Readers' Poll: The Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time

Metallica's second LP proved to the world they weren't just a flash in the pan. They also proved they could write killer riffs without original guitarist Dave Mustaine, even if the Megadeth frontman does get credit on the title track and the instrumental "The Call of Ktulu." Songs like "For Whom the Bells Toll" and "Creeping Death" have become thrash metal standards, but it was "Fade to Black" that got the most attention. It's a ballad about suicide, and a small minority saw it as a sell-out move. It would not be the last time that Metallica dealt with fans who felt the band veered off course. Coming a few years before Metallica gained real mainstream popularity, Ride the Lightning was a crucial step forward in their evolution.