Disco de Metallica: “Reload”

Okay, there seems to be four Metallica fan groups out there. You have the "I've been the biggest fan since "no life 'till leather" demo came out and they say Metallica sold out with "And justice for all". Next you have the "Master of Puppets" group that says everything that's not "Master of Puppets" sucks. Followed by the "And Justice"/black album crowd, who for some reason don't like the earlier "Kill 'em All" and "Ride the Lightning", yet state that "Reload/Load" were total sell-outs and nothing will compare to the Black album, the album all the other "fans" whined abot years ago when it first came out. Then you've got the new fan base that loves "Load" and "Reload" and are also buying "Garage inc." (cover songs that influeced them) and earlier albums. The funny thing is you don't hear a lot of newer fans complaining about the older albums or all the older songs that they still play at their shows. Some of you so called "die hard fans from back in the day" need to lighten up a little bit and maybe expand your musical horizons some. "Reload" is not a bad album. It is a little different but is still a great effort by four talented musicians. Some other open minded reviewers made reference to "hair swinging" and if thats all you're into don't buy this album, I agree. There are plenty of hair swinging bands,(Exodus, Meliah Rage, Kreator etc.) none have the talent, then or now, that the musicians in Metallica have.

I have been a Metallica fan for years, and when they first released Load, I like a lot of people was disappointed, and I saw this album as more of the same kind of ... (Re-Load after all). I had written Metallica off as a band that used to be good. Recently, I changed my mind. I read a commentary of Kirk's guitar work, which some people like to complain about(too much Wah, blah, blah). The reviewer was defending him and the band. The point was, would you respect Metallica if they were still playing the Master of Puppets style of music in their jean jackets and unlaced high tops. The answer is absolutely not. They would be a group of four cheese balls that we wouldn't even be discussing(I can think of several bands like this). With this new attitude, I took a fresh look at the band. I bought both Load and ReLoad and gave them a listen. I have to say that I like them both. I should have known that some of the best tracks didn't get any air play. Several bands have ripped off the old Metallica style that everyone raves about, but these guys have moved on. They took their heavy sound, refined it, and added in some contemporary influences (I hear a little Alice in Chains and other early 90's grunge on a few of the tracks).

I am also a guitar player and I have since added both Load and ReLoad to my guitar music collection. I have heard a lot of complaints about how the music is so weak now, and Kirk's guitar playing is just ... . Here is my take on that. From Kill 'em All through And Justice For All, Metallica progressive made their music faster and more complicated. The rhythms got faster and more complex, song structure got more complex, and they were using full barre chords instead of just power chords by And Justice For All. Some of these songs are very challenging to play, but you can only take complexity so far. Starting with the Black album, things are scaled down. Song length is kept under control, and the songs are more focused (like their early work). As for Kirk's guitar work, I think he is better than ever. Being able to use the Wah to acutally get more expressive and vocal solos is a big challenge which he does admirably. Sure he isn't playing pentatonic scales 100 miles an hour all the time, but he finally got that blues/metal blend he has been working at for so long.

Bottom line: Knowing the obsessive perfectionists that they are, I should have known better than to write them off. Anyone who ever says that Metallic has sold out or not given a good effort is just plain wrong. Ask yourself, why would they sell out now, what would they gain. The answer is nothing(You think they need the money?!). The only thing these guys are interested in is making music they enjoy playing. If you don't like their new music, fine, but don't confuse that with selling out. They have never lost sight of who they really make music for, and that is themselves, as it should be.

Stepping off the soap box...

Some of the high points of this album are Fuel, The Memory Remains, Devil's Dance, Carpe Diem Baby, Where The Wild Things Are, Low Man's Lyric, Attitude, and my favorite is Fixxxer. Another great effort from a great band.

Ok, sure, it's not typical Metallica. I understand that. Like everyone I know, I hated Load. But the problem I see with a lot of people is that they bunch Reload in with Load just because they were recorded at the same time. The fact is, Reload is a lot more typical of Metallica than Load was. People think it's not because it's connected to Load but dig deeper.

1. Fuel - ***** - This song really is great. It's their best song of the post-Black Album era. It has all of Metallica's early heavy metal guitar riffs and Hetfield's trademark growl is back for this song, something that was lost in Load. There's no slowing down in it. It's an adrenaline filled thriller of a song. Since they made it, Metallica has always used to open shows. Why? It gets the fan pumped up. It gets me pumped up as I'm listening to it writing this review. Awesome song. However, the lyrics and and even the riffs are sort of taken from "Motorbreath" from Kill 'Em All.

