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Rating: THE REVIEW
“Where do I take this pain of mine / I run but it stays right by my side….. There's things inside that scream and shout / And the pain still aches me…Just like a curse, just like a stray / You feed it once and now it stays.” (Until it sleeps)
The album of betrayal, sin, and the end of a legend.
Summer 1996: for five years Metallica hasn't recorded a studio album. They say they want to rest because they've had enough of concerts, shows, festivals, and exhausting tours for the moment. During these fateful five years, the band from Frisco undergoes the worst of mutations, changing and unsettling their toy.
On June 3rd of the same year, "Load" arrives in stores. The impact on the public is shocking: a hard rock album drenched in blues, the new logo, the haircuts, the new look of the quartet, now more similar to gangsters than metal musicians. The era of the true Metallica was over!
Every fan, tied to the traditions of a past that no longer existed, was shocked by this new reality unanimously called commercialization.
No one, and I repeat no one, among the defenders has ever spoken words of praise towards Metallica after this album.
We need to be objective: "Load" is not worthy of the name Metallica, it is not worthy of belonging to the discography of the greatest metal band ever.
But objectivity lies precisely in this. You can't point the finger at this album for the "simple" fact of not being metal. To be kind, we call it evolution. An experiment, a change of course dictated not only by money but by the drummer-manager's new musical loves (do Oasis ring a bell?) and his "faithful" producer Bob Rock.
The tracks contain little of their famous heavy metal, moving more towards hard rock, blues, and a very easy metal.
But, as I said before, one must be objective through and through: there are many tracks to discard, the cover of blood and semen is perhaps a rather bizarre idea, but there is something good. The lyrics above all: materialism, anger, instinct. Meaningful and realistic content at the same time.
“..Son, your life's an open book / Don't close it 'fore its done / The brightest flame burns quickest..” (Mama Said)
Some songs also deserve praise.
"Until it sleeps" is a heterogeneous song, encapsulating anger, sadness, and the tendency to hate.
The complexity of "Bleeding Me" is envied: a convoluted track that nevertheless manages to best express the full strength of the band, with James above all. He in particular offers something extraordinary now that, having set aside "the multiple tracks," his voice comes warm and determined straight to the heart. The acoustic guitars, the country style, and his voice make "Mama said" a special and emotional song.
The fast and energetic rock of "Wasting My Hate" is not displeasing either. The rest is little and/or nothing.
A few pretty solos from Kirk and some solid rhythms from Lars, just to sweeten a bit this work born and lived poorly.
A consideration should be made before concluding.
One shouldn't unjustly criticize "Load" because it hasn't met many expectations.
Metallica has always evolved. From the raw blast of "Kill'em all," to the clean and thought-out thrash of "...And justice for all" up to hard rock. This album may or may not be liked, because it did indeed distance many fans, but it also gave many the opportunity to approach Metallica and gradually even the more powerful metal.
The undersigned can confirm this for you…
“…Forgive me father / For I have sinned / Find me guilty when true guilt is from within / So point your fingers / Point right at me / For I am shadows and will follow you…,” (The Thorn Within)
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Summary by Bot
Metallica's 1996 album Load marked a drastic departure from their metal roots toward hard rock and blues, shocking longtime fans. Despite widespread criticism and the controversial album art, some tracks like 'Until It Sleeps' and 'Bleeding Me' stand out for their emotional depth and musicianship. The review acknowledges the album as an experiment and evolution, not fully embraced but significant in the band's history.
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band formed in 1981 by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. They rose from the Bay Area thrash scene with early albums like Kill 'Em All and Ride the Lightning, achieved mainstream success with 1991's Metallica (The Black Album), and have released a long-running and often debated catalog since.173 Reviews
Other reviews
By El minchia
Inside each of us is an equally green fool, and to unleash it, we don’t need fucking gamma rays but rather to listen to any album by these four American pricks after the Black Album.
Start the album, and the muscles will start bulging, the member will burst through your underwear, and an inhuman cry will rise above what these four babblers want to pass off as music.
By kissarmy
"Load is a controversial and complex album because it has the complexity of Metallica but it is not thrash metal; rather, it is a mix of hard rock blended with blues."
"The worst song ever written by Hetfield and company... This piece is utterly horrible, and even a 9-year-old would refuse to listen to this crap."
By Deviljin
Load is the most experimental album of their career, pushing beyond their normal standards to stay creative.
Bleeding Me is hypnotic and evocative, one of the best pieces ever written by Metallica.
By Rage
This album seems sincere, heartfelt, a change they owed to themselves, being consistent with themselves even at the expense of the audience.
It’s been ten years since I last spoke with the Metallica. They are like those jerk relatives whom you always revered... and who at some point turned their backs on you.
