In 1991, Huey said Metallica with new producer Bob Rock simplified and streamlined its music for a more commercial approach to appeal to mainstream audiences. Robert Palmer of Rolling Stone said the band abandoned its aggressive, fast tempos to expand its music and expressive range. The change in direction proved commercially successful; Metallica was the band's first album to peak at number one on the Billboard 200. Metallica noticed changes to the rock scene created by the grunge movement of the early-1990s. In Load—an album that has been described as having "an almost alternative rock" approach—the band changed musical direction again and focused on non-metal influences. Metallica's new lyrical approach moved away from drugs and monsters, and focused on anger, loss, and retribution. Some fans and critics were not pleased with this change, which included haircuts, the cover art of Load, and headlining the Lollapalooza festival of 1996. David Fricke of Rolling Stone described the move as "goodbye to the moldy stricture and dead-end Puritanism of no-frills thrash", and called Load the heaviest record of 1996. With the release of ReLoad in 1997, the band displayed blues and early hard rock influences, incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures.
in 1991 huey said metallica with new producer bob rock simplified and streamlined its music for a more commercial approach to appeal to mainstream audiences robert palmer of rolling stone said the band abandoned its aggressive fast tempos to expand its music and expressive range the change in direction proved commercially successful; metallica was the band's first album to peak at number one on the billboard 200 metallica noticed changes to the rock scene created by the grunge movement of the early-1990s in load—an album that has been described as having "an almost alternative rock" approach—the band changed musical direction again and focused on non-metal influences metallica's new lyrical approach moved away from drugs and monsters and focused on anger loss and retribution some fans and critics were not pleased with this change which included haircuts the cover art of load and headlining the lollapalooza festival of 1996 david fricke of rolling stone described the move as "goodbye to the moldy stricture and dead-end puritanism of no-frills thrash" and called load the heaviest record of 1996 with the release of reload in 1997 the band displayed blues and early hard rock influences incorporating more rhythm and harmony in song structures