Rock expresses that the concept involved Kirk playing rhythms alongside James, which fundamentally shifted the Hetfield-Hammett guitar partnership in Metallica, and this transformation has been met with dissent from some.
Metallica's fifth studio album, Load, released in 1996, marked a significant shift in the band's sound and guitar dynamics. Before Load, James Hetfield was responsible for the rhythm guitar parts, but this time around, things were different.
Bob Rock, who produced both the Black Album and Load, encouraged Metallica to experiment with their sound. He found that the band's previous producers had left them a bit limited in their recording methods. As a result, he advocated for a more song-oriented approach and live recording techniques, which supported a freer creative environment.
This change in approach led to a key driver behind Metallica's change of colors. The band wanted a point-counterpoint vibe on Load, resulting in them splitting the guitars to get different sounds. Kirk Hammett was initially supposed to play rhythm guitar along with James Hetfield, but he was given more freedom in the recording process, with the instruction not to play what James played.
This shift altered their dynamic and guitar interplay, moving away from their earlier arrangements where James focused exclusively on rhythm. Jason Newstead's bass parts were heavily scrutinized on Load, and on this album, there are points where he plays with the drums instead of the guitar riff.
Load offered a different sound, less influenced by Motörhead and Black Sabbath, and more influenced by Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album has been praised for its innovative guitar work, with the guitar tandem on Load being a key factor behind the distinctive sound of the album.
James Hetfield stated that it's not exciting for Metallica anymore to play high-octane thrash riffs, and they prefer to focus on more complex chords and dissonant bits. The band's approach to their guitar playing changed again before the release of Reload in 1997, but Load remains a testament to the band's willingness to evolve and experiment with their sound.
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[1] The innovative guitar work on Load was a result of a more song-oriented and live recording approach, which allowed for a freer creative environment.
[2] Kirk Hammett, who was initially meant to play rhythm guitar along with James Hetfield, was given more freedom in the recording process, resulting in different sounds for the guitars on Load.
[3] The guitar tandem on Load was a key factor behind the distinctive sound of the album, with the band moving away from high-octane thrash riffs towards more complex chords and dissonant bits.
[4] The bass parts on Load featured points where Jason Newstead played with the drums instead of the guitar riff, adding an unusual touch to the album's music.
