Reload

Sound DNA

• Metal
• Heavy Metal

• gritty
• aggressive
• occult

About

After cutting their hair and making an abrupt left turn into hard rock on 1996’s <i>Load</i>, Metallica doubled down the following year with <i>ReLoad</i>. As it turns out, both albums were recorded during the same sessions with producer Bob Rock, the man who had previously helped transform the band on the 1991 self-titled record known as The Black Album. At the time of its release, <i>ReLoad</i> was notable for the nonstop circulation of leadoff track <b>“Fuel,”</b> the unexpected sequel <b>“The Unforgiven II,”</b> and being the first Metallica album to feature a guest singer: Marianne Faithfull on <b>“The Memory Remains.”</b> Eventually, “Fuel” would become the theme song of <i>NASCAR on NBC</i>, a third “Unforgiven” song—“The Unforgiven III,” natch—would appear on 2008’s <i>Death Magnetic</i>, and <i>ReLoad</i> would become known as bassist Jason Newsted’s last studio album with the band. Any way you slice it, <i>ReLoad</i> is a far cry from Metallica’s thrash-metal origins. It’s hard to imagine the hurdy-gurdy-laden <b>“Low Man’s Lyric”</b> on any of the band’s breakneck ’80s output—never mind a song called <b>“Carpe Diem Baby”</b> or even the slick but fundamentally tame Grammy-winner <b>“Better Than You.”</b>

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits