Trapped Under Ice

Album: Ride The Lightning (1984)
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Songfacts®:

  • This song describes someone who is trapped underneath a layer of ice, desperately trying to live but nobody can hear his screams. The lyrics are a metaphor for the pain and suffering the subject feels, possibly a result of profound loneliness or alienation. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Cvas - Ridgefield, CT
  • Along with the core Metallica songwriting duo of James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, "Trapped Under Ice" was written by their lead guitarist, Kirk Hammett. The riff is a variation on a song he worked on with his former band, Exodus, called "Impaler."
  • The song is part of Metallica's second album, Ride The Lightning. They bootstrapped their debut album, Kill 'Em All, in a small studio in Rochester, New York. For Ride The Lightning they were better off financially, but still strapped. They went to Denmark to make the album with producer Flemming Rasmussen. It was a good pairing; Rasmussen introduced them to new techniques, and there was a clear musical progression from their first album. He stayed on board for their next album, Master Of Puppets, which made Metallica kings of the metal universe.

Comments: 11

  • Onur from IstanbulThis song was also played fully in 2010 in Istanbul, live by Metallica. So it is definitely at least five times played as of 2012 ????
  • Zander from Los AngelesNot very Metallica, but still underrated.
  • Zero from Nowhere, NjDon San Antonio, you're extremely lucky. They only played this song in its entirety 4 times, 3 times during the Eighties and one time at the orion festival earlier this year (July 2012) in Atlantic City when they played "Ride The Lighting" in it's entirety. Oh how I regret being born in 1985, if I could go back in time to the eighties I'd see them live at least once on every tour.
  • Dylan from Euclid, Ohawsome choras, but not as goods as creeping death's
  • Aki from Sunrise, FlThese lyrics could also pretty accurately describe depersonalization disorder.
  • Tyler from Apple Valley, Caone of the most rocking choruses in any Metallica song: "Freezing... Can't move at all!" love it
  • John from Portland, OrWhen I heard the lyrics, it made me think of Dante's description of hell, and that the lowest ring of hell was a lake of ice that Satan was trapped in. Look up Dante's Divine Comedy. It's not very funny though.
  • Jeremy from Peoria, IlActually, in an interview back in the early 90's James Hatfield stated that this song was about not getting any radio play. Heavy Metal, was often thought to be Satanic music during the 80's. Metallica could not get their music out to the public in the way they wanted to. If left the feeling of being "trapped under ice." They were delegated to MTV and its Headbangers Ball. It wasn't until Hard Rock (GNR, Poison, Warrant) became popular around 1987-88, that radio stations started to play more socially unexeptable music. Then with the release of And Justice For All, Metallica was able to break through that barrier and became a household name. Hard to believe that they have been playing for the better part of three decades now.
  • Austin from Bristow, VaGreat song off a great album. long live Metallica
  • Don from San Antonio, TxHy Shane...man, I've been trying to log in for WEEKS on this thing! Anyway, yeah they played it on the Ride the Lightning tour, I saw it in Hollywood at the Palladium with Adam Bomb & Armoured(sp?)Saint. They played every song from both albums EXCEPT "Escape". Maybe that's the one you were thinking of? I think it was 1985, it possibly could have been 1984. It was a crazy and an extremely violent show. I finally made it out of the kill pit and around to the side, where I had a clear view of Cliff! He played "Anastesia" (sorry about my spelling again) behind his head! I think he also took a bottle to the head, made a crazy face and just kept right on playing. I saw that happen to Black Flag and they stopped their show and left.
    BUT YES I remember "Trapped under Ice" being a real high point of that show. They also started with "Fight Fire" and those two songs just KILLED. It was the first time I saw a band play that fast in person and I was BLOWN AWAY - not just because it was fast, but it was STRONG and LOUD. They were very good at what they did. I still think about it to this day. I just bought a white flying V in fact!
  • Shane from Tipperary, Irelandas far as i know they have never played this song live
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