Metallica are diving back into one of the most debated chapters of their career with a brand-new deluxe reissue of their 1997 album Reload—and this one is massive.
The legendary band has officially announced a fully remastered edition of the album alongside an enormous super deluxe box set that delivers nearly 1,700 minutes of audio, making it one of the biggest archival releases they’ve ever assembled. The collection is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026.
Originally released in November 1997, Reload arrived during one of Metallica’s most experimental periods. Following the stylistic shift of Load, the album pushed even further away from the band’s thrash roots and leaned into hard rock, blues influences, and darker melodic textures. While the record divided fans at the time, it also produced some of the band