--- product_id: 26580468 title: "Ride The Lightning" price: "A$728" currency: AUD in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/26580468-ride-the-lightning store_origin: AU region: Australia --- # Ride The Lightning **Price:** A$728 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Ride The Lightning - **How much does it cost?** A$728 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/26580468-ride-the-lightning) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Deluxe box including four vinyl LPs, five CDs, A DVD, 64 page book, a Metallica patch and more. Digitally remastered edition of the second studio album by Metallica, originally released in 1984. The album was recorded in three weeks with producer Flemming Rasmussen at the Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The artwork, based on a concept by the band, depicts an electric chair in the midst of a thunderstorm. The title was taken from a passage in Stephen King's novel The Stand. Although rooted in the thrash metal genre, the album showcased the band's musical maturity and lyrical sophistication. This was partly because bassist Cliff Burton introduced the basics of music theory to the rest of the band and had more input in the songwriting. Instead of relying strictly on fast tempos as on Kill 'Em All, Metallica broadened it's approach by employing acoustic guitars, extended instrumentals, and more complex harmonies. Review: The Ultimate Ride The Lightening - Ride The Lightning was the first album from Metallica that I had the pleasure of hearing. It was released during the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. At the time we were listening to Motley Crue, Ratt, Judas Priest and Scorpions (hadn’t fully embraced Iron Maiden yet, young fool that I was) and in getting ready for the senior year in high school somewhat dismissed the significance of this album. It wouldn’t actually be until Master of Puppets was released (while I was in college) that I would go back and fully relive RTL and appreciate it for what it was. It was also around that time (1986) that I would discover Kill ‘Em All – an album (along with RTL) that me and my friends absolutely wore out on Thursday and Friday nights in our dorm room. Although Metallica’s first two albums were a constant staple of my metal listening for nearly 4 years (never forget air-drumming to “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Ride The Lightning” – can’t count how many dorm-room trash cans I destroyed thanks to Metallica) I can honestly say KEA, and to a lesser extent RTL, have not been a huge part of my metal regimen for nearly two decades. Needless to say, when I discovered the Deluxe Remastered box sets (about two months ago – what is it about me always being late to the Metallica party?) I didn’t hesitate to fork out the high dollar amount to obtain these fan-oriented collections. The Box See my review of the KEA set for a detailed description but suffice it to say that the construction and presentation of these sets is quite exceptional. The biggest difference between the KEA and RTL set is that this one contains a cut-out for a lyric diary, and there are 3 posters included as well. The Vinyl These records are exceptional. Metallica apparently chose not to reissue the original releases in wide groove, 2 LP format, but they still sound great (even at 33RPM). There is the single sheet insert with lyrics and credits and the static free sleeve. The weight on the outer jacket is perfect, and the new Blackened label on these weighty records also looks great along with the enhanced artwork (best Metallica cover ever!). The live LPs (Palladium, March, 1985) sound excellent as well. To think this was recorded two months before I graduated from high school … and I wasn’t there! The treble/bass balance is perfect and the crowd noise just right for the setting. There is very little low end distortion and very little surface noise. It’s a great set list (is this the earliest we are hearing “Am I Evil” inserted into the set list?) – a nice 50/50 mix of KEA/RTL songs. Of course, the EP “Creeping Death” picture disc may be worth the price of this set alone, especially with the “B” side “Am I Evil” and “Blitzkrieg” tandem. The Book As most know by now, the remastered LP and CD can be purchased separately so the real value in the box set is with the live LPs, the picture disc and the hard cover ear book which is filled with tons of great stories, information and pictures. The quality of the book cover, design and content is first rate. I would have liked to have seen a page or two devoted to the equipment/instruments each member used during the era, but otherwise there is a plethora of stuff to peruse. Spend some time in the details. Yeah, the pictures and stories from industry, media and friends is interesting, but looking at the details of what is presented is really where the treasure lies – the set lists, the posters, the reviews, interviews and “top” lists from the era. Love the legal story from Paterno (not exactly a humble guy) about how the band needed a label with money to take things to the next level. I’ve always been amazed at how fast Metallica made their charge to the forefront of aggressive metal at the time, both musically and commercially. CD 1 (Original Remastered) What else can be said about one of the greatest metal albums of all time? These songs hold up so well over time and they have been faithfully treated on this reissue. It is not over compressed, and although it doesn’t sound as good as the