This 1996 double album found Metallica moving further into hard rock territory, embracing a more commercially accessible sound and image that alienated some longtime fans while drawing in new ones.
- Load was Metallica's first album of new material in four years, following the massive success of the self-titled "Black Album." It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling over 660,000 copies in its first week. The album's cover art, "Sad But True," features a reconfigured cow's head and horns, a piece by American artist Andres Serrano.
- The album was recorded at Ocean Way Recording and Quad Sound in Los Angeles, with the band self-producing alongside longtime collaborator Bob Rock. Load was the first Metallica album to feature guitarist Kirk Hammett’s name prominently in the songwriting credits. It was also the first album to feature the band's revised logo.
- Despite its divisive reception among some fans, Load achieved significant commercial success, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 and charting in the top 10 in numerous countries worldwide. It ultimately sold over 5 million copies in the US alone. The album spawned hit singles such as "Until It Sleeps" and "King Nothing."
Metallica is a heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, known for popularizing the genre in the 1980s. Load, released in 1996, marked a significant shift in their sound and visual aesthetic.
Tracklist
