Jump to content

Reload (Metallica album)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Metallica/Reload)

Reload
Studio album by
Metallica
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997 (1997-11-18)
Recorded
  • May 1995 – February 1996
  • July–October 1997[1]
StudioThe Plant (Sausalito, California)
Genre
Length76:04
LabelElektra
Producer
Metallica chronology
Load
(1996) 		Reload
(1997) 		Garage Inc.
(1998)
Metallica studio album chronology
Load
(1996) 		Reload
(1997) 		St. Anger
(2003)
Singles from Reload
  1. "The Memory Remains"
    Released: November 11, 1997[6]
  2. "The Unforgiven II"
    Released: February 23, 1998[7]
  3. "Fuel"
    Released: June 22, 1998[8]
  4. "Better Than You"
    Released: July 16, 1998

Reload is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on November 18, 1997,[9] via Elektra Records. The album is a follow-up to Load, released the previous year, and Metallica's last studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted. Reload debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. It was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping three million copies in the United States.

Background

[edit]

Reload was recorded at The Plant, a wood-panelled studio in Sausalito, California. The session was produced by Bob Rock, who also produced Metallica's previous two albums. The original idea was to release Load and Reload as a double album. However, with problems recording so many songs at one time, the band decided that half of the songs were to be released and the band would continue to work on the remaining songs and release them the following year.

Speaking about the recording sessions in an interview for Guitar World, guitarist Kirk Hammett stated that "We were gonna do them both as a double album, but we didn't want to spend that long in the studio. Also, if we did a double album, it would have been a lot more material for people to digest, and some of it might have gotten lost in the shuffle."[10] It was the final Metallica studio album to feature the lineup with bassist Jason Newsted, before he left the band in January 2001, though it was not his last release with the band.

Reload marks the first Metallica album to include a guest singer (Marianne Faithfull in "The Memory Remains").

This was the second album to feature most songs in E♭ tuning, with "Bad Seed" being played in D♭ tuning and "Devil's Dance" in D tuning. D tuning was earlier used for "The Thing That Should Not Be" on Master of Puppets, "Sad but True" on Metallica and later used for "Sabbra Cadabra", and "Whiskey in the Jar" from Garage Inc. Seven songs from the album have been played live, "Fuel", "The Memory Remains", "Devil's Dance", "The Unforgiven II", "Carpe Diem Baby", "Low Man's Lyric" and "Fixxxer".

There were occasional jam sessions of songs such as "Better Than You", "Bad Seed", "Where the Wild Things Are", and "Fixxxer". "Carpe Diem Baby" premiered at Metallica's 30th anniversary concert in 2011.[11]

'Fixxxer' premiered at Metallica's first 40th anniversary concert at the Chase Center in San Francisco, on December 17, 2021.[12]

Songs that have not been played live in their entirety are "Better than You", "Slither", "Bad Seed", "Where the Wild Things Are", "Prince Charming" and "Attitude".[13]

Artwork and packaging

[edit]

Like Load, the album artwork was again created by Andres Serrano, which is a mix of bovine blood and his own urine. Hence, the artwork is titled "Piss and Blood XXVI".[14] All the photos in the liner notes were taken from the 1997 Cunning Stunts concert.

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[15]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal7/10[16]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[17]
Entertainment WeeklyB[5]
Rolling Stone[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[18]

Reload was met with mixed to favorable reviews. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine thought the record was worthwhile and noted it was heavily influenced by Southern rock. He did not approve of the idea of doing the sequel "The Unforgiven II", but praised the collaboration with Marianne Faithfull on "The Memory Remains".[15] Dan Snierson from Entertainment Weekly said Reload "continues Metallica's journey into stripped-down maturity while toying with fresh melodic textures" and "also forsakes some of the punchy hooks and gut-clenching heft that elevated recent Metallica CDs".[5]

Rolling Stone's Lorraine Ali opined the album was rooted in heavy metal despite some songs being influenced by "bluesy rock & roll". She said Reload was not Metallica's best, but named it a steppingstone in Metallica's legacy.[4] On the other hand, Musician described the album as "greasy, driving, full of fat grooves, lyric and rhythmic hooks, and sonic curveballs". The magazine felt it "captures one of rock's greatest bands at its peak".[19]

