142. 🤘Metallica's MTV Era: The Black Album, Load, & Reload

The Nostalgia Test Podcast

Dan & Billy welcome back longtime friend & Nostalgia Test Podcast Allstar Jeremy Madson to put Metallica's 90s MTV Era to the ultimate test—THE NOSTALGIA TEST!

“We’re on the reverse trajectory of Kiss. Right? Because KISS took the makeup off in the nineties and Metallic put it on.”
-Jeremy Madson

The boys continue the Metallica Eras journey Nostalgia Test Podcast Metalheads with the controversial 90s studio albums The Black Album, Load, & Reload, also known as the MTV era & the Jason Newstead. Dan, Billy, & Jeremy headbang down memory lane and talk about hearing these albums for the first time, the weird transition from the thrash era to whatever this mid-life metal crisis was, the shift in Metallica's musical style, the peculiar cover art for Load & Reload, and production choices. They go track-by-track and create a 10-track merged version of Load & Reload called Unload, which you can listen to here. In the end, the guys rank the 90s era albums.

If you’re a Metallica nerd, this episode is for you. If you’re not, listen anyway and give it 5-stars.

Listen to Unload on Spotify!

Email us ([email protected]) ranking so we can share them on the next Metallica episode!

APPROXIMATE RUN OF SHOW:

00:00 Introduction to the Metallica Nostalgia Test

00:37 Recap of Previous Episodes and Albums

01:17 The Nineties Era: MTV and Jason Newstead

01:55 Metallica's Costume Era and Music Videos

03:23 High School Memories and Metallica's Influence

09:26 The Black Album: A Turning Point

19:24 Load and Reload: The Controversial Albums

40:51 Guitar Solos and Bob Rock's Influence

41:58 Debating the Merits of 'Bleeding Me'

42:34 Critiquing 'Cure' and Other Tracks

44:24 Discussing 'Wasting My Hate'

46:38 Country Influences in Metallica's Music

47:11 The Controversial 'Mama Said'

47:46 Evaluating 'Thorn Within' and 'Ronnie'

50:42 The Outlaw Torn and Album Reflection

51:10 Nostalgia Test: Does 'Load' Hold Up?

55:50 Comparing 'Load' to Other Albums of the Era

58:13 Introduction to 'Reload' and Its Reception

58:48 Lead Singles and Album Strategy

01:00:35 Track-by-Track Breakdown of 'Reload'

01:09:32 The Unforgiven II: A Sequel Song

01:13:29 Mixed Reviews on 'Better Than You' and 'Slither'

01:14:56 Debating the Middle Part of the Song

01:15:25 Critiquing the Lyrics and Vocals

01:15:49 Generic Hard Rock and Stoner Rock Comparisons

01:16:39 Discussing 'Where the Wild Things Are'

01:17:05 Lars' Dad's Brutal Honesty

01:17:44 Evaluating 'Prince Charming'

01:18:07 The Unmemorable Riffs

01:20:33 The Irish Bar Drinking Song Vibe

01:21:20 WWE and 'Attitude'

01:21:27 The Lengthy 'Fixer'

01:23:01 Reload Exhaustion and Nostalgia

01:29:50 Ranking and Sequencing the Best Tracks

01:43:45 Final Thoughts and Ranking the Era

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The intro and outro music ('Neon Attack 80s') is by Emanmusic.

The Lithology Brewing ad music ("Red, White, Black, & Blue") is by PEG and the Rejected