Metallica

Released: July 27, 1984

Songwriter: Dave Mustaine Cliff Burton Lars Ulrich James Hetfield

Producer: Metallica Flemming Rasmussen

[Verse 1]
Guilty as charged, but dammit, it ain't right
There's someone else controlling me
Death in the air, strapped in the electric chair
This can't be happening to me

[Pre-Chorus]
Who made you God to say
"I'll take your life from you?"

[Chorus]
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame

[Verse 2]
Wait for the sign to flick the switch of death
It's the beginning of the end
Sweat, chilling cold, as I watch death unfold
Consciousness, my only friend

[Pre-Chorus]
My fingers grip with fear
What am I doing here?

[Chorus]
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame

[Bridge]
Someone help me
Oh please, God, help me
They're trying to take it all away
I don't want to die

[Guitar Solo]

[Bridge]
Someone help me
Oh please, God, help me
They're trying to take it all away
I don't want to die

[Verse 3]
Time moving slow, the minutes seem like hours
The final curtain call I see
How true is this? Just get it over with
If this is true, just let it be

[Pre-Chorus]
Wakened by a horrid scream
Freed from this frightening dream

[Chorus]
Flash before my eyes
Now it's time to die
Burning in my brain
I can feel the flame

Like Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden before, Metallica has managed to transcend the genre from which it was originated. To their metal fanbase they are considered one of the Big Four bands of thrash metal, alongside Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer; however Metallica is also one of the most commercially successful bands in all of rock music, having sold 110 million records including the 16x platinum Metallica, which stands as both the highest selling metal album of all time and most successful album of the past 25 years.

Metallica was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles after drummer Lars Ulrich placed an advert in the classifieds newspaper The Recycler, which was answered by singer/rhythm guitarist James Hetfield. They were soon joined by lead guitarist Dave Mustaine, who later formed Megadeth after being kicked out of the band because of his substance and alchohol abuse, and bassist Ron McGovney, a childhood friend of Hetfield. These two early members were replaced with Cliff Burton (who relocated the band to San Francisco) and ex-Exodus lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett to form the band’s classic line-up.

The band released three albums, 1983’s Kill ‘Em All, 1984’s Ride The Lightning and 1986’s Master of Puppets before the tragic and untimely death of Cliff Burton on September 27th, 1986.

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Ride the Lightning

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