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User
Reviews 7
Approval 85%
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Album Ratings 932
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Last Active 09-08-18 7:38 pm
Joined 09-08-18
Review Comments 13
| Metallica - (Re)Load Resequenced
Remember the time when Metallica could do no wrong? Yes? Well, congratulations for being old, my friend. Rarely has there been a more unified opinion on the exact point of an artist's career going downhill than in the case of Metallica. This was the time when they *gasp* cut their hair and FOR GOD'S SAKE: Put on eyeliner and makeup. Trve Metalheads aren't supposed to do that, how dare you Metallica??? Oh, and the music sucked, too right? A collection of slow, slightly melancholic boomer-rock songs straight out of the 70s playbook, designed to soundtrack an awkward midlife crisis. A lot of bands had their fans yelling „Sellouts!“ at some point, but it rarely reached the absurd extend of the 80s thrash heroes, who once stood their ground as the counter culture to all the 80s metal glitz. As time went by, the harsh criticism of this era became a lot less bonkers and more nuanced. Seriously, who cares about haircuts? The stylistic left turn, even if it's a rather bland direction, is at least something different in context of the band's discography (something can not say about "Hardwired"). Instead, Metallica could have just avoided so much hate by simply making „Load“ and „Reload“ a single album. Both records had their fair share of highlights, but GODDAMN, does this become tedious over the course of 2 more than 70 minute drags. Did the world really need to hear repetitive mediocroties such as „Cure“, „Torn Within“ or „Slither“? There are only so many wah-wah solos, ridiculously monotone drumbeats and YEHÖÖAHs I can stand. So without any further introduction, here's my try of resequencing the two into one cohesive record, that could have easily stood the test of time instead of marking the beginning of Metallica's unfortunate decline. | | 1 | Metallica
Fuel
GIMMEFUEGIMMEFAIAGIMMMETHAWUTCHAYDESIAAA
Yeah, it's simple as hell, the lyrics are not even trying to say more than „Fast cars is cool“, but goddamn, does it inject some fury into those records that were plagued by too much slow-tempo sludge and a lack of energy. Imagine, if this was the very first impression of the „Load“ era. I guess, fans would have accepted it A LOT more. | | 2 | 2X4
Metalheads were shocked by the big amount blues influences on these albums. And yes, on tracks such as empty fillers like „Poor Twisted me“, it's easy to see why. 2X4 however, despite its dadrock-vibes, has some power and dynamics behind it, also the solo has an interesting melody for once goes beyond mindless wah-wah shredding. | | 3 | Until It Sleeps
One of most popular among fans, because James probably nailed his more personal and vulnerable lyrics better than anywhere else on the album. A bitter tribute to his late mother, the first single and radio friendly for the right reasons. I'll take this one over Hetfield's eye rolling attempts to sound EVIL in the recent 15 years any day. | | 4 | Devil's Dance
Kind of a brother of “Sad But True“, isn't it? „Devil's Dance“ gets the doomy and menacing approach right that other songs on the Loads didn't. Sure, James YEHEEAHs ans HAAAHAAs are ridiculous, but this time, in an entertaining and not redundant way. Solid one. | | 5 | The Memory Remains
One of Metallica's most controversial singles, but one of the most memorable (ha) songs on the double album because of its clever arrangement. They could have cut the outro a little bit, but in general I don't think Marianne Faithful's guest appearance is distrcting or misplaced at all, given that the lyrics are about washed up former stars. | | 6 | Hero Of The Day
I am not even a huge fan of this track, it's a little too simple and on the radio friendly side, but even I have to admit, that it's one of the catchiest tunes here and actually the only time Lars uses the double bass. Also it doesn't overstay its welcome with a tight 4 minutes runtime | | 7 | The House Jack Built
James gets a lot of crap for his vocal style, so this song should be included if only for the reason it's his best performance on the two records. It has a beautiful chorus, it builds towards a climax near the end -something most songs on the Loads fail to achieve-, the talkbox solo has a cool novelty quality to it and the druggy lyrics sound as menacing as they want to. Underrated as hell! | | 8 | King Nothing
Easy choice. INCREDIBLE bassline, creepy atmosphere, entertainingly hateful lyrics against some sad, lonely man who fails to see that his best days are far behind him (Axl Rose?). Probably the best chorus from this era, if any song here comes close to a 10/10, it's this one. | | 9 | Mama Said
Fans who despise (Re)-Load probably think of this one first, when they search for negative examples. This is as far away as Metallica ever went away from their thrash roots and I can hardly blame a metalhead for not liking a country ballad. But James' delivery is without a doubt heartfelt and once you get over the fact, that this is the band that wrote „Whiplash“, it is one of the most emotionally compelling tracks of their career. Fight me! | | 10 | Ain't My Bitch
Before it gets too slow, let's throw in some uptempo stakkato riffing, that should satisfy even the thrash heads. Both Load and Reload suffered severly from being frontloaded with their best songs and completely loosing steam in the second half, so let's avoid that, by including this banger. | | 11 | Fixxxer
I could honestly never understand why „The Outlaw Torn“ frequently gets mentioned among the most underrated songs by this band, because Fixxxer is pretty much going for the same atmosphere and epic approach, but for me, it's simply the better song because it actually has a chorus that does more than yelling the song title. The attempted creepiness and grandieur are definitly achieved, making this tune a good penultimate song. | | 12 | Low Man's Lyric
A gentle ballad with a bagpipe(!), that easily stands out in the largely unremarkable second half of „Reload“. Yes, it's a weird coice for a closer, but I think it would work perfectly as the elegy and „credits start rolling“ comedown after the nervous drama of „Fixxxer“. Metallica clearly tried to shock their audience, so closing it with this one, kinda makes sense to me. | |
DominionMM1
02.04.22 | the lack of bleeding me is almost too much to take | JKing92
02.05.22 | I actually appreciate that there's someone here who gives Load and Reload the time of day. I'm not a huge fan of either album (though I do enjoy a couple of songs from each, especially "Hero of the Day," "Mama Said," and "Low Man's Lyric"), but I definitely find them to be intriguing listens in how they try to push Metallica's sound forward. Definitely adds more weight to my thesis that Metallica was the band from the Big Four of Thrash that aged the most gracefully. | JDubb
02.05.22 | Like lipstick on a pig! Actually, the albums aren’t that bad, but haven’t aged that well. Not like anyone goes looking to listen to load/Reload. | jamiecoughlan
02.05.22 | Decent selection. There are some excellent songs on Load and Reload. Bit of editing and there is definitely a quality album there. | MO
02.05.22 | how the fuck is Where the Wild Things Are not included...damn | DaveCasero
02.05.22 | I actually like Bleeding me and Where the Wild Things Are, they have an intersting and creepy atmosphere, but they're a little too repetitive for me | 0xME
02.05.22 | bleeding me is easily among the top 3 songs from these albums yea | Tundra
02.05.22 | I wouldnt mind this track listing but I like both albums as is anyways. I think it would have been cool if they made a Black Album 2 before delving into southern rock territory lol. Even I feel kind of robbed having two southern rock albums and only one Black Album type album. | Tundra
02.05.22 | Also Bleeding Me, Outlaw Torn and Fixxxer are all incredible and it would be criminal to cut even one of them out. | rockarollacola
02.06.22 | Low Man's Lyric actually features a hurdy-gurdy, not bagpipes. I'd say my perfect Load/Reload would be much more Load oriented, with maybe 2 or 3 tracks from Reload, with Low Man's lyrics being an obvious inclusion. | neekafat
02.06.22 | You cut Outlaw Torn? You shittin me? Top 5 Metallica easy |
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