Load - Metallica (Cassette 1996)

After five years, Metallica finally released the follow-up to their mega-smash, self-titled album (nicknamed The Black Album). And with 1996's Load, it was clearly time for the playa hatin' to begin.

The Black Album had its share of "sell out" accusations from old-school fans who were none too pleased with the toning down of the thrash, especially in the soft and sweet Nothing Else Matters. But that was nothing compared to the criticism Load garnered. These songs weren't metal - they were radio-ready hard rock (even more so than the previous album). Load even had some *gasp* country. And to top it off, all four band members lost the long locks that in the 1980s said, "I am heavy metal."

You know what I say to all that? Screw it. Screw the new hairdos: people, not hair, make metal. Screw the country music hatred: I don't like country, but even I enjoy what Metallica did with it. And screw the past. Sure, Metallica's made some tremendous albums, but they are unfair measuring sticks, especially since Load presents a completely different style of music. This album wasn't about continuing their heavy metal dominance. It was about proving themselves as talented hard rockers. And that they did.

Ain't My Bitch opens as a driving rocker that quickly sends the message that we're in for something new. No more metal - it's time for straight up hard rock. It may not be anything like '80s Metallica, but this song is heavy, the music is solid, and it's a fun one to crank up and sing. More catchy rock follows with the bouncy but heavy 2x4 and its fun verses: "I'm-a gonna make you/ Shake you/ Take you/ I'm-a gonna be that one who breaks you." King Nothing, which had some success as a single, has a nice, slow build leading to more sweet hard rock, this time using some clever lyrics to attack the greedy.

One of the most popular tracks is Hero of the Day, an easy piece of evidence for those who want to cry "sell out." Its verses are soft, and the song is pretty darn catchy and radio-friendly all around (though it gets fairly heavy as it goes on). I think this is an excellent song that shows off a whole new dimension of Metallica and what they are capable of. More shocking than this, however, is Mama Said, the infamous country song. It's slow but emotional ("Let my heart go/ Let your son grow.../ Or let this heart be still") and not very twangy, the aspect of country that keeps me away. Give this song a chance because it really is a good one that even staunch rock fans like myself can enjoy.

Until It Sleeps could almost be considered a companion piece to Enter Sandman; it's another creepy but heavy song about facing a monster. Until It Sleeps could be taken literally just for fun, or it could be more relevant if taken to describe the monsters we all deal with: disease, addiction, emotional pain. Lines like "Tear me open pour me out/ There's things inside that scream and shout" can describe just about anything you want it to. More darkness is found in The House Jack Built, which reminds me of Reload's Devil's Dance with its slow but hard delivery, though this track has a much stronger chorus.

As far as I'm concerned, the album's apex occurs with Bleeding Me, an absolute epic. Its soft opening is brilliant - strong in its own right but letting you know that something bigger is waiting to explode. And explode it does into a gigantic chorus that has James Hetfield growling, "Caught under wheels roll/ I take the leech, I'm bleeding me/ Can't stop to save my soul/ I take the leash that's leading me." Continue through its evil and tortured bridge and superb soloing from Kirk Hammett, and you can't help but love every second of this lengthy track.

I found the latter half of the album harder to get into, but there really are some great pieces of hard rock there. The Cure and Poor Twisted Me, while not the album's best, are still pretty enjoyable. Wasting My Hate is much better, turning up the volume and delivering the message that some people just aren't worth hating. Ronnie has a nifty tune despite conveying sorrow, fright, and anger in this story of a school-shooting. Thorn Within, a robust track despite its placement near the end, reminds me of some Black Album material, with its more medium-paced but heavy sound. But the album closes on an even stronger note in The Outlaw Torn. While not nearly as powerful as Bleeding Me, it puts up a good fight, giving us one more epic piece before departing.

I could compare Load to Master of Puppets or ...And Justice For All, but that wouldn t be fair. Metallica set out to do something different than what they had been doing for the past decade. They made some bold moves here, and while I wouldn't call this their best album, I would call this an excellent work of hard rock. And I refuse to judge Load as anything else.



Also from Metallica:

Kill 'Em All
Ride the Lightning
Master of Puppets
...And Justice For All
Metallica
Reload
St. Anger