Image: Metallica [Official Press Photo]
When Metallica released their seventh studio album Reload in 1997, the debates were huge. Its predecessor Load had already surprised many fans with a major stylistic shift. The band moved away from classic thrash metal and toward hard rock, blues, and Southern rock influences. Reload continued down that path. The album was originally created alongside Load during the same recording sessions. The two records were initially intended to be released as a double album, but ultimately came out separately.
Despite all the controversy, the commercial success was enormous: Reload reached No. 1 in the charts in numerous countries and produced several true live classics with songs like “Fuel” and “The Unforgiven II.” On June 26, 2026, the album will also receive an extensive remastered reissue for its 30th anniversary, including previously unreleased material. Reason enough to take a closer look at the songs on the record. Here’s our ranking!
13. Slither
“Slither” is certainly one of the more forgotten tracks on the album. In many ways, the song strongly reflects the classic hard rock influence Metallica embraced more heavily in the late ’90s. The groovy rhythm and laid-back structure, in particular, stand out from the band’s earlier thrash sound. Interestingly, Metallica themselves have never played the song live, which has helped it remain something of a hidden deep cut within their discography.
12. Bad Seed
Raw, bluesy, dirty. “Bad Seed” showcases Metallica’s Southern rock side particularly clearly and at times sounds like a mix of classic hard rock and an American desert-road soundtrack. James Hetfield’s vocals are especially striking here: deeper, more controlled, and much more rooted in classic rock than during the Master Of Puppets (1986) or ...And Justice For All (1988) era. Not a typical Metallica song — and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting.
11. Attitude
The title fits perfectly. “Attitude” thrives less on technical complexity and more on pure swagger and grit. Thanks to the catchy song structure the band focused on at the time, the chorus sticks in your head immediately. The track probably would have worked incredibly well live, but it never really became part of the band’s regular setlist. Still, “Attitude” is one of the songs that captures the overall mood of Reload particularly well.
10. Carpe Diem Baby
One of the most underrated songs on Reload! “Carpe Diem Baby” creates an almost hypnotic atmosphere and shows just how experimental Metallica were during that era. The song’s dynamics work especially well: calm passages collide with heavy guitars and a chorus that slowly unfolds over time. Fans of the more atmospheric side of the Load/Reload era will definitely get their money’s worth here.
9. Better Than You
“Better Than You” won the Grammy Award for “Best Metal Performance” in 1999. While fans rarely rank it among the album’s absolute highlights, the song still delivers a tremendous amount of energy. Its direct structure and more aggressive overall vibe help set it apart from many of the other tracks on Reload. Metallica only played it live on rare occasions, which — combined with the Grammy win — has turned it into something of a curious oddity in the band’s discography.
8. Devil’s Dance
“Devil’s Dance” thrives on its dragging rhythm and is definitely one of the heaviest songs on the album. Drummer Lars Ulrich later described it as one of the “sexiest grooves” the band had ever written. The atmosphere is especially striking here: the song feels threatening, almost hypnotic, and demonstrates just how effectively Metallica could work with slower tempos in the late ’90s.
7. Prince Charming
“Prince Charming” charges forward more directly than many of the other songs on Reload — and has absolutely nothing to do with reality TV. The track combines the hard rock sound of the era with classic Metallica riffs, making it feel significantly more aggressive than large parts of the rest of the album. James Hetfield’s vocals radiate confidence and attitude throughout. Although the song was never one of the major singles, it remains a fan favorite today.
6. Low Man’s Lyric
“Low Man’s Lyric” is probably the most unusual song on the album. With hurdy-gurdy-like sounds, acoustic elements, and a melancholic atmosphere, it ventures deep into folk rock territory, making it one of the band’s most fascinating experiments. Lyrically, the song deals with loneliness and the feeling of never truly belonging anywhere — themes James Hetfield conveys with surprising vulnerability.
5. Fixxxer
“Fixxxer” is a true fan favorite and is widely regarded as one of the most emotional songs of the Load/Reload era. The track went decades without ever being performed live — until Metallica surprisingly debuted it onstage in 2021. Its dark atmosphere and slow-burning buildup are what make the song so powerful and lingering. Many fans even consider “Fixxxer” one of the best songs Metallica wrote during the late ’90s.
4. Where The Wild Things Are
A song that often flies under the radar despite being musically fascinating. The track partially originated from ideas by bassist Jason Newsted and stands out thanks to its progressive structure. “Where The Wild Things Are” feels highly experimental at times and shows that Metallica deliberately wanted to explore new musical directions and play with a wide range of influences during that period.
3. The Memory Remains
“The Memory Remains” remains one of the band’s biggest live anthems to this day. The legendary singalong section performed by British singer Marianne Faithfull made the song immortal. Few tracks from the late ’90s are sung louder by fans at concerts. Lyrically, the song deals with fame and transience — themes that perfectly match its atmosphere. Especially live, “The Memory Remains” takes on an entirely unique magic of its own.
2. The Unforgiven II
A sequel to one of Metallica’s biggest songs ever? At the time, that sounded risky — but it worked surprisingly well. “The Unforgiven II” carries over many of the emotional elements of the original while sounding noticeably more melodic and accessible. One particularly interesting fact: it remains the band’s only true sequel song to this day. James Hetfield’s vocals are front and center here, revealing a more vulnerable side that Metallica had rarely shown before.
1. Fuel
“GIMME FUEL, GIMME FIRE, GIMME THAT WHICH I DESIRE!” — it probably doesn’t get more late-’90s Metallica than this. “Fuel” is still the song from Reload and an absolute live classic. The track combines speed, massive groove, and a gigantic singalong chorus into the perfect stadium anthem. Supposedly, James Hetfield was inspired by his love of fast cars and hot-rod culture — or maybe he just took a lap around Rock am Ring, who knows. Either way, “Fuel” still works unbelievably well live and reliably sends crowds into absolute chaos.