vinyl version, it is definitely a worthy version all fans will want to check out. The digi double gate-fold packaging with lyric book is faithful to the original but yet it seems the artwork/colors are more brilliant (enhanced). CD 2 (Interviews) (63:50) Compared to the Metal Forces Magazine interview from the KEA box set (barely discernable due to background noise) these interviews are much cleaner. It is amazing to listen to how much Lars has changed (matured?) in less than a year’s time between early 1984 and late 1984. Hard to believe they were only on Megaforce one and a half years before moving on to bigger things (Elektra). I love the discussion about “boot-leg” double live LPs and Lars doesn’t know anything about that … and then now we have those very recordings on vinyl in this box set. Fans of the 49ers will love the Joe Montana references during the Kirk/Cliff interview. It is interesting, also, to hear their interpretation of other bands’ music at the time. CD 3 (Demos) (69:32) The “rough” mixes are pretty good but the “garage” mixes are pretty rough. These tracks provide great insight into early Metallica, but don’t expect anything you will jam/play for your friends. I do like the rhythm guitar cuts of “Blitzkrieg” and “Am I Evil” which feature that “wall of guitars” front Metallica perfected. CD 4 (San Francisco, March 1985) (55:10) This is a great set list (Kabuki Theater) and parallels the vinyl live Palladium set list (a few more songs on this tape) from that show 5 days prior in that it’s a 50/50 mix of KEA and RTL. I love the fade-in to “Fight Fire With Fire.” The audio quality is not quite as good as the Palladium show and at times the guitars sound a bit out of tune. The energy is good, though, and its worth having this show on CD. CD 5 (London, December, 1984) (60:39) Aside from the tape cut on the first track, this is a surprisingly well-balanced boot-leg recording from the Lyceum Theatre with a somewhat odd lack of crowd noise. This is quite noticeable during the call and response pre “Seek and Destroy” when James keeps calling out louder and louder with this relatively silent response coming through the speakers – kind of eerie. With only 3 songs from RTL it is surprising to see this disc included in this set as opposed to the KEA box. CD 6 (Castle Donington, August, 1985) (46:21) This is another 50/50 mix (KEA/RTL) set list but with a much more acidic, raw “echo in the tin can” bootleg sound. I think it is really interesting how different all of these live recordings present in terms of both performance and sound quality. This is one of the few shows that didn’t include Burton’s bass solo, although his bass is featured on the intro to “For Whom The Bell Tolls.” I love the pace on this show, though, as Lars is really pushing the tempo here and its cool how the transitions between songs flow really well, like how “The Four Horsemen” transitions right into “Fade to Black.” It’s too bad the sound quality isn’t better here as the band was really “spot-on” during this performance. DVD The band was really clicking better live by 1985. The set from the Metal Hammer festival is extensive – great set list – but the sound quality is very bootleg with a muffled bass and lots of distortion, but at least there is sound for the entire set (unlike the KEA DVD). My favorite part of the DVD would have to be the 3 tracks from Oakland stadium in August, 1985. Not only is the sound quality much better, but I love the “stage left” bootleg camera perspective that features perhaps one of the best metal bassists of all time (R.I.P.). The interview that follows shows how uncomfortable James (drinking a beer - priceless) always was in front of the camera and how Lars never failed to render an opinion about anything, and how Metallica (at the time) truly believed they were totally different from any young metal band at the time. The only negative that was starting to become apparent was that in their quest to be a “natural” metal band, they were starting to define themselves too much as the band that wasn’t all about image and commercialism, and in doing so, they started to develop a cliché’ “anti-mainstream metal” attitude that was somewhat cliché in its own way. Overall, this is an exceptional box set that will appeal to both collectors and fans alike. There is enough new content here to make this worth the cost and the quality of the content and presentation is excellent. Clearly, the hard-cover book and the live LPs and picture disc are the nuggets here, but the live CDs and DVD, and even the lyric book, are special in the rawness/simplicity of their quality. Review: I can feel the flame. - This is my favorite Metallica album, so this was a no brainer for me. I was very happy when I received these 2 (I got Kill Em All too) deluxe sets in the mail. The packaging is sturdy, the artwork is simple and looks good and nothing feels cheap. The included book of photos and essays from people there in the beginning is amazing. As for the musical content, if you love early live Metallica then you will love this. Non-stop balls to the wall. The live DVD included is great as well. If you're a die-hard Metallica fan, and can afford the $135 price tag, I highly recommend both sets. The actual album remaster sounds fantastic too, breathes a whole new life into my favorite Metallica album. