Reload Songs Ranked

Reload is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on November 18, 1997, via Elektra Records. The album is a follow-up to Load, released the previous year, and Metallica’s last studio album to feature the …And Justice for All-era lineup, with bassist Jason Newsted leaving the band in January 2001, though it was not his last release with the band. Reload debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 436,000 copies in its first week. It was certified 3× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping three million copies in the United States. Here are all of Reload’s songs ranked.

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13. Slither

“Is it a groove? Is it a crawl? I don’t know but it is just a borefest. “Carpe Diem Baby” honestly lulls you off to sleep, such is the lack of inspiration and the soothing flow of guitar and vocals. Yes, soothing flow. Doesn’t sound like a metal record does it? Sounds like an easy listening collection.”

12. Bad Seed

“The shortest song on the album. A lot of people say that the main solo in the song “Your Time Has Come” by Audioslave rips off the intro riff in this one, but I think otherwise. Also, the drumming in this song shows how amazing of a drummer Lars Ulrich is! I love the use of double bass pedals in this song! The lyrics are most likely about the story of Adam and Eve in the Bible. Make use of more of those vocal effects. Another one of the more underrated songs.”

11. Prince Charming

“The fastest song on the album. Intro is fucking awesome. Lyrics are about a person who was rejected by his parents, so he is angry at his mom for the way he was treated, and is taking it out on everyone else. Very underrated!”

10. Attitude

“Pretty much the most badass song on the album! I love how, just like “Fuel”, it gets right into it from the start! Also another one of the faster songs on the album. The lyrics describe an attitude which says: “I have a temptation to do something rebellious – so what’s wrong with breaking the rules for having a little fun?”, which could apply to me a little! Overall, absolutely badass and underrated!”

See more: Metallica Albums Ranked

9. Better Than You

“This is a pretty badass song. It has some really awesome driving riffs. The lyrics simply tell about someone striving to be better than someone else, which can apply to a lot of us. Also, this one won a Grammy, which outraged a lot of people because they said it’s lame and pointless, but I think otherwise. It is a little bit of a filler though, but it still has its strengths. Overall, a great hard rocker.”

8. Where the Wild Things Are

“This song is built entirely on atmosphere, and I love how brooding and eerie as hell it is! The song makes use of a double vocal track, and as a result, it doesn’t even sound like James in the song. The solo is amazing as well. The song, as referenced by the title, reminds me a lot of the book “Where the Wild Things Are”, which was a such a big part of my childhood! The song is about how screwed up the world is and how today’s youth should not just lay down and give up, and that they should fight for what they want. Very underrated song, and definitely one of the best songs on the album.”

7. Carpe Diem Baby

“This song is another pretty awesome hard rocker. I love how during the solo, the bass and lead guitar are intertwined together, which gives it a really cool effect! This song basically means “seize the day, baby”. Definitely one of the of the more underrated songs on the album.”

6. Low Man’s Lyric

“This song probably surprised people when they first heard it, as I was surprised as well. This song also makes use of a hurdy gurdy, which I never thought I would hear in a Metallica song! It also has a violin in it, which surprised me even more! The lyrics tell about a homeless man’s thoughts. Overall, this song is absolutely beautiful and emotional!”

See more: Metallica Songs Ranked

5. Devil’s Dance

“Starts off with heavy bass and drums. More of a groove metal/hard rock-ish song. Lyrics represent the devil trying to tempt you, and James does an amazing job with it! “

4. Fixxxer

“We’ve finally arrived at the album closer, which is one of the best songs Metallica have ever done (as well as the longest on the album)! The stereo effect during the intro is incredibly haunting, along with the awesome echoed riff! The song is very emotional and powerful, as it describes how James went through child abuse. This is shown in the lyric “Can you heal what father’s done? Or fix this hole in a mother’s son? Can you heal the broken worlds within? Can you strip away so we may start again? Tell me, can you heal what father’s done? Or cut this rope and let us run? Just when all seems fine and I’m pain-free, you jab another pin, jab another pin in me!”.”

3. The Memory Remains

“One of the more interesting songs on the album. Features Marianne Faithful, who does the “na-na-na-nanana-na-na-na-naaaa” part in the middle and at the end of the song. 2nd most well-known song on the album, and it is another classic!”

2. The Unforgiven II

“The sequel to the first Unforgiven from the Black Album has more of a country feel to it, but it isn’t a bad song at all. This makes it more of an emotional song. What’s really awesome about this one is that it quotes the first Unforgiven with lyrics like “What I’ve felt, what I’ve known…”, “So I dub thee unforgiven…”, and “Never free, never me…”. In all honesty, I like this one more than the first one.”

1. Fuel

“Most well known song on the album, and it is a true classic! Gets right into it from the start, just like Load’s opener “Ain’t My Bitch”. Starts off with the iconic “Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire!”. Really something that you can head bang to! Also, this would be a really great song to listen to while playing a racing game! Overall, an exceptional album opener!”