10 Best Metallica Songs
1. Fade To Black - Ride The Lightning (1984)
‘Fade to Black’ was Metallica’s first ballad. Inspired by feelings of depression, the song has a dark overtone that remains prevalent through both the lyrics and the instrumental.
The blend of the acoustic and electric guitar during the opening of the track makes for a wonderful dynamic that’s sombre as well as dramatic, and the guitar lick that plays before and during the verses is one of the sweetest melodies the band has ever come up with.
Structurally, the second half of the song ups the aggression and the complexity. Though such a change has become a common characteristic in other Metallica ballads (such as ‘One’ and ‘The Day That Never Comes’), ‘Fade to Black’ was the first track from the band to utilise this type of song structure.
Within this second half comes the crowning jewel of ‘Fade to Black’ - Hammett’s guitar solo. Melodic and emotive in equal measure, this two-minute masterpiece is a staggering piece of musicianship.
The creation of 'Fade to Black' would have been a great achievement at any point in Metallica's career, but the fact that the band were all in their early twenties when this song was written and recorded makes it even more impressive.
Can You Name The Metal Band From The Lyric?
