Load - Metallica (Cassette 1996)

Metallica fans all know the progression: After four ballsy, thrashy metal albums, the band transitioned into Metallica, also known as the black album, and that's where most say the trouble began. While the black album brought the band into the mainstream and produced a lot of genuinely great hits, it also signified the band's metamorphosis into more of a hard-rock outfit than a heavy metal one. But the band didn't really start losing old fans and relying on new ones until Load came out. If you're looking for controversy within a fan base, this is it -- what was Metallica thinking when they...

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...

Two of the most challenging albums for an artist are the sophomore album and a follow-up to a smash hit. The sophomore album is often challenging for an artist because it is a test to see if there is actually talent behind the band, not just novelty. In 1984, Metallica passed their sophomore test with Ride The Lightning. In fact, most consider it superior to its predecessor, 1983's Kill 'Em All. I don't know that much about Kill 'Em All, so I can't really compare them. A follow-up to a smash is different. The artist is often pressured by labels and fans to run the formula of the previous...

After almost a decade of unparalleled success, and fresh off their monster hit self-titled album in 1991, Metallica was the new God of heavy metal. It would be another five years before the group would record their next album, "Load", which was praised by critics but met with a mixed reaction from the fans. Many longtime metalheads felt cheated by Metallica's newest turn in music style, and who went on to proclaim them as sell-outs. However, just because a band creates songs that have a slower pace and which are more lyrically complex doesn't mean they've sold out. Metallica knew that the...