Metallica's collaborative album Load, as per Bob Rock, significantly altered the guitar partnership between Hetfield and Hammett, an alteration that has proved divisive among some fans.
In 1996, Metallica released Load, an album that marked a significant departure from their traditional metal sound. This transformation was largely driven by a change in the band's production style and guitar-playing dynamics.
James Hetfield's role expanded on Load, with Kirk Hammett being given more freedom to play rhythm guitar. This collaboration resulted in a sound that was "less 'metal' and more 'rock'." Hetfield found the down-tuned guitars (E♭ tuning) particularly appealing, as they provided his voice with more "breathing room."
Hammett, inspired by guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Thin Lizzy, experimented heavily on Load. He incorporated new techniques like slide guitar on "Ain't My Bitch" and utilized different amplifiers for varied sonic textures, notably on "Hero of the Day." His solo on "Bleeding Me" was a blend of his influences and his own style.
Meanwhile, Hetfield introduced additional sonic experimentation, such as using a talk box for the solo on "The House Jack Built." Bob Rock, who returned as producer for Load, supported this departure from strictly metal rules, emphasizing songcraft over genre conventions.
Jason Newstead's approach to his bass parts on Load was heavily scrutinized. Unlike before, he sometimes played with the drums instead of the guitar riff, offering a unique rhythmic twist.
The band's change of colors was also influenced by a desire to move away from high-octane thrash riffs towards more dissonant, grinding chords. This shift was a reflection of the band's evolving musical maturity and their interest in exploring beyond traditional metal boundaries.
Load featured less Motörhead and Black Sabbath influence and more Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd influence, a testament to the band's desire to diversify their style. Bob Rock, who had produced the band's massively successful Black Album, played a crucial role in reshaping James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett's guitar-playing relationship.
In a chat ahead of the release of Reload in 1997, the band discussed their approach to Load, highlighting their intention to break from metal orthodoxy and create a looser, more rock-oriented album sound. Rock's approach to recording, which allowed for more flexibility as opposed to the band's previous mechanical method, was instrumental in facilitating this change.
[1] Source: Metallica: Backstage Pass (2010) [5] Source: Ultimate Classic Rock, "Metallica's Load: The Untold Story" (2016)
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