Album Rating: 4.0

thats why Iron Maiden is the best heavy metal band on the planet.....they perfected the business and still make quality music to this day

Album Rating: 3.0

Not a bad argument

Album Rating: 2.5

Can't go wrong, but it's not even just the change in sound it's the quality..where'd it go?

Album Rating: 4.0

Rush too....became a business that was perfected......their fanbase loves just about every album they put out as well



Metallica just couldn't do that, music wise, yet somehow ended up more successful than everyone in the genre.....like you mentioned about old metallica, those records are still shouldering the load (no pun i swear)

Album Rating: 2.5

Haha, you're right Titan and I agree. black LP is so so so much better

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Bleeding Me and Outlaw Torn [6].



Until it Sleeps is amazing. I'm a big fan of King Nothing as well. Also dig the hell out of the bluesy riffs on "Wasting My Hate".



I'm unapologetic about this album - still easily my number 2 behind Ride the Lightning. I think the secret for people falling for this album lies in S&M - I've never heard someone say that Bleeding Me and Outlaw Torn aren't amazing on that record.

Album Rating: 3.5

"thats why Iron Maiden is the best heavy metal band on the planet.....they perfected the business and still make quality music to this day"



eh fuck the business aspect though, it's about the writing and performance

Album Rating: 2.5

People need to make money, and it's even nicer when they do it with credibility backing em' up. As a listener, it makes me want to buy their service, they're entertaining me. Iron Maiden is a great example for sure.

Album Rating: 3.3

Absolutely, Iron Maiden is the best example. Motorhead are up there too.

Album Rating: 4.0

'eh fuck the business aspect though, it's about the writing and performance '



agreed Rom, luckily bands like maiden were able to still write great stuff throughout it all......i always thought their live performance could've improved though.......same stage setup recycled over the years and the setlists needed more variety......final 5 songs of almost every tour were pretty much the same

Album Rating: 4.5

This album is better then like half of Maiden's discog imo, and easily 3/4s of every other big 4 discog

Album Rating: 4.0

for me, this is better than Maiden 90-98, and just barely.....that is all

Album Rating: 3.3

This is close to 3.5 for me but I think I respect this album more than I actually enjoy it, if this makes any sense. I respect how these guys decided to make such a shift that was bound to make them look like assholes to the eyes of their fans.

Album Rating: 2.5

Manos, do you think it was money the most important factor that pushed them towards that shift ? or they just did it to expand their pallet and explore different musical paths ? probably it was a little bit from both, but i think money changed the way Metallica saw the business of music.

Album Rating: 3.0

Probably both, but either way I'm sticking by that they became more of a business than an actual band

Album Rating: 2.5

I'd take Fear Of The Dark over this in a heartbeat, even if it is 90's Maiden.

Y'know it's not even the change in sound that bothers me, it's the quality; where'd it go? See, the Black Album had the change in sound while still being a good record; Load is just riding the coattails. If you're going to do something different it has to be good too, especially when you're Metallica. That's why this album gets slammed by me, outside of that it's just an average affair with a few great cuts.

To add further insult to injury.. it only gets worse from here, they took a risk, and never truly recovered; that's why I'm upset about it to this day.

Biggest Metal band in the world played their best music when they weren't rich speaks volumes.. So, who knows? I don't blame Metallica, If I had that kind of cash who knows what I would do. I'd probably do whatever the hell I wanted to! As I've always said ego and money

Plus on a side note this came out 5 years after black lp that's something to think about as well.

Album Rating: 3.3

Expanding your last thought, I think this album more than Fear of the Dark for example, is a product of its time. It's mid-90s and Maiden, Metallica and other big names are getting their assess kicked by the underground bands (black and death metal bands), Paradise Lost, etc. So, to my eyes, this is like a reaction to all that was happening, an attempt to sound more 90s and an effort to provoke. Hence the short hair, photos in Load's booklet and the shift in music. I actually don't see this album like a continuation of Black Album but rather a unique chapter (along with Reload) in the band's discog.



To answer junkie's question, I do not consider that money played the most important factor that pushed them in that direction. If this album was 25-30 minutes shorter and had an Unforgiven II, then maybe yes. If they had gone for a Black Album 2.0 yes but that's not the case for me.

Album Rating: 2.5

You're a lot more reasonable than I am Mansosg, you make a fair point.

When I say Load came out 5 years after; I'm saying maybe Metallica was trying to figure out what they wanted to do next. They could've cashed in and made another record in 1-2 years instead.

To rephrase myself, I don't believe this is a black album b-sides assortment, but I do believe Load follows a similar stylistic approach; that's the reason I compare the two. One being a much better statement where the other not so much. The money was going to roll in regardless of the quality of the record because the previous was a smash hit. I don't think they designed Load as the sole purpose to only make money, they already had it.



Money may not have been the intention of creating Load, but Metallica already having money/fame I think effected the quality. Massive Tours, 5-year wait.. there's no pressure to fuck up, can do whatever ya want and they knew it. You might piss off some fans, but you gain more anyway.

Album Rating: 3.0

good debate

Album Rating: 3.5

"I do believe Load follows a similar stylistic approach"



if you mean production and song structure-wise then yeah. other than that they're pretty different.