Welcome to our latest Classic Album podcast, where Steve and Remfry tell you, our dear patrons, why we hold a record in such high esteem. It’s a pretty controversial one this week, as we are going to be taking a look for the very first time at the single biggest metal band in history by going in deep on Load, the 6th studio album by Metallica, released on the 4th of June 1996… yes, 1996 AGAIN!
This probably wouldn’t be most people’s first choice when it comes to covering Metallica, and whilst neither of us would suggest that this is the most iconic or influential period in Metallica’s career, there is a very strong argument to suggest that it is the most interesting. The toll that the huge success of 1991’s The Black Album, and it’s never ending tour, took on Metallica was sizable. It left them needing to regroup and reappraise exactly what kind of band they wanted to be. The result is a different look, a different sound and a different perspective to anything Metallica had produced before, and the reaction to it was one of illegitimate fury and disgust from certain members of the metal community. These days, over a quarter of a century after its release, everyone still has an opinion on Load. And, like it or loathe it, that makes it worth talking about, and, to add our voices to the noise, as far as we’re concerned this is Metallica’s last great album. A case that we make a pretty compelling argument for here.
Available over at patreon.com/riotactpodcast