Canadian journalist Martin Popoff lamented the "dull, unfinished, unrealized" songwriting in many songs, but praised the production and groove of the album.[16] British author Paul Stenning said Metallica were "at their best on the likes of opener 'Fuel', the inspired follow up to an old favourite in 'The Unforgiven II' and the closing 'Fixxxer' which had a fantastic lead riff."[20]

In 2020, Metal Hammer included it in their list of top 10 albums of 1997.[21]

Reload sold 436,000 units in first week and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.[22] The album remained on the chart for 75 weeks,[23] and sold just over four million copies in the United States by December 2009.[24] It was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping three million copies in the United States. Reload peaked at number two on the Canadian Albums Chart, and was certified double platinum by Music Canada.

Track listing

[edit]

All lyrics are written by James Hetfield

No.TitleMusicLength
1."Fuel"
4:30
2."The Memory Remains" (with Marianne Faithfull)
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
4:39
3."Devil's Dance"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
5:19
4."The Unforgiven II"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
6:36
5."Better Than You"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
5:21
6."Slither"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
5:13
7."Carpe Diem Baby"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
6:12
8."Bad Seed"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
4:05
9."Where the Wild Things Are"
6:53
10."Prince Charming"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
6:05
11."Low Man's Lyric"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
7:36
12."Attitude"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
5:17
13."Fixxxer"
  • Hetfield
  • Ulrich
  • Hammett
8:15
Total length:76:04

