In the mid-’90s, Metallica’s image and sound were polarizing topics for metal fans. In the midst of the alternative and grunge music movements, the band cut their hair, changed their logo and took a slicker, less-metal approach to things with the “Load” and “Reload” albums.
Recently, Metallica’s former longtime producer Bob Rock, who was at the helm for both records, commented on that era of the legendary metal band. Rock said the albums were Metallica’s response to what was happening around them musically.
“I just think they just saw that culture was changing,” Rock told Metal Hammer. “And the rules of metal are very confining. The drum sound has to be a certain way, you can’t do harmonies. I mean, that’s just no fun.”
“One of the most admirable things about the band is they really don’t think in terms of people’s reactions. They just do what they feel is right for them. They don’t take into account what people think. When they go in a direction and they make a commitment to doing something, they just do it. And they don’t hold back.”
Metallica asked fans for input on the pair of albums earlier this year in anticipation for the re-issues of both records. While Metallica certainly stand by the music of both albums, frontman James Hetfield isn’t so keen on the artwork.
Hetfield previously told Classic Rock Magazine: “The whole ‘We need to reinvent ourselves’ topic was up (in the mid-to-late ’90s). Image isn’t an evil thing to me, but if the image isn’t you, it doesn’t make much sense.”
Hetfield said Ulrich and Hammettt were “after a U2 kind of vibe, Bono doing his alter-ego. I couldn’t get into it. I would say at least half the pictures that were to be in the booklet, I yanked out. The cover went against what I was feeling. Lars and Kirk were very into abstract art, pretending they were gay. I think they knew it bugged me. I think the cover of ‘Load’ was just a piss-take around all that. I just went along with all this crazy stupid sh*t.”
