Metallica

Re-load (Elektra)
by Rowan-Morrison

Unless you were raised a metalhead, you probably got your first exposure to Metallica when their “black album” contributed a never-ending supply of videos to MTV, and consequently shifted the band from the metal market to the larger alternative rock sector. As a result, you were sheltered from their earlier thrashing punk-metal days, unaware that it had been almost four albums before it was discovered that Hetfield could actually sing (the song “One,” if you’re curious). In any case, they’ve continued on their mellowing out campaign with this hasty follow-up to Load.

Of course, mellow for Metallica is a different type of sedateness than you’d apply to the disparity between early Bauhaus and Peter Murphy’s solo material. You see, although Metallica’s current material is still packed with enough energy to get the kids’ heads bobbing, it probably won’t instigate a lot of stage diving and pit pandemonium. Metallica’s lack of adrenaline is primarily due to their songwriting strategy of submerging power ballads beneath their traditional guitar chugging techniques. Among the standout tracks are “The Memory Remains,” which features the addictive vocal melodies of Marianne Faithfull, a sequel to “Unforgiven” that sneaks in a little country guitars and the occasional vocal twang, and the hardest hitting cut, “Fuel.” Metallica might be at the most mature point in their career, but, unfortunately, their core audience is still the kids.