Personnel

[edit]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for Reload
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[65] Platinum 60,000^
Australia (ARIA)[66] 5× Platinum 350,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[67] Gold 25,000*
Belgium (BEA)[68] Gold 25,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[69] 2× Platinum 200,000^
Estonia — 5,000[70]
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[71] Platinum 45,271[71]
France (SNEP)[72] Gold 100,000*
Germany (BVMI)[73] 5× Gold 1,250,000‡
Hong Kong (IFPI Hong Kong)[74] Gold 10,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[75] Platinum 200,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[76] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[77] Platinum 15,000^
Poland (ZPAV)[78] Platinum 100,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[79] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[80] Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[81] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[82] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[84] 3× Platinum 4,480,000[83]
Summaries
Europe (IFPI)[85] 2× Platinum 2,000,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Reload | Metallica.com". metallica.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2020. Recorded & Mixed at The Plant Studios, Sausalito, CA at various points in time between May 1995 and February 1996 and July and October 1997
  2. ^ Eduardo Rivadavia (November 18, 2013). "16 Years Ago: Metallica Release 'Reload'". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  3. ^ vh1 (May 18, 2015). "A Different Take On Metal's Biggest Sound Departures". VH1. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved September 9, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c Ali, Lorraine (November 20, 1997). "Metallica: Reload". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c Snierson, Dan (November 21, 1997). "Metallica: Reload". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  6. ^ "The Memory Remains". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  7. ^ "The Unforgiven II". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "Fuel". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
  9. ^ "Reload | Metallica.com". Metallica.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  10. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon (November 25, 2011). "James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica Discuss Their 1997 Album, 'Re-Load'". Guitar World. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
  11. ^ Merlin. "Metallica: Extended 30th Anniversary Highlights". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on April 6, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "Watch Metallica Play "Fixxxer" Live For The First Time At 40th Anniversary Show". Stereogum. December 18, 2021. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  13. ^ Bowar, Chad (November 18, 1997). "Metallica: Reload". Ultimate Metallica. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  14. ^ "Piss and Blood XXVI by Andres Serrano". Blouin Art Sales Index. Retrieved June 26, 2018.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Metallica: Reload". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  16. ^ a b Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 277–278. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
  17. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5 (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 725. ISBN 0-19-531373-9.
  18. ^ Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 538. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  19. ^ "Metallica - Reload CD Album". Musician. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2013 – via CD Universe.
  20. ^ Paul Stenning, "Metallica: All That Matters". 2010. p.179.
  21. ^ "The Top 10 best albums of 1997". Metal Hammer. July 31, 2020. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  22. ^ "Aggressive Start For Metallica's 'Anger'". Billboard. June 21, 2003. p. 57. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  23. ^ "Metallica - Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  24. ^ "Metallica's 'Black' LP Is Top-Selling Album Of Soundscan Era". Blabbermouth.net. December 23, 2009. Retrieved July 11, 2013.
  25. ^ So whatmetallica.com Archived March 2, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  27. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Metallica – Reload" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  28. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metallica – Reload" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  29. ^ "Ultratop.be – Metallica – Reload" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  30. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  31. ^ "Listen – Danmarks Officielle Hitliste – Udarbejdet af AIM Nielsen for IFPI Danmark – Uge 47". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Copenhagen. November 23, 1997.
  32. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Metallica – Reload" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  33. ^ "Eurochart Top 100 Albums - December 06, 1997" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 49. December 6, 1997. p. 13. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
  34. ^ "Metallica: Reload" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  35. ^ "Lescharts.com – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  36. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Metallica – Reload" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  37. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1997. 48. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  38. ^ "Top National Sellers: Ireland" (PDF). Music & Media. December 6, 1997. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  39. ^ "Top National Sellers: Italy" (PDF). Music & Media. December 13, 1997. p. 19. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  40. ^ "Charts.nz – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  41. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  42. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
  43. ^ "Hits of the World – Spain". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 13, 1997. p. 51. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  44. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  45. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Metallica – Reload". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  46. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  47. ^ "Metallica Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  48. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  49. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1997". ARIA. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  50. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1997". austriancharts.at (in German). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  51. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1997". Ultratop (in Dutch). Archived from the original on October 22, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  52. ^ "Rapports Annuels 1997". Ultratop (in French). Archived from the original on November 6, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  53. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1997". DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on June 23, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  54. ^ "Eurochart Top 100 Albums 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  55. ^ "Tops De L'annee: Top Albums 1997". SNEP (in French). Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  56. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  57. ^ "Year list Album (incl. Collections), 1997". Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  58. ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums for 1998". ARIA. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  59. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1998". Ultratop (in Dutch). Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  60. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1998". DutchCharts.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  61. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Albums 1998" (PDF). Music & Media. December 19, 1998. p. 8. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  62. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  63. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1998". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  64. ^ "sanah podbija sprzedaż fizyczną w Polsce" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  65. ^ "Discos de oro y platino" (in Spanish). Cámara Argentina de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  66. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  67. ^ "Austrian album certifications – Metallica – Reload" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  68. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  69. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Metallica – Re-Load". Music Canada.
  70. ^ "Kolme päeva pärast vallutab lauluväljaku aasta suurim rockishow" (in Estonian). Delfi. June 25, 1999. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  71. ^ a b "Metallica" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.
  72. ^ "French album certifications – Metallica – Reload" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  73. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Metallica; 'Reload')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  74. ^ "IFPIHK Gold Disc Award − 1997". IFPI Hong Kong. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  75. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Metallica – Reload" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved May 30, 2019. Select 1997年12月 on the drop-down menu
  76. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Metallica – Reload" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved October 3, 2019. Enter Reload in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1997 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  77. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Metallica – Re-Load". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  78. ^ "Wyróżnienia – Platynowe płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 1999 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. November 10, 1999. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  79. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 947. ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 21, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  80. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  81. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Reload')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  82. ^ "British album certifications – Metallica – Re-Load". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  83. ^ Young, Simon (March 9, 2023). "Here are the astonishing US sales stats for every Metallica album". Metal Hammer. Archived from the original on March 11, 2023. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  84. ^ "American album certifications – Metallica – Reload". Recording Industry Association of America.
  85. ^ "IFPI Platinum Europe Awards – 2007". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Chirazi, Steffan (November 22, 1997). "Ride the Lightning: The Making of 'Re-Load'". Kerrang!. No. 675. EMAP. pp. 21–23.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Reload_(Metallica_album)&oldid=1246016591"