Usually when a band finds their own wee niche in the music world though, they use the same structure and keep to the same sounding songs. Metallica must have thought differently though. When they released Metallica (The Black Album to fans) new doors opened up and the band were ready to move into those doors. However when Metallica got to work on another new album they ended up writing 25 songs which would be spread across Load and its alter-ego Reload. Metallica ended up releasing the albums separate. Though the albums share the same sound. Load is the first album from the two and that is what this review is going to contain.
Okay, so what have we got here" A more mainstream sound of course. Not to say it isn’t heavy enough for metal fans but with the likes of “Hero of The Day” and “Mama Said” you can say where I’m coming from. The band’s technicality has dropped. I know Lars isn’t that great of a drummer but I didn’t think it was possible for his drumming to get more simple =O Kirk has decreased in solos and the riffs have upgraded. Jason got a better deal this time as his bass has been turned up immensely that I can actually hear it. James can sing a bit now but his vocal range is still limited.
What I liked about the album was that it was light and not too heavy. Many people disagree with me but it’s a nice change to the three minute solos and blinding riffs. They decided to stop showing off their technical wankery and worked on crafting actual songs that flow, that are simple but not to the point of boredom. Songs that work, ones that go somewhere. It was also more catchy, you can listen to it over and over again. What I didn’t like about the album is that the songs are still too long. Most of them are over five minutes with the longest song recorded at nine minutes forty-eight seconds. That was one of the reasons …And Justice For All was so hard to listen to. The songs were too long and uninspired. I’m glad that Metallica have come to their senses though when it comes to making songs for the mainstream. It sounds like they are now a (get this) rock band. The songs are simple, they don’t use full distortion riffs and wah-infested guitar solos. The lyrics are never a strong point but in many ways they have improved them. They aren’t filled with metaphorical crap, they also aren’t talking about death in every sentence. Out of the songs, my favourites are “Until It Sleeps” and “2x4”. “2x4” is quite straight forward rock song. Catchy guitar riff and everything. “Until It Sleeps” is a single though it is dead dark. It doesn’t sound like a Metallica song and is an original single. Good Choice. This album is good for a listen though some people would consider it a drop down.
Tracklist for Load:
1. Ain't My Bitch
2. 2 X 4
3. The House Jack Built
4. Until It Sleeps
5. King Nothing
6. Hero of the Day
7. Bleeding Me
8. Cure
9. Poor Twisted Me
10. Wasting My Hate
11. Mama Said
12. Thorn Within
13. Ronnie
14. The Outlaw Torn
Okay, so what have we got here" A more mainstream sound of course. Not to say it isn’t heavy enough for metal fans but with the likes of “Hero of The Day” and “Mama Said” you can say where I’m coming from. The band’s technicality has dropped. I know Lars isn’t that great of a drummer but I didn’t think it was possible for his drumming to get more simple =O Kirk has decreased in solos and the riffs have upgraded. Jason got a better deal this time as his bass has been turned up immensely that I can actually hear it. James can sing a bit now but his vocal range is still limited.
What I liked about the album was that it was light and not too heavy. Many people disagree with me but it’s a nice change to the three minute solos and blinding riffs. They decided to stop showing off their technical wankery and worked on crafting actual songs that flow, that are simple but not to the point of boredom. Songs that work, ones that go somewhere. It was also more catchy, you can listen to it over and over again. What I didn’t like about the album is that the songs are still too long. Most of them are over five minutes with the longest song recorded at nine minutes forty-eight seconds. That was one of the reasons …And Justice For All was so hard to listen to. The songs were too long and uninspired. I’m glad that Metallica have come to their senses though when it comes to making songs for the mainstream. It sounds like they are now a (get this) rock band. The songs are simple, they don’t use full distortion riffs and wah-infested guitar solos. The lyrics are never a strong point but in many ways they have improved them. They aren’t filled with metaphorical crap, they also aren’t talking about death in every sentence. Out of the songs, my favourites are “Until It Sleeps” and “2x4”. “2x4” is quite straight forward rock song. Catchy guitar riff and everything. “Until It Sleeps” is a single though it is dead dark. It doesn’t sound like a Metallica song and is an original single. Good Choice. This album is good for a listen though some people would consider it a drop down.
Tracklist for Load:
1. Ain't My Bitch
2. 2 X 4
3. The House Jack Built
4. Until It Sleeps
5. King Nothing
6. Hero of the Day
7. Bleeding Me
8. Cure
9. Poor Twisted Me
10. Wasting My Hate
11. Mama Said
12. Thorn Within
13. Ronnie
14. The Outlaw Torn
Last edited: