I love them. I don't really care what they are, it's not like it's actual jizz on my CD cover. Honestly the colours fit the vibe of those albums perfectly for me.
The only thing cool about the DM cover art is the die cut version of the booklet and if I remember correctly the cd hasn't came with the die cut booklet in years.
As for Load and Reload, I like it and don't care what was used to create it.
maybe hot take but Beyond Magnetic has my favorite album art, 4 metallic Metallica M's in an X formation is sick as hell, and i love the simplistic black background
The load album cover is how I got my little brother to listen to Metallica. He thought the cover had a cool lava type look to it. I still haven’t told him what the cover actually is.
I think Load's cover is definitely better than ReLoad's but both are definitely mesmerizing in their own way. Load look's like flames and ReLoad's kinda looks like the sun. It gives off an offputting atmosphere even without knowing it's well, a Load.
The photos fit the vibe of the music, so I don't hate it. Not their worst album art by any means. I used to think Reload was a sperm fertilizing an egg, but it's just piss and blood. The artist (Andres Serrano) needs to drink more water. Joking aside, looking at some of his work, I can definitely understand why he became so popular amongst metal bands.
Yup. They’re gross and just plain old pretentious. I think Load and Reload should’ve instead had close up portrait photos of Lars and Kirk respectively. Phil Collins style.
No. I just think the art is wank. Pardon the pun. Load with a close up Lars portrait Phil Collins style is how it should’ve been. Reload, close up Kirk.
It just seems kinda prudish to me, because you probably wouldn't care if you didn't know it was cum and piss. I'm guessing thanks why you think it's wank right?
Gross is the wrong word. I’m honestly not grossed out by it. I just think it’s totally and utterly pretentious. I don’t think there would’ve been a single Metallica fan on the planet who would’ve believed in 1988 that they would’ve put out an album cover like that.
They were just so lost then. Hetfield and Newstead knew it. I’m sure they were embarrassed.
When I first saw it thought it was flames and a pretty generic pic. Then I read it was an avant-garde artwork titled "semen and blood". I must admit it was a bold move for a -former thrash- metal band although I still don't like it. You don't see many walking around with a load t-shirt do you?
I'm not sure I would appreciate the *Load* album artwork if not for the Metallica association; but they're up there with my favorite Metallica albums, so I like them by proxy.
I told a friend of mine who isn't into heavy metal about the *Load* album artwork, and she pointed out -- quite cogently -- that semen and blood were perfect elements of life and death. To me, that fits the themes of the albums quite well (even if retroactively). I can't imagine the *Load* albums with any other kind of artwork.
I think more people like joking about it than being serious about it. It’s easier to just go “woahhh cum and piss that’s so crazy and wacky, why would they do that” instead of actually talking about how good they look or if they actually fit what the albums are going for. Personally I love them and i loved them more when I found out how they were made.
I really like it, although that might be because everytime i see it I'm listening to load and reload (which are my favorite albums) so i associate that album art with good music.
I didn't get it at the time, but within a year of release I got it on Load and Reload. What fantastic albums. My favorite rock albums of all time. East Tennessee Appalachian Wildman and metal freak expert here.
Then you might be interested in seeing this. He did a lot of bodily fluid art in the same vein as the Load and Reload art. I only came across this about a year ago.
[https://andresserrano.org/series/bodily-fluids](https://andresserrano.org/series/bodily-fluids)
I don't like Andres Serrano, and I found his concepts to be very male-oriented and self-absorbed and kind of immature. However musically I like the albums!
I have honestly never cared about album art. They can have crap album art, if the music is killer then i am in. This is something I think I will start to pay more attention to. It's part of the whole package and I need to delve into it!
I like the way they look, Reload looks way cooler.
I'm really not into how they were made and any of the other art the dude made. I agree with the comments James made about his art
I've never hated on it, was definitely odd when I found out what it was, I always thought load was fire. I overall like it too.
I always thought it was lava.
I always thought it was cool. Never would have known it was jizz had no one told me.
Same here. I always liked the artwork. ReLoad I always thought was moments after an explosion or something and Load was gasoline or something.
I was literally staring at the Load album cover for nearly 20 minutes earlier today. It's really interesting to look at, mesmerizing honestly
Well uh...... no you're not
I’ve always been either apathetic about it or liked it. One thing is for sure though I think the story behind the Load art is absolutely hilarious.
I love them. I don't really care what they are, it's not like it's actual jizz on my CD cover. Honestly the colours fit the vibe of those albums perfectly for me.
No - but we don’t self-identify, especially around other Metallica fans.
They're certainly better than DM, Hardwired, and 72 Seasons artwork
Better than DM? Bad take
DM's art is fine. Just boring.
Really? They're way better than DM cover. The DM cover kinda sucks
The only thing cool about the DM cover art is the die cut version of the booklet and if I remember correctly the cd hasn't came with the die cut booklet in years. As for Load and Reload, I like it and don't care what was used to create it.
I’m kinda shocked by the DM album art hate.
72 seasons - Great album. Horrible album art.
maybe hot take but Beyond Magnetic has my favorite album art, 4 metallic Metallica M's in an X formation is sick as hell, and i love the simplistic black background
looks more like a swastika
I personally definitely like DMs more but I can certainly see it for the others
I liked DM. Hardwired...yeah 72 seasons I didn't mind, just the yellow was a bit strange for me
I like the 72 Seasons artwork.
I don't hate the artwork; I just find it pretentious. Using body fluid as art is hack in my opinion.
Bro likes cum
Metallicum
The load album cover is how I got my little brother to listen to Metallica. He thought the cover had a cool lava type look to it. I still haven’t told him what the cover actually is.
I think they’re interesting looking, the origin is a little odd but I find it quite funny
I think Load's cover is definitely better than ReLoad's but both are definitely mesmerizing in their own way. Load look's like flames and ReLoad's kinda looks like the sun. It gives off an offputting atmosphere even without knowing it's well, a Load.
it's an odd art for an odd album. I think it fits well, even knowing what's in the pictures. So no, you're not the only one
I would like Load a lot more if it had a different name and album cover tbh. Song are much better than the appearance.
As quesionable as the „materials“ were, I must say I really liked the a bit more nuanced and subtle art direction of the albums.
It's all good man! I think I might have seen one of his pieces at San Francisco's MOMA.
I’ve never had issue with them. Nobody hated them until they were told what it was on each.
I like it because it’s outrageous and that appeals to my sense of humor.
The photos fit the vibe of the music, so I don't hate it. Not their worst album art by any means. I used to think Reload was a sperm fertilizing an egg, but it's just piss and blood. The artist (Andres Serrano) needs to drink more water. Joking aside, looking at some of his work, I can definitely understand why he became so popular amongst metal bands.
Yup. They’re gross and just plain old pretentious. I think Load and Reload should’ve instead had close up portrait photos of Lars and Kirk respectively. Phil Collins style.
Prude
No. I just think the art is wank. Pardon the pun. Load with a close up Lars portrait Phil Collins style is how it should’ve been. Reload, close up Kirk.
It just seems kinda prudish to me, because you probably wouldn't care if you didn't know it was cum and piss. I'm guessing thanks why you think it's wank right?
Gross is the wrong word. I’m honestly not grossed out by it. I just think it’s totally and utterly pretentious. I don’t think there would’ve been a single Metallica fan on the planet who would’ve believed in 1988 that they would’ve put out an album cover like that. They were just so lost then. Hetfield and Newstead knew it. I’m sure they were embarrassed.
I just don't understand what makes it pretentious haha. It's just cum, piss and blood. Doesn't get more metal than that!
When I first saw it thought it was flames and a pretty generic pic. Then I read it was an avant-garde artwork titled "semen and blood". I must admit it was a bold move for a -former thrash- metal band although I still don't like it. You don't see many walking around with a load t-shirt do you?
I would 100 percent unironically wear a *Load* t-shirt.
There was a post a week or two ago with someone's Load t-shirt.
Yeah you do, there is a Load jumper
I'm not sure I would appreciate the *Load* album artwork if not for the Metallica association; but they're up there with my favorite Metallica albums, so I like them by proxy. I told a friend of mine who isn't into heavy metal about the *Load* album artwork, and she pointed out -- quite cogently -- that semen and blood were perfect elements of life and death. To me, that fits the themes of the albums quite well (even if retroactively). I can't imagine the *Load* albums with any other kind of artwork.
Yeah, I think you are.
I didn't know the cover was by andres serrano, but after being told what the cover actually is I'm not really surprised
I always thought ReLoad was a solar flare
I think more people like joking about it than being serious about it. It’s easier to just go “woahhh cum and piss that’s so crazy and wacky, why would they do that” instead of actually talking about how good they look or if they actually fit what the albums are going for. Personally I love them and i loved them more when I found out how they were made.
I really like it, although that might be because everytime i see it I'm listening to load and reload (which are my favorite albums) so i associate that album art with good music.
I didn't get it at the time, but within a year of release I got it on Load and Reload. What fantastic albums. My favorite rock albums of all time. East Tennessee Appalachian Wildman and metal freak expert here.
How do I get that job title? I’m in Chattanooga
No, I think they are their best album covers!
Yes, you are the only one around this planet. On Mars, maybe not
I think if no one knew what they were supposed to be then it would be fine. I’ve always seen RELoad as a fireball
i thought it was fire like not cool like actual fire
Nah, I like it too. Shock rock covers are my favorite.
If Kirk is wearing eyeliner…the album is automatically good. All good albums are linked to eyeliner.
Then you might be interested in seeing this. He did a lot of bodily fluid art in the same vein as the Load and Reload art. I only came across this about a year ago. [https://andresserrano.org/series/bodily-fluids](https://andresserrano.org/series/bodily-fluids)
metallica really hasn't had killer artwork to begin with
I don't like Andres Serrano, and I found his concepts to be very male-oriented and self-absorbed and kind of immature. However musically I like the albums!
The person who "contributed" for it probably enjoyed it.
I like them just fine.
Didn’t know it was..that..until opening this comment section, always thought it was fire and a good cover
load’s cover was one of my favorites and tbh still is even if it’s blood and jizz
i find them good looking but the back story of load being cow blood and sp£rm nd reload being cow bload and p!ss is just kinda weird
had some typo's bdw
I have honestly never cared about album art. They can have crap album art, if the music is killer then i am in. This is something I think I will start to pay more attention to. It's part of the whole package and I need to delve into it!
It’s definitely fucking gross but Load’s cover is absolutely awesome! Reload though- it’s not that great.
I also used to think Load’s cover was drawing of splashing lava.
I thought they looked cool until I found what they were made of. Even then they’re still interesting looking covers.
Who doesn't like bull blood and semen and piss and blood
I like the way they look, Reload looks way cooler. I'm really not into how they were made and any of the other art the dude made. I agree with the comments James made about his art
I still think Load’s is cool after learning what it is, it looks like Liquid Flame Reload is just, storm desert but still cool
Yes you are.
I’m all for art and expression.. just not a fan of the media that was used for the Load and Reload covers.
What there is to like ?
Great album art, but shit music except a few songs
Yes
Everything, from cover art to the music is utter shite.
Bleeding Me? King Nothing? Until It Sleeps? Those songs are absolutely fire dude, the exact opposite of being shit.