Reload cover art

  Studio Album · No. 7

Reload Songwriting Credits by Metallica

1997 Elektra Records 13 tracks 76 min

Produced by Bob Rock, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich  ·  Engineered by Mike Fraser (mixing), George Marino (mastering)

Elektra Records Hard RockHeavy Metal
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 13 of 13 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 13 / 13 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 13 tracks with documented writers, by whether Metallica carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
13 trackswritten by Metallica 0 tracksoutside writers
Metallica's roles on this album

Share of the 13 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

13
Tracks
4
Lyricists
3
Producers
4 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1997
Released

Awards & Recognition 2

Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance (1999)
Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance (1999, Nominated)
Data Insight

Reload was produced by Bob Rock alongside James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, with Mike Fraser mixing and George Marino mastering. Built from material recorded during the same sessions as Load (1996), the album continues its predecessor's genre-hybrid direction. "The Memory Remains" features Marianne Faithfull on spoken-word vocals. "The Memory Remains" reached number 28 and "The Unforgiven II" reached number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Better than You" won Grammy Best Metal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999, and "Fuel" received a nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the same ceremony. The album has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

Reload is the seventh studio album by Metallica, released in November 1997 on Elektra Records and produced by Bob Rock, a continuation of the Load sessions compiled from approximately 27 tracks that had been recorded in the same period but held back for a second release rather than issued as a double album. The decision to release the two albums separately was commercial as much as artistic; it allowed for two album promotion cycles, two tour legs, and two rounds of Grammy eligibility rather than one combined package. Hetfield and Ulrich co-wrote the majority of the material; Hammett and Newsted received credits on several tracks, making Reload one of the more democratically credited Metallica albums in terms of composition. 'Fuel,' 'The Memory Remains' (featuring a spoken vocal from Marianne Faithfull), and 'The Unforgiven II' were the principal singles; 'The Memory Remains' received substantial rock radio play and the Faithfull collaboration connected Metallica's audience to a different generation of rock history. Reload debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 but sold fewer copies than Load in the long run, and the two albums together are now generally regarded as a single artistic period rather than two distinct statements.

Track Listing & Credits 13 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Fuel
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
2
The Memory Remains #28
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
3
Devil's Dance
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
4
The Unforgiven II #59
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
5
Better than You
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
6
Slither
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
7
Carpe Diem Baby
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
8
Bad Seed
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
9
Where the Wild Things Are
James HetfieldLars UlrichJason Newsted James HetfieldLars UlrichJason Newsted Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
10
Prince Charming
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
11
Low Man's Lyric
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
12
Attitude
James HetfieldLars Ulrich James HetfieldLars Ulrich Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)
13
Fixxxer
James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett James HetfieldLars UlrichKirk Hammett Bob RockJames HetfieldLars Ulrich James Hetfield (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar)Lars Ulrich (Drums)Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar)Jason Newsted (Bass)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

More from Metallica

Frequently Asked Questions Reload

Who produced Reload by Metallica?
Reload was produced by Bob Rock alongside James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich, with Mike Fraser mixing and George Marino mastering. The material was recorded in the same sessions that produced Load (1996). Reload was released November 18, 1997, through Elektra Records.
What Grammy Award did Reload by Metallica win?
"Better than You" from Reload won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999. "Fuel" from the same album received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance at the same ceremony.
Who is the guest vocalist on The Memory Remains by Metallica?
The Memory Remains features Marianne Faithfull, the iconic British singer and Rolling Stones collaborator, on spoken-word/singing vocals. It was the lead single from Reload, released October 1997, and reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What chart position did The Memory Remains by Metallica reach on the Billboard Hot 100?
"The Memory Remains" reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Metallica's second-highest charting Hot 100 single, behind only "Until It Sleeps" from Load (1996), which peaked at number 10.
Is Reload by Metallica a sequel to Load?
Reload is a companion album to Load rather than a sequel, both were recorded during the same extended sessions at the Plant Studios in Sausalito, California. The songs were split into two separate releases; Load was released May 1996 and Reload followed November 1997. The band has played songs from both albums interchangeably on tour.
How many copies did Reload by Metallica sell worldwide?
Reload sold over 4 million copies worldwide and received 4× Platinum RIAA certification for 4.48 million US copies shipped. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 436,000 first-week copies in November 1997.
What chart position did The Unforgiven II by Metallica reach on the Billboard Hot 100?
"The Unforgiven II" peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was released January 1998 as the second single from Reload, following "The Memory Remains" (#28). Both The Unforgiven (Load) and The Unforgiven II (Reload) appeared on consecutive Metallica albums, with The Unforgiven (1991) not charting on the Hot 100.

Sources