Metallica’s ‘Load’ Shows Mix Of Best And Worst

Webster’s defines a load as something that weighs down or oppresses. When Metallica named their latest CD, “Load,” I think they were either referring to the dark attitude of all Metallica music or to the lyrics - which are deeply depressing.

Before I begin to criticize this album, I have something I must admit: I have been a Metallica fan for almost four years now. I first became a Metaliholic when I heard “Enter Sandman” on the radio.

Metallica always has an important social message and usually you can understand the lyrics. The early buzz on “Load” was it’s Metallica’s worst release yet. For me, it is a mix of the worst, the best and some filler.

I particularly like “Mama Said.” It is a very slow song, almost a heavy metal version of a love song. Pretty surprising for a metal band.

“Until It Sleeps” is another interesting track, to say the least. The lyrics are as follows:

So tear me open but beware/ there’s something inside without a care/ and the dirt still stains me/ so wash me until I’m clean/ it grips you/ it stains you/ it hates you/ it holds you/ so hold me until it sleeps.

In my attempt to act somewhat left-brained, I analyzed this and decided it’s probably a metaphor for some hatred or evil thing in either James Hetfield (vocalist/guitarist) or Lars Ulrich (drummer), the writers of this song.

Most of the songs were okay, but my favorite part of this CD was the booklet in the cover. For no apparent reason, there is a Rorschach (inkblot) test on each of the pages. Of course, you can decide for yourself what each one looks like, but I think that each one is supposed to look a little what its corresponding song is supposed to sound like.

Unfortunately, not everything I say about this CD can be good. One fault is that, if it weren’t for the political and social commentary and the colorful metaphors, I wouldn’t really care what the lyrics were (even if I could understand all of them).

Another problem with this CD is if you listen to it for too long, all of the songs begin to melt together into one never ending banging, screeching mass of “music.” There are also other side effects to listening to Metallica too much, such as the inability to use English write (pun intended).

In summation, I’d say this album is the perfect thing for a die-hard Metallica fan, or any fan of heavy metal. If you don’t really like heavy metal, don’t expect this CD to change your mind.

For those of you who want to find out more about Metallica before you decide, check out their Web site at www.metclub.com.

Grade: B