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B01BUX7YPO | | Best Sellers Rank | #110,063 in CDs & Vinyl ( See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl ) #3,206 in Hard Rock (CDs & Vinyl) #10,532 in Metal | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (402) | | Date First Available | February 17, 2016 | | Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No | | Item model number | 7800506 | | Label | Universal Uk | | Manufacturer | Universal Uk | | Number of discs | 11 | | Original Release Date | 2016 | | Product Dimensions | 150.39 x 137.8 x 60 inches; 8.65 Pounds | ## Images ![Ride The Lightning - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71pJytuIcxL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Ultimate Ride The Lightening *by J***K on October 20, 2017* Ride The Lightning was the first album from Metallica that I had the pleasure of hearing. It was released during the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. At the time we were listening to Motley Crue, Ratt, Judas Priest and Scorpions (hadn’t fully embraced Iron Maiden yet, young fool that I was) and in getting ready for the senior year in high school somewhat dismissed the significance of this album. It wouldn’t actually be until Master of Puppets was released (while I was in college) that I would go back and fully relive RTL and appreciate it for what it was. It was also around that time (1986) that I would discover Kill ‘Em All – an album (along with RTL) that me and my friends absolutely wore out on Thursday and Friday nights in our dorm room. Although Metallica’s first two albums were a constant staple of my metal listening for nearly 4 years (never forget air-drumming to “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Ride The Lightning” – can’t count how many dorm-room trash cans I destroyed thanks to Metallica) I can honestly say KEA, and to a lesser extent RTL, have not been a huge part of my metal regimen for nearly two decades. Needless to say, when I discovered the Deluxe Remastered box sets (about two months ago – what is it about me always being late to the Metallica party?) I didn’t hesitate to fork out the high dollar amount to obtain these fan-oriented collections. The Box See my review of the KEA set for a detailed description but suffice it to say that the construction and presentation of these sets is quite exceptional. The biggest difference between the KEA and RTL set is that this one contains a cut-out for a lyric diary, and there are 3 posters included as well. The Vinyl These records are exceptional. Metallica apparently chose not to reissue the original releases in wide groove, 2 LP format, but they still sound great (even at 33RPM). There is the single sheet insert with lyrics and credits and the static free sleeve. The weight on the outer jacket is perfect, and the new Blackened label on these weighty records also looks great along with the enhanced artwork (best Metallica cover ever!). The live LPs (Palladium, March, 1985) sound excellent as well. To think this was recorded two months before I graduated from high school … and I wasn’t there! The treble/bass balance is perfect and the crowd noise just right for the setting. There is very little low end distortion and very little surface noise. It’s a great set list (is this the earliest we are hearing “Am I Evil” inserted into the set list?) – a nice 50/50 mix of KEA/RTL songs. Of course, the EP “Creeping Death” picture disc may be worth the price of this set alone, especially with the “B” side “Am I Evil” and “Blitzkrieg” tandem. The Book As most know by now, the remastered LP and CD can be purchased separately so the real value in the box set is with the live LPs, the picture disc and the hard cover ear book which is filled with tons of great stories, information and pictures. The quality of the book cover, design and content is first rate. I would have liked to have seen a page or two devoted to the equipment/instruments each member used during the era, but otherwise there is a plethora of stuff to peruse. Spend some time in the details. Yeah, the pictures and stories from industry, media and friends is interesting, but looking at the details of what is presented is really where the treasure lies – the set lists, the posters, the reviews, interviews and “top” lists from the era. Love the legal story from Paterno (not exactly a humble guy) about how the band needed a label with money to take things to the next level. I’ve always been amazed at how fast Metallica made their charge to the forefront of aggressive metal at the time, both musically and commercially. CD 1 (Original Remastered) What else can be said about one of the greatest metal albums of all time? These songs hold up so well over time and they have been faithfully treated on this reissue. It is not over compressed, and although it doesn’t sound as good as the vinyl version, it is definitely a worthy version all fans will want to check out. The digi double gate-fold packaging with lyric book is faithful to the original but yet it seems the artwork/colors are more brilliant (enhanced). CD 2 (Interviews) (63:50) Compared to the Metal Forces Magazine interview from the KEA box set (barely discernable due to background noise) these interviews are much cleaner. It is amazing to listen to how much Lars has changed (matured?) in less than a year’s time between early 1984 and late 1984. Hard to believe they were only on Megaforce one and a half years before moving on to bigger things (Elektra). I love the discussion about “boot-leg” double live LPs and Lars doesn’t know anything about that … and then now we have those very recordings on vinyl in this box set. Fans of the 49ers will love the Joe Montana