Metallica Just Dug Up Something Huge From the ’90s

Metallica fans, brace yourselves; because the heavy metal music giants are cracking open the vaults and letting everything out. Well, almost everything. The band recently announced a deluxe reissue of their 1996 album “Load,” and it’s not just a shiny remaster; we’re talking over 200 previously unreleased pieces of music. That’s right… 245 epic tracks are packed into this thing, and it’s giving hardcore fans a reason to crank the volume and cancel all weekend plans.

According to Pitchfork, the massive box set is due out on June 7, 2025 via the band’s label, Blackened Recordings, and includes all the remastered original tracks alongside live recordings, demos, and rough mixes. Basically, if Metallica touched it in the “Load” era, it’s in here.

From Controversial Cut to Collector’s Treasure

Let’s get real; “Load” didn’t exactly get a standing ovation from every corner of the metal scene when it first dropped. The band shifted their sound, chopped their hair, and leaned hard into experimental rock.

Some fans were all-in.

Others? Not so much. 

But nearly 30 years later, it seems like Metallica is embracing that risk with pride. And we’re here for it.

The deluxe edition of “Load” includes 4 CDs, 4 LPs, and a whopping 3 DVDs (Pitchfork). That’s not a box set… it’s an archive. And tucked inside all that gear are gems like live versions from the 1996-97 tour, demo sessions that sound like they were ripped straight from the studio floor, and rare rehearsals that offer a glimpse into the band’s raw creative process. 

For the collectors, this is pure gold. For the curious? It’s a crash course in Metallica’s most daring era.

What’s Old Is New (and Loud) Again

Metallica’s been doing this deluxe reissue thing for a minute now (i.e. “Kill ‘Em All,” “Master of Puppets,” “The Black Album”) but “Load” getting the remaster-and-reveal treatment feels especially cool. It’s a reminder that even the more divisive chapters of a band’s history deserve some spotlight. Plus, this era gave us “King Nothing,” “Until It Sleeps,” and some seriously underrated deep cuts.

So whether you’re a day-one ride-or-die or someone just now circling back to the late-‘90s Metallica vibes, this reissue is loud, loaded, and long overdue.

And hey, with 245 new tracks? You’ve got plenty to chew on until “Reload” gets its turn. Will you be picking up a physical copy or streaming your way through the chaos? The choice is yours!