Ride the Lightning

Metallica recorded their second studio album, Ride the Lightning, in Copenhagen at Sweet Silence Studios with Producer Flemming Rasmussen, February and March 1984. The band chose Rasmussen and Sweet Silence because they were impressed with Rasmussen's work on Rainbow's Difficult to Cure. Lars Ulrich would later say, "Flemming was completely in tune to what we were doing. He was recording us with lots of ambiance, and we wanted heavy sounds and big drums."

Despite arriving in Denmark with little money and only their guitars (almost all the band's equipment was stolen in January), Ride the Lightning was released on Megaforce Records July 27, 1984.

IMAGES:

Lars Ulrich holds a copy of Ride the Lightning, 1984. From the Collection of Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich holds a record plaque for Ride the Lightning, circa 1985. From the Collection of Lars Ulrich

Metallica in performance, Ride the Lightning Tour, circa 1985. From the Collection of Lars Ulrich

James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, and Kirk Hammett attend an in-store signing event in support of Ride the Lightning, 1985. From the Collection of James Hetfield

All Area Access laminate pass from Coast to Coast in Baltimore, Maryland, January 13, 1985, during the Ride the Lightning tour. Other acts included W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint. From the Collection of James Hetfield

James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Cliff Burton, and Kirk Hammett are stacked in the doorway of the Intrepid Aircraft Carrier, New York, January 1985. The band was on the Ride the Lightning tour with guests W.A.S.P. and Armored Saint. Photo: Ross Halfin. From the Collection of James Hetfield