Metallica
Reload

For Metallica, it is a golden period (for them), after having shaken up the metal scene with their artistic change, the four seem not to look back, now producing at MTV. And it's sad to think that geniuses like MetallicA have ended this way, moreover without a shadow of remorse...

This album is titled "RELOAD". The lack of originality in the title and cover promises nothing good, even more so when one learns that the tracks crammed into this album are the leftovers from the previous "LOAD". In fact, to get straight to the point, the CD as a whole presents itself as just a poor copy of its predecessor. If with "LOAD" there was surprise at the rock-Blues of the songs, here it even reaches the absurd levels of the most commercial, bastard pop-rock ever. Even on the themes addressed, it's enough to make you pull your hair out: a mix of nice cars, beautiful Californian chicks, and a touch of vanity. Ridiculous and banal.

"Fuel" is the flagship track of the album, I mean in the economic sense, of course. One of those many tracks that have their time: the duration of a summer. Musically, the piece sounds catchy, Hetfield seems to want to rap in the words, a gesture that even the most ignorant house-loving kids wouldn't expect from a name like MetallicA. Hammet proposes a disgraceful solo, given his skills as a guitarist, this is truly laughable. "The Memory remains" along with "Devil's dance" are two other very catchy tracks, and just like "Fuel" they get tiresome, they have no charm, they have no fame to stand alongside songs like "Fade to Black" or "Welcome Home", besides the repetitiveness of the music. "The Unforgiven II" is the best track on the album, even though it is inferior to the other from the Black Album, aesthetically it's a song that easily captures listening, even multiple times.

After the first four songs, you will venture into a succession of useless, badly composed tracks, the kind that says nothing, tracks that are quickly skipped to stay awake. There is no trace of metal in the album except for the amplifiers, thrash has completely disappeared; the band's technique is wasted, the effort is zero; Hetfield's voice is pathetic, a sexually tinged voice, like a classic Californian playboy, accompanied by beach improvisations, and, an example of this is track no.7 "Carpe diem baby": such a title would plummet the entire average of the album, not to mention the song, but unfortunately, there is worse. "Slither" and "Better than you" try to retrace the heavy sounds of the past, an attempt that dissipates in a nothingness of typically pop sounds. Thankfully, tracks like "Prince Charming" and "Attitude" manage to bring us to the surface for a breath of air, these three songs indeed are in full "LOAD" style, catchy but nothing more.

Let's keep in mind however that I've been rather kind, there is a good reprimand to be given to the band, especially to Lar$ who strains to do those two-three repetitive tempos, nothing to compare with those of "And Justice for all". Returning to the album, we find two utterly useless tracks like "Bad seed" (the shortest on the album) and "Where the wild things are", justly forgotten and thrown in the trash of the ex The four Hoursmen's career. "Low man's lyrics" is another track in "LOAD" style, good picking and Hetfield's melodic voice, in summary another of the decent episodes of "RELOAD". Finally, we find "Fixxxer", a full 8 minutes long, yes... but 8 minutes of boredom and repetitive tempos, the melody slightly saves it as it recalls the atmospheres of the previous album, I add nothing more. As you noticed, I have not been coherent with the tracklist, a way to summarize and let the review flow simply.

"RELOAD" is one of the ugliest albums composed by Metallica, the songs apart from 2-3 are true and real "scraps", extremely boring and banal tracks, not befitting legends like them. If I gave a 2 it is because they are my idols, a sort of pity for them.