Metallica have announced a remastered reissue of their 1997 album ReLoad, arriving on June 26 via Blackened Recordings.
The release includes a range of new formats, alongside a limited edition deluxe box set featuring previously unreleased material, live recordings, and extensive archive content from the era.
ReLoad (Remastered) is available to pre-order now through The Record Hub.
A New Look at ReLoad
Originally released in 1997, ReLoad debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to achieve multi-platinum status. It marked a continuation of the sound Metallica explored on Load, pushing further into a more melodic and experimental direction.
Tracks like Fuel and The Memory Remains remain key parts of the band’s live shows, with the latter featuring guest vocals from Marianne Faithfull.
Remastered and Expanded
The album has been newly remastered by Reuben Cohen at Lurssen Mastering, with longtime collaborator Greg Fidelman overseeing the process.
Several versions of the release will be available, including:
- standard 180g double vinyl
- the limited edition deluxe box set
- the Flaming Fuel coloured vinyl edition
- a 3CD expanded edition
Deluxe Box Set
The standout release is the limited edition deluxe box set, which brings together a large collection of material from the ReLoad era.
Alongside the remastered album on vinyl, the set includes:
- unreleased demos and rough mixes
- live recordings and rare performances
- 15 CDs and 4 DVDs of archival material
- a live album recorded at Ministry of Sound in 1997
- extensive memorabilia, including posters, prints, picks and a 128-page book
The box set offers a detailed look at the period, covering both the recording process and the band’s live performances at the time.
A Defining Era
The sessions that produced Load and ReLoad saw Metallica expanding their sound beyond the thrash metal style that first defined them. Recording at The Plant in California, the band explored new textures and influences, from acoustic elements to more experimental arrangements.
At the time, this shift divided opinion, but in the years since, both albums have been reassessed, with ReLoad gaining recognition as a key part of the band’s evolution.
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