2. The Memory Remains - **** - This song is pretty good. It's nothing ground breaking and spectacular like Fuel but it is good. The lyrics are pretty inspired actually. Think about it, adding Marianne Faithful, as bad as her parts were, really was inspired because this song really speaks volumes about where she's gone. Big star, dating Mick Jagger, to a washed up has-been whose biggest work in years was on a Metallica album of all places. The problem with this song that earns it just three stars is what I like about it. Marianne Faithful, as I said, was an inspired idea to add because she's the living epitomy of who they're singing about. But that doesn't make her parts any better. Frankly, she sounds like a cat in heat. That's not a good thing. Then, I have to admit, the song is a little slow. It does have some good heavy metal riffs but it's slowness and Marianne Faithful bog this song down to three stars.

3. Devil's Dance - ** - This song is heavier than what they did on Load. What turns me off about it is that it's a little slow and the production is just awful. When James says "Let's dance" you can barely hear him. The lyrics are also pretty uninspired. The guitar riffs are the best thing about this song. This is also pretty much a rip-off of "Jump In The Fire" from Kill 'Em All as far as the lyrics.

4. The Unforgiven II - **** - This song is just too heavily country influenced. The first Unforgiven was a heavy metal ballad with an awesome improvised solo. This one is still good but, like I said, has too much of a country influence. I have to say though, the lyrics are pretty good. Just like the first Unforgiven, it tells a pretty powerful story. This man, the same one from The Unforgiven, meets a woman that's similar to him but in the end, she's unforgiven II. Bad pun, I know, but hey, it's in the song and the song is pretty good.

5. Better Than You - ***** - Another five star song! This one is just plain awesome. This is the only song, along with Fuel, of the post-Black Album era that can compare to their early work. The chorus slows a bit but it's still pretty powerful. The whole song is filled with heavy metal riffs. I love the solos in it. It's two awesome solos and the chorus is great. As I said, the chorus slows down but I love how the lyrics reach that point and James hits the chorus and just strides into crying out the words "Better than you!". The lyrics are also pretty good. If you've ever felt held back in your life, if you've ever felt a little like Dilbert, then this is the song for you. Whenever I feel held back at anything, this song is just awesome to listen to. I can really connect to the lyrics. Also, at the beginning of this song, Lars isn't too bad on the drums. The whole song is really great and underrated.

6. Slither - *** - I've listened to this song a lot more. The lyrics still suck but the riffs are good enough to warrant it a three star rating.

7. Carpe Diem Baby - *** - This song is a little slow but the beat and riffs are really cool. By no means, is this anywhere near 80's Metallica. However, the lyrics are pretty good. It also speaks volumes for how James has lived his life. He literally jumped in the fire, the reason for the tattoo that inspired this song. Overall, it's not above average, but it's still worth listening to and it's better than half the stuff on Load.

8. Bad Seed - ** - This song has another cool beat. The lyrics are a bit like Slither in that they seem uninspired and filler but this song is actually good filler. It has a good chorus. Definitely worth listening to occasionally.

9. Where The Wild Things Are - * - Awful. What was Metallica thinking? Should've been on Load instead. Really uninspired

10. Prince Charming - ***** - This song is AWESOME. I love this song. It's at least 5 stars. My favorite song on the album.

11. Low Man's Lyric - *** - I know what you're thinking. How could this be any good? It's an Irish folk song! What was Metallica thinking? I admit, this isn't metal and has little place on an album by a band called METALlica. But this is actually pretty good if you get past that. The beat is good, the melody is awesome, and James isn't bad at all on the vocals. This isn't a metal song per se but it is a good song despite that. It's got good lyrics and it's a nice song. It's nothing to thrash to but do we really want to thrash and headbang constantly? I like nice intervels of sweet melodies such as this. If I didn't appreciate slow, melodic, ballads too, my head would probably have fallen off by now.

12. Attitude - **** - A good headbanging song. Not as good as Better Than You or Fuel but it's almost as good. Awesome riffs and beat.

13. Fixxxer - **** - A nice ender with powerful lyrics and good guitar riffs.

Overall:

1. *****

2. ****

3. **

4. ****

5. *****

6. ***

7. ***

8. **

9. *

10. *****

11. ***

12. ****

13. ****

Three 5 star songs, four 4 star songs, three 3 star songs, two 2 star song, one 1 star song. Overall, that's not really that bad. 5 out of 13 songs that are worth listening to and 7 that are required listening for Metallica fans. That's pretty good compared to the abysmal results of Load. Reload is not, I repeat, NOT, Master of Puppets or Ride The Lightning. But it gets too bad a rap. This album is pretty good overall and if you like old Metallica, I definitely suggest picking it up for Fuel, The Memory Remains, The Unforgiven II, Better Than You, Prince Charming, Attitude, and Fixxxer or at least buying them on your I-Pod. I can't say as much for Load but Reload is definitely worth putting on your shopping list if your a Metallica fan. It's not your typical Metallica but it's a lot better than any of their other post-Black Album studio offerings that were originally written and produced by them. In the end, I'd say buy it. If you don't like it, you can always sell it to a used CD store or somewhere else. Or, if you really hate it, you can use it as a coaster. But if you liked the old Metallica like me, I really do think you'll be able to see merit in this CD.

I cannot say enough about how Metallica has done a 180 turn for the worst. They were everything that metal meant; after all, they were metal'lica. But since they started selling records and got a taste for dead presidents they have lost their integrity. I mean this in the truest sense of the word. With their impending lawsuit against napster, this band has layed the last brick in the wall between them and their fans. Lars says that the band doesn't like their art traded like a commodity. What does that mean, Lars. We aren't talking about a group of starving artists here. Additionally, music being sold by the record companies doesn't qualify as "traded like a commodity"? Oh the days when Burton was playing with the band. They were masters of the trade. He must be turning over in his grave now...

I might be a bit bias in this review, mainly because I have heard this album so many times and partly because I know how to play all their songs here. By learning to play them you realize that these guys are actually amazing musicians and they show it even without releasing a thrash metal album. Don't get me wrong, I prefer their work prior to 1993 rather than their later efferts "Load" and "Reload". However, one cannot deny the brilliance in these songs. They are written in a completely different style than their previous works but the magic is always there.

The question that someone reading my review will have is "should I spend my money on this record". Well that easely answered by telling you that you must get all of metallica's albums. Hey... no What, I'm telling you, buy them all especially if you have any liking to heavy metal. If not then you should buy them anyways for Metallica are gods amongst musicians. Even if people (and musicians) talk badly about them, there is no ways they can write as well as Metallica can.

Let me tell you now about each song. Because I gave this album 4 stars for the reason that not all of them are good. We have a couple of average ones and unfortunately some bad songs too.

Fuel - This song was released as the third single, and I find it kind of strange that it has become the most famous song in this album. A great song, that can get a crowd going. One of the heavier songs here. A catchy and aggressive chorus. It has everything you need in a powerful and heavy song. I give it a 8/10.

The Memory Remains - I remember this song being played on MTV before the album was released. I liked it a lot, surprisingly it did not last too long. After Metallica released other singles from this album, the song was mainly forgotten. The guitar work is still amazing. Much slower than Fuel, and it has Marianne Faithfull singing the "na na na na" part. I also give it an 8/10

The Devil's Dance - This song is one of those that grew on me more and more every time I played it. I really like it. Not the kind of song to make it as a single though. The rythm is still kind of slow but an overall good song. 7/10

The Unforgiven II - This song was the second single released from this album after the Memory Remains. I beautiful slow song that leans on "The Unforgiven" from the black album. In fact at the end of the song one can hear the melody from the first unforgiven. A song that has rearly been played live and that has often had me play it over and over for it is that excellent. 10/10

Better Than You - This song was not released as a single, but as a promo. With this song they even won a grammy award for best metal performance. I like the song, but not as good as what its achievements might make you think. I believe it's the chorus that destroys it. The riffs are amazing but due to the weak repetitive chorus I must give this song a 6/10.

Slither - This song has some weird guitar parts to it and is one of the most unmetallica like songs ever yet it posseses something amazing to it. Even though most people don't think so, I believe it is one of the best songs on the album. The Band themselves would disagree with me because they have never played this song live. Nonetheless a great song 9/10

Carpe Diem Baby - Beautiful song, it has a lot of power in it even though it's a relative slow song. It must be the best song on this album. Definitely my favourite. 10/10

Bad Seed - When I first heard this song, it sounded like a song put there to fill the album up, however, it is a good filler. Average but not bad, definitely one of the weakest songs here. 5/10

Where The Wild Things Are - This is the song I always skip on this album. The reason being that I love the song after this one. As a song it is overall slow with a pretty bad chorus. It seems like James is singing with a falsetto voice. Very high. The guitar solos are always amazing though, you cannot expect less from metallica. 4/10

Prince Charming - I have loved this song since I first heard it. I admit that the average person would not think much of it, but like Slither there is something in here that I cannot understand that makes me love it. It is a faster song, the verses are powerfull, same can be said for the bridges and the chorus. The guitar work is simply too much. Another one of my favourite songs here 9/10

Low Man's Lyric - This song is the slowest song on the album. Just like Mama Said on Load, this song does not fit here. It doesn't fit on any Metallica Album really. They should have found a different way to release it, maybe as a B-Side. Apart from that complaint I have, the song, if looked at it as a slow song and not a Metallica song, posseses everything you need in a slow song. Very melodic, very catchy, and it emotionally touches the listener. It deserves a much higher rating than what I am going to give it because it doesn't belong on this album. 6/10

Attitude - Another song that when I first heard it I though, Yeah.. it's a filler. It is a totally average song in every respect. Average riffs, average verses, average choruses. However I like the way James sings it. 5/10

Fixxer - Like the album "Load", "Reload" ends with a fenomenal song. A song that might be the best on the album. It is so powerfull and it has so much spirit in it that a person cannot not enjoy it. A masterpiece of a song. 10/10