references during the Kirk/Cliff interview. It is interesting, also, to hear their interpretation of other bands’ music at the time. CD 3 (Demos) (69:32) The “rough” mixes are pretty good but the “garage” mixes are pretty rough. These tracks provide great insight into early Metallica, but don’t expect anything you will jam/play for your friends. I do like the rhythm guitar cuts of “Blitzkrieg” and “Am I Evil” which feature that “wall of guitars” front Metallica perfected. CD 4 (San Francisco, March 1985) (55:10) This is a great set list (Kabuki Theater) and parallels the vinyl live Palladium set list (a few more songs on this tape) from that show 5 days prior in that it’s a 50/50 mix of KEA and RTL. I love the fade-in to “Fight Fire With Fire.” The audio quality is not quite as good as the Palladium show and at times the guitars sound a bit out of tune. The energy is good, though, and its worth having this show on CD. CD 5 (London, December, 1984) (60:39) Aside from the tape cut on the first track, this is a surprisingly well-balanced boot-leg recording from the Lyceum Theatre with a somewhat odd lack of crowd noise. This is quite noticeable during the call and response pre “Seek and Destroy” when James keeps calling out louder and louder with this relatively silent response coming through the speakers – kind of eerie. With only 3 songs from RTL it is surprising to see this disc included in this set as opposed to the KEA box. CD 6 (Castle Donington, August, 1985) (46:21) This is another 50/50 mix (KEA/RTL) set list but with a much more acidic, raw “echo in the tin can” bootleg sound. I think it is really interesting how different all of these live recordings present in terms of both performance and sound quality. This is one of the few shows that didn’t include Burton’s bass solo, although his bass is featured on the intro to “For Whom The Bell Tolls.” I love the pace on this show, though, as Lars is really pushing the tempo here and its cool how the transitions between songs flow really well, like how “The Four Horsemen” transitions right into “Fade to Black.” It’s too bad the sound quality isn’t better here as the band was really “spot-on” during this performance. DVD The band was really clicking better live by 1985. The set from the Metal Hammer festival is extensive – great set list – but the sound quality is very bootleg with a muffled bass and lots of distortion, but at least there is sound for the entire set (unlike the KEA DVD). My favorite part of the DVD would have to be the 3 tracks from Oakland stadium in August, 1985. Not only is the sound quality much better, but I love the “stage left” bootleg camera perspective that features perhaps one of the best metal bassists of all time (R.I.P.). The interview that follows shows how uncomfortable James (drinking a beer - priceless) always was in front of the camera and how Lars never failed to render an opinion about anything, and how Metallica (at the time) truly believed they were totally different from any young metal band at the time. The only negative that was starting to become apparent was that in their quest to be a “natural” metal band, they were starting to define themselves too much as the band that wasn’t all about image and commercialism, and in doing so, they started to develop a cliché’ “anti-mainstream metal” attitude that was somewhat cliché in its own way. Overall, this is an exceptional box set that will appeal to both collectors and fans alike. There is enough new content here to make this worth the cost and the quality of the content and presentation is excellent. Clearly, the hard-cover book and the live LPs and picture disc are the nuggets here, but the live CDs and DVD, and even the lyric book, are special in the rawness/simplicity of their quality. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I can feel the flame. *by J***R on May 5, 2016* This is my favorite Metallica album, so this was a no brainer for me. I was very happy when I received these 2 (I got Kill Em All too) deluxe sets in the mail. The packaging is sturdy, the artwork is simple and looks good and nothing feels cheap. The included book of photos and essays from people there in the beginning is amazing. As for the musical content, if you love early live Metallica then you will love this. Non-stop balls to the wall. The live DVD included is great as well. If you're a die-hard Metallica fan, and can afford the $135 price tag, I highly recommend both sets. The actual album remaster sounds fantastic too, breathes a whole new life into my favorite Metallica album. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Worth it. *by A***W on May 8, 2016* Amazing set. The included material really puts you back into this time in the bands history. The posters are fun and the lyric book is a nice touch. Everything sounds great. If you were expecting a complete retooling of the albums sound you may be dissapointed. It mostly sounds a little louder and they cleaned it up a bit. To me they did a good job with modernizing it a touch without losing the feel of the original recording. This set looks amazing on your shelf and is well worth the price for Metallica collectors. ## Frequently Bought Together - Ride The Lightning Remastered Deluxe - Kill Em All - Metallica Deluxe --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/26580468-ride-the-lightning](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/26580468-ride-the-lightning) --- *Product available on Desertcart Australia* *Store origin: AU* *Last updated: 2026-04-22*