Metallica’s ‘Load’ and ‘Reload’ Are Better Than You Think
Metallica released Reload on November 18, 1997, a year and a few months after their Load album was released to some criticism from both fans and critics. It was a strange time for Metallica, as they were trying to maintain their power in the metal world while appeasing both underground metal fans and those who discovered them on the very commercial-sounding Black Album.
Around that time, Metallica also headlined Lollapalooza 1996, a festival showcasing alternative bands, such as Jane’s Addiction, Alice in Chains and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Grunge and alternative music was obviously booming in the ’90s, and heavy metal, well, was out. Critics saw these albums as Metallica’s attempt to fit into the new, “alternative” music culture and stray from their heavy metal roots.
Because of this kind of awkward time in Metallica’s lineage, people often dismiss both both albums as Metallica’s weaker moments. But, don’t neglect these albums. There’s plenty of hard rock energy and bliss on here, if you look for it.
Differences Between Load and Reload
Metallica originally recorded the songs for Load and Reload at the same time, so you might think they sound the same, but they really don’t. Load has a blues-rock feel coupled with straight-ahead metal, while Reload offers some more experimental tracks and Southern rock. The commonality is that both were quite different from Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All thrash roots and their mainstream Black Album, leading to some letdown from fans.
While fans thought the songs on Reload probably just weren’t good enough to make the Load album, the guys claimed that wasn’t the case.
“People will instantly hear that all of these songs were written and developed at the same time as the stuff you heard on Load last year,” drummer Lars Ulrich admitted in a 1997 interview on Channel [V]’s Speakeasy. “[However the songs haven’t] been lying around and we’re coming back to it. It’s stuff we knew we wanted to develop … It’s a double album spread out over two separate records, spread out over a year and a half.”
James Hetfield added, “I think these songs are more extreme…when we started recording Load, we went initially for the easier-to-record songs…then we ran out of time. These songs are kind of more wild, slower, heavier, faster.”
Load vs. Reload
So, which album is better, Load or Reload? Of course, it all boils down to your personal taste.
Load is a simple, bread-and-butter rock and metal album with a blues feel. “King Nothing” and “The Outlaw Torn” are classics off this one, and they definitely deserve to be recognized and praised among Metallica’s catalog.
Reload, personally, I like a bit better, because it just feels more like Metallica. While some of the riffing seems a bit repetitive, there’s nothing like pumping “Fuel” out of your stereo (or phone) and rocking it at maximum volume. So, pick your poison.
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