Metallica's album Load, according to Bob Rock, transformed the guitar duo partnership between James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, a move that some found divisive.
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Metallica's fifth studio album, the iconic Black Album, released in 1991, marked a significant milestone for the band. However, it was their follow-up album, Load, released in 1996, that brought about a transformative change in the guitar-playing relationship between James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett.
Producer Bob Rock, who worked on both the Black Album and Load, was instrumental in this change. In his own words, he is a "song person," and he facilitated a shift away from the band's previous mechanical recording style to a more organic, live approach that encouraged a fuller band sound.
Before Load, James Hetfield played all the rhythm guitar parts. But on Load, Kirk Hammett was allowed and encouraged to contribute more to rhythm guitar work, changing the usual division of guitar roles in the band. This shift opened new creative possibilities and transformed how the two guitarists interacted and complemented each other.
The band's goal on Load was to have a split in the guitars to achieve different and unique sounds. This was influenced by their newfound interest in bands like Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd, moving away from their earlier Motörhead and Black Sabbath inspirations.
The production environment and equipment changes also impacted their guitar sound. Bob Rock mentioned difficulties with new recording consoles that contributed to Load's distinct sonic character, which differed markedly from the Black Album and was less aggressive but more exploratory. This influenced Hetfield and Hammett’s approach, as the band's sound became less thrash-oriented, adopting more groove and blues-rock elements.
Jason Newstead, who joined the band as the bassist for Load, also experienced a change in approach. Bob Rock taught him to play like a bass player, which resulted in him playing with the drums at certain points. This added to the album's unique sound and dynamic.
In summary, the production and collaborative changes on Load led Hetfield and Hammett to evolve their guitar styles from a clear lead/rhythm division dominated by Hetfield into a more fluid, experimental partnership with new influences and a less rigid recording process. This reshaped Metallica's guitar sound for that era and introduced a notable stylistic shift in their music.
[1] Metallica in conversation with the website ahead of the release of Reload in 1997
[2] Interview with Bob Rock
[3] Kirk Hammett's comments on the recording process of Load and Reload
[1] In an interview prior to the release of Reload in 1997, Metallica discussed the significant evolution they experienced in their guitar techniques and styles during the recording of their previous album, Load.
[2] Bob Rock, who produced both the Black Album and Load, spoke about his role in the transformation of the guitar duo's relationship, stating that he encouraged a more organic, live approach to recording.
[3] During an interview, Kirk Hammett shared insights about the recording process of Load, highlighting the change in his role as he was allowed and encouraged to contribute more significantly to rhythm guitar work.
[4] With the addition of Jason Newstead as bassist for Load, there was also a change in bass playing techniques, as Bob Rock coached him to play like a bass player, which contributed to the unique sound and dynamics of the album.
