Metallica's 'Ride The Lightning' elevated heaviness to previously unforeseen heights and established the group as visionaries, when it was released in 1984.

Exploring death and mortality from myriad points of view – nuclear war on "Fight Fire with Fire," on-field battle on "For Whom the Bell Tolls," electric-chair execution on the title track, drowning on "Trapped Under Ice," suicide on the classic "Fade to Black" – the thrash masterwork retains a level of intelligence and mature perspective that compliment the band's refined assault and toughened hooks.

Rapid-fire guitar riffs, roaring solos, James Hetfield's trademark vocal growl, Ulrich's sparse fills, and Cliff Burton's lead-guitar-style bass lines form an impenetrable wall of sound, power, and strength.

'Ride the Lightning' showed metal could be aggressive, energetic, fast or slow, melodic, and inarguably artistic at once. It has since sold more than 6 million copies in the U.S. alone and remains a musical touchstone.