Load [LP]

by Metallica

Overview

Delivered five years after their eponymous "black" album in 1991, Load captures Metallica settling into an uneasy period of maturation. Under the guidance of producer Bob Rock, Metallica have streamlined their sound, cutting away most of the twisting, unpredictable time signatures and the mind-numbingly fast riffs. What's left is polished -- and disappointingly straightforward -- heavy metal. Metallica's attempts at expanding their sonic palette have made them seem more conventional than they ever have before. They add in Southern boogie rock, country-rock, and power ballads to their bag of tricks, which make them sound like '70s arena rock holdovers. Metallica's idea of opening up their sound is to concentrate on relentless midtempo boogie -- over half the album is dedicated to songs that are meant to groove, but they simply don't swing. Metallica sound tight, but with the material they've written, they should sound loose. That becomes apparent as the songs drag out over the album's nearly 80-minute running time -- there are only so many times that a band can work the same tempo exactly the same way before it becomes tedious. It isn't surprising to hear Metallica get stodgier and more conservative as they get older, but it is nonetheless depressing. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	08/25/2014
Label:	Blackened Recordings / Rhino
UPC:	0856115004644
Rank:	1898

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Ain't My B*tch
2. 2 X 4
3. The House Jack Built
4. Until It Sleeps
5. King Nothing
6. Hero of the Day
7. Bleeding Me

Disc 2

8. Cure
9. Poor Twisted Me
10. Wasting My Hate
11. Mama Said
12. Thorn Within
13. Ronnie
14. The Outlaw Torn

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Metallica   Primary Artist
Kirk Hammett   Guitar
Lars Ulrich   Drums
James Hetfield   Guitar,Vocals
Jason Newsted   Bass

Technical Credits

Kent Matcke   Assistant Engineer
Kirk Hammett   Composer
Chris Vrenna   Programming,Digital Editing Assistant
Lars Ulrich   Composer,Producer
James Hetfield   Composer,Producer
Randy Staub   Mixing,Engineer
Bob Rock   Producer
George Marino   Mastering
Anton Corbijn   Photography
Mike Gillies   Digital Editing Assistant
Paul DeCarli   Digital Editing
Brian Dobbs   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Jason Goldstein   Assistant Engineer
Mike Rew   Mixing
Andie Airfix   Design
Matt Curry   Mixing Assistant
Andres Serrano   Cover Design