Metal Reviews

Actually, one of my biggest problems with The Black Album was James's voice. I thought his growl sounded rather forced on that album. Particularly in the beginning of The Struggle Within (even though that's probably the closest the album really got to an 80s Metallica song). I preferred James's more Spartan approach on Load. His deeper, more mature voice suited the music fairly well. And I like how no-nonsense his singing was on the album (no forced drama or contrived singing styles).

Note: Yes, I'm well aware of the fact that this is an old topic. But I was looking through some archived posts, found it and decided to post another response to it.

Although both are good, I find Load more of a varied listen, probably because I've listened to it less.

Strange poll, the black album will win this to easy.

The NEW Black is the only Black album that matters anymore.

Which never fails to baffle me. I don't see how King Nothing was any worse than Enter Sandman. Or how Mama Said was any worse than Nothing Else Matters. Or how Bleeding Me was any worse than My Friend Of Misery.

And for the record, I can't stand the original Unforgiven and much prefer Unforgiven 2.

doesnt like either but...the black album is better than below medicore load

Hmm... Lemme see. I like Enter Sandman. It's way better than King Nothing. Althought I like Mama Said, Nothing Else matters is one of my fav tracks. Ok, Bleeding Me is better than My Friend Of Misery which I consider a weak track on TBA. So, 2 out of 3. TBA wins.

To what do you compare Wherever I may roam? Oh right you can't since it was the last few bit of kickass metal metallica had left in them.

I suppose King Nothing would be the closest comparison to that song. As I've said before, I like about half of the Black Album:

1. Enter Sandman (despite being massively overplayed)
2. Sad But True
3. Wherever I May Roam
4. Nothing Else Matters (to a lesser extent than the rest)
5. Of Wolf And Man
6. The God That Failed (my personal favorite song)
7. The Struggle Within

Everything else is average at best, awful at worst. I actually used to like My Friend Of Misery, but that chorus really kills it for me now.
I still like its verses, though.

I have to agree with some of the posters here in saying that I do think Metallica played what they wanted to play on the Load twins. You don't play bluesy rock and then expect it to be embraced by the mainstream (if that were the case, you'd play no-nonsense alternative, pop-punk, or R&B). My belief is that Load's rather commercial/mainstream sound was mostly because of Bob Rock's production. He "overproduced" it, if you will. Giving it an overly clean sound, and giving Metallica that post-Seattle alternative sound almost every rock band was getting at the time. But if you listen to the Load demos from 1994/1995, you'll notice none of them sound like alternative rock songs.

A little tidbit too: I wonder how many people realize Metallica (with the exception of may be James Hetfield due to a pyrotechnic accident he had on stage around 1993/1994) still had long hair when they recorded and mixed the songs on Load. The haircuts were AFTER that album was finished.

That is a direct quote from wikipedia. No sources but if it is on some kind of monster (which I didn't watch) then I guess it is true and reliable.

You may like it but even they agree with the majority that it was average.

Ironically, I actually remember James saying around early-2001 that, in hindsight, Load was actually his favorite Metallica album. Of course, musicians are always fickle about these things. Right now, Dave Mustaine says (picture Ross Geller on Friends saying this), "WE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE WAY RISK TURNED OUT!!!!!" But when it was released eight years ago, he called it his greatest achievement. Right now, James says Master Of Puppets is his favorite Metallica album. I know that even the bandmembers themselves are unhappy with St. Anger right now, but I'm not really sure of how they feel looking back on Load. I do know that Bleeding Me is still one of James's favorite Metallica songs (though his overall favorite is I think The Thing That Should Not Be).

Musicians are their own worst critics anyways

The Black Album. I feel it's more consistent than 'Load', as Load sometimes became boring for me. Plus TBA has 'The Unforgiven', 'Sad But True' and 'Wherever I May Roam' on it.

No more is needed to be said but The God That Failed is almost equally kickass.

Both albums are good but load compared to the black album, the black album will come out on top every time.

Enter Sandman, Sad But True, The Unforgiven, The God That Failed, Wherever I May Roam, Through The Never, My Friend Of Misery, Dont Tread On Me....etc, are all Metallica classics.

Yet, Load does have some great songs too including Aint My Bitch, Until It Sleeps, King Nothing, The House Jack Built, The Outlaw Torn, Thorn Within and Cure.

But Load also has some of the worst Metallica songs including Wasting My Hate, 2 X 4 and Poor Twisted Me.

I like the good load songs as much as the black album songs, but still have the black album as the better release.