In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZHost of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program “Wired in the Empire”, LAMB OF GOD Frontman Randy Blythe was asked which METALLICA Album he thinks is better, “Ride The Lightning” or “Master of Puppets”. He replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “‘Ride the Lightning’ all day. I think ‘Master of Puppets’ overall it sounds better as a record, and they were better players back then. But I think ‘Ride the Lightning’ is wilder, especially the opening track, “Fighting fire with fire”what I did with the Dynamo Festival (in the Netherlands), I think it was with Craig (Locicero) out of FORBIDDEN and a couple of other guys from the (San Francisco) Bay Area. He did the Bay Area Thrash Attack thing. It’s so aggressive, ‘Ride the Lightning’; it is just so incredibly aggressive and sometimes breakneck, while I think maybe ‘Master of Puppets’ is — it’s kind of a classic album, more rounded, I think, but as far as my favorite album goes, it’s definitely ‘Ride the Lightning’. And as far as aggressive, straight-ahead thrash, I think it’s more aggressive, dude. I just love it. I love that album to this day.”
He continued: “For me it’s like the difference between the first BAD BRAIN Record that ROIR Cassette and “Me against me”. “Me against me” sounds better, it is better mixed, they were already better musicians back then, but the first BAD BRAIN Album is so fast and wild… Ironically, I like “Me against me” better. I don’t know. It’s kind of the opposite thing. But it’s kind of the same. I just like the rawness of ‘Ride the Lightning’. And there is no denying it.”
Already in March 2021 Blythe was asked by I Ask No One With Kevin Re if he ever took advice from METALLICA‘S James Hetfield when the two bands toured together a decade and a half ago. He replied: “James is a cool guy. I got sober at a METALICA Tour — I got sober on a METALLICA Tour in Australia. And I’m just saying that James Hetfield helped me a lot. Actually four or five guys on METALLICAThe crew was sober. Three of us actually got sober on that tour and are still sober today. And that was over 10 years ago.
“James is a good guy, man,” he repeated. “The last time I James was in Oakland when we COC out, and James appeared and played a song with COC He had been there for a while. He had been driving a Tesla. He had this damn super fast… He’s a car nut. We were backstage at this place in Oakland and I was like, “Wow! That’s a damn expensive looking car. I wonder whose car that is.” And then someone said, “Oh, that’s James‘s.’ And I just thought, ‘Sure.’ He’s a total car freak.
“He’s a good guy, man – a really good guy with a really good heart.” Blythe added: “I love him to death.”
Cool continued to praise Hetfield‘s bandmates and said: “All the guys in METALLICA were just absolutely wonderful to us – absolutely wonderful. People then talk (crap) about their later music or whatever. And then they say: “Did you write? ‘Master of Puppets’‘No, you didn’t. Shut up.’ You know what I mean? Or, ‘Have you written any classic records that will go down in rock’n’roll history? No, you didn’t. They did. So shut up.’
“METALLICA doesn’t have to take anyone as an opening act,” he continued. “Their shows are sold out before the opening acts are announced. They don’t have to do that. They take bands that they want to give a chance. And you definitely play in front of a METALLICA audience when you (open for them), so you have to be aware of that. These people are there to see METALLICAso you better bring your damn A-game. But they’re damn cool. And it’s not like when you’re backstage and you’re like, “Oh, METALLICA is over there. Don’t look at them,’ whatever. It’s like you see them – they’re just damn normal people.”
