Band:	Metallica
Album:	Re-Load
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	November 18, 1997
Guest review by:	The Silent Man

01. Fuel
02. The Memory Remains [feat. Marianne Faithfull]
03. Devil's Dance
04. The Unforgiven II
05. Better Than You
06. Slither
07. Carpe Diem Baby
08. Bad Seed
09. Where The Wild Things Are
10. Prince Charming
11. Low Man's Lyric [feat. Bernardo Bigalli & David Miles]
12. Attitude
13. Fixxxer

ReLoad is Metallica's second experimental album and it's meant to be the ideal follow up to Load. But I consider them as twins, as an only double cd, since these two albums have the same sound, similiar covers, identical artwork and even similiar disposition of the tracks. So I suggest you to read my review of Load before going any further.

The opening single 'Fuel' has become a true classic. I think it's Metallica's most innovative song: speed riffs, impeccable guitar work, excellent backing vocals, powerful chorus and amazing drums [I believe it's the funniest Metallica song to play for a drummer!]. Lyrics deal with high speed, fuel, fire, gasoline, engines, adrenaline. The videoclip for this song is outstanding! If the whole album was made of songs like this, I'd rate it 10/10. Unfortunately, we have to skip tracks now. The single 'The Memory Remains' could be a nice bluesy song, but it's ruined by Marianne Faithfull's awful vocals! Why so a stupid endless boring melody? A nice senseless videoclip has been filmed for this one. What a pity. The third track has a slow evil rhythm and great demoniac effects: Kirk's guitar sounds like a howling cat! Really good.

On the following track, a familiar horn intro brings us 6 years back: another 'Unforgiven'! This single is one of my favourite songs of all time. As Ronnie, this one is played on a special Fender Telecaster that gives it an amazing sound. All guitars are perfectly harmonized and effected. As in the first 'Unforgiven', there are some strings before the chorus. 'The Unforgiven II' shares some elements with the first version: the horn intro, the main guitar melody [now in the background] and the lines "What I've felt, what I've known", "So I dub thee unforgiven", "Never free, never me". But it is totally different from 'The Unforgiven': it has a different mood, it is more open, it is a true heavy ballad. It is not better and not worse than the first chapter: just different. Once again the video is evocative. I love both of them.

The following tracks are boring and a bit empty: good ideas, great melodies, new territories explored, but excessive length. As in Load, the tenth track is aggressive: 'Prince Charming' sounds heavy but it is obviously inspired by Motorhead's 'Stone Dead Forever'. Together with 'Mama Said', 'Low Man's Lyric' is Metallica's slowest and quietest song. I personally love it: outstanding vocal harmonizations, good melodies, excellent lyrics. You can even hear a violin and a cello! This song is just too long and it seems like it should never end.

The following track is similiar to 'Prince Charming': aggressive, catchy and a bit too long. As in Load, the final track is an experimental and mature piece, with dark lyrics, great sound effects, powerful chorus and unusual structure: one of the best on the album.

Finally, if you liked Load, you will like ReLoad: James' vocals are still amazing and the choruses are melodic and catchy. Vocals have never been harmonized so well. But if you're one of those who hate Load, forget about this second experiment.