10 Albums That Defined The 80s

Metallica had made a name for themselves as being one of the first bands to play what is now known as thrash metal. Their debut Kill 'Em All set them up as one of the greatest underground metal bands. When it came to Ride the Lightning, the band ended up growing more dynamic and musically complex.

Many songs on here toy with different musical ideas. "Fade to Black" is the band's first stunning ballad and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" chugs along like a typical hard rock song, with one of the greatest bass lines ever written. The record also closes with the epic instrumental "The Call of Ktulu," which flirts with more sophisticated arrangements.

But with all that experimentation, this album will keep the metal fans banging their heads for days on end. The opener "Fight Fire With Fire" will tear your head off, while "Creeping Death" trudges through its brutal riffs before leading into the incessant chant of "Die!" in the song's climax. It's no wonder that almost half of this record remains a staple in the band's live catalog to this day.