98 - Metallica Fade to Black 1984

Metallica: James Hetfield (vocals, guitar); Kirk Hammett (guitar); Cliff Burton (bass); Lars Ulrich (drums). Metallica turned the metal world on its ear with their debut album, KILL 'EM ALL, and then blew its mind with the follow-up, RIDE THE LIGHTNING, recorded at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark in Spring 1984. The riffs and arrangements are more intricate, the lyrics are more intelligent and biting and James Hetfield's growl is meaner. "Fade To Black" is a ballad that builds to an instrumental coda featuring the guitar melodies that the band would later base their sound around. It's also Hetfield's first attempt at singing in tune.