On episode 105 of The Metallica Report podcast, legendary producer Bob Rock revisited one of the most debated eras in Metallica's history — the making of Load and Reload. Both albums marked a dramatic stylistic shift for Metallica and remain polarizing among fans nearly three decades later.
Released on June 4, 1996, Load was Metallica's first studio album in five years and yet another break from their thrash roots. Trading much of their high-speed aggression for a bluesy, hard rock-influenced sound, the album incorporated elements of Southern rock and alternative rock. Critics initially praised the change, with i noting it was "a fresh take on Lynyrd Skynyrd-tinged boogie rock for the 1990s."
The follow-up, Reload, arrived just 17 months later on November 18, 1997. Although the two albums were recorded during the same sessions, Reload leaned slightly harder, featuring heavier moments like "Fuel" and "The Memory Remains."
Despite their reputation as divisive records today, both Load and Reload were commercial successes. Load debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 680,000 copies in its first week in the U.S. and eventually going 5× Platinum (over 5 million U.S. sales). Reload slso debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week and later going 3× Platinum (over 3 million U.S. sales). Worldwide, the combined sales of the two albums have surpassed 13 million copies.
A Shift in Songwriting and Production
Rock explained that one of the biggest creative changes during this era came from Lars Ulrich suggesting a two-guitar rhythm approach similar to Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, and Guns N' Roses.
"Before Load, James [Hetfield] did all the rhythms. So the idea is Kirk [Hammett] was gonna play rhythms along with James, and that changed everything. And some people don't like it."
Another factor was the recording environment. Rock noted a key difference in studio gear between the two albums: "They sound different — they sound really different," he explained. "And there's a reason. When we were in New York, they didn't have the consoles that we used before, the [SSL] 6,000. All the studios that were available, they had an SSL 9,000. It's a different ball of wax.
"And [engineer/mixer] Randy Staub and I fucking hated it, because it kept breaking down and losing. Anyway, I'm not gonna get into it, but it's an acquired taste. It's not what I do, but that's what we had to finish it. So when I listen to 'Load' and when I was asked to write about [the reissue of] both records, and I talked to Lars about this, I said, 'They're completely sonically different.' Reload is aggressive. But you've gotta understand — people love Load. They don't know what I know. And they don't care what I know. But to me, it was really apparent that they're so different. And then I go to back to why and stuff.
Rock even joked: "I'd like to remix Load [laughs], but that's never gonna happen."
The Albums' Place in Metallica's Legacy
While Load and Reload initially expanded Metallica's audience and sold millions worldwide, they also sparked backlash from thrash purists who longed for the ferocity of the …And Justice for All and Master of Puppets era. Their bluesy swagger, slower tempos, and even Metallica member's short hair became a focal point of fan controversy.
Yet, as Rock pointed out, many listeners — including his own kids — have grown to love Load in particular. And for casual fans who came aboard in the mid-'90s, songs like "Until It Sleeps," "Fuel," and "The Memory Remains" remain concert staples.
With Load approaching its 30th anniversary (and having just been reissued), its legacy continues to spark discussion among fans, critics, and Metallica members themselves — proving that this era, love it or hate it, remains a defining chapter in Metallica's story.
