"Load" is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on June 4, 1996, via Elektra Records. It marked a stylistic shift in Metallica's sound, primarily incorporating elements of hard rock, blues rock, and a touch of country, moving away from their thrash metal background. The album features a more experimental approach, reflective lyrics, and more-melodic song structures, resulting in Metallica's slowest album. The band members were influenced in part by their extensive touring with bands of different genres, including alternative rock and grunge bands like Alice in Chains and Guns N' Roses.
The artwork, titled "Semen and Blood III," is by Andres Serrano and is comprised of bovine blood and the artist's own semen sandwiched between Plexiglas. The album produced singles such as "Until It Sleeps," "Hero of the Day," "Mama Said," and "King Nothing".
During its initial release, "Load" entered the Billboard 200 at number one, and in several other countries, it debuted at the top spot. The album was certified 5x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping five million copies in the United States. However, despite its commercial success, it received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized it for its lengthy duration and lack of complexity compared to the band's previous albums.
In terms of personnel, "Load," along with its sequel "Reload" (1997), were the band's last studio albums to feature the bassist Jason Newsted.
