As someone who liked the long hair, the style and the look of Metallica 80s into early 90s, and that raw feel felt like it was fading. This to me is understandable but I did like the older look and style better. The black album felt like to some people that Metallica was changing into a band that people were like not for me because it was the opposite of Ride the Lightning or Master of Puppets. So yeah, some fans checked out, and some fans came in. But either way Metallica was still rocking. This period just wasn't the greatest because of the change in image of Metallica to the style of music and James's voice was beginning to become like what it is now. Which isn't bad, but you can tell what the 90s did James and Metallica.

Metallica in the 80s was fast and heavy in the style of thrash metal. The 90s black album felt more rock with some leftovers of the thrash heavy style. Load and reload felt like more blues, with more southern rock. Definitely more ballads like hero of the day, mama said, and until it sleeps. The song writing definitely was different. Now these two are far from my two favorite Metallica albums but some of the best song writing which was on Load and Reload. Look at bleeding me and the drinking problem James was dealing with.

Load and reload also showed how Hetfield vocals were declining from years of heavy drinking and touring heavily. This album also showed even though Jason had been in the band for around 10 years, that he only had one song in between the two albums which was where the wild things are. Metallica definitely started to show changes in style with this album. I think overall both albums are not bad but definitely towards the bottom of my Metallica studio albums if I was to rank top to bottom. 

Load Songs I liked: Ain’t My Bitch, The House That Jack Built, King Nothing, Bleeding Me (favorite), Wasting My Hate, Outlaw Torn. I don’t mind Mama Said, Hero of the Day, or Until It Sleeps depending on my mood.  I don't like 2x4, Cure, and Thorn Within. Least favorite: Thorn Within.

Reload Songs I liked? Fuel, Better Than You, Bad Seed, Where the Wild Things Are, Attitude, Fixxxer. Favorite: Devil Dance. I did not like Prince Charming, Slither, Carpe Deme Baby, and Low man lyric. Least favorite: Low Man’s Lyric. Where the wild things are was Jason songs in Metallica. 

So overall both albums are far from my favorites in Metallica catalog, but both do have some good songs.

Metallica doesn't play a lot of songs off of load and reload live anymore. Every now and then Metallica will bring out a song or two like King nothing Fuel or even a surprise like Fixxer. Metallica as of 2025 has not played the following songs live, from load, The house that jack built, Mama Said (except James's solo), Ronnie, Thorn Within, and Cure. The following songs have not been played live off of reload which are Prince Charming, Attitude, Better than you, Slither, Bad Seed, and Where the Wild Things Are. I don't know if Metallica will ever play these songs live because usually just plays the heavier stuff live in the setlist like Battery or Creeping Death. But it would be cool to see Metallica bring out a song or two they have never played live like Better Than You or Attitude or even Ronnie.

Metallica is still alive and kicking, but the 90s brought a lot of change that shaped the band today. Load and Reload weren’t the peak of Metallica’s career for some fans, but they had great songwriting, unique styles, and songs that are worth revisiting. These albums show a band experimenting, evolving, and still rocking. What do you think of Load and Reload? Did you like or dislike load or reload? Let me know in the comments.