,000‡ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Platinum | 20,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 300,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000 |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
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- Ride the Lightning
- "Ride The Lightning"https://metallica.com/releases/albums/4210/ride-the-lightning
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- Producer Flemming Rasmussen posits that either Cliff Burton or Kirk Hammett was mouthing the "Die" chants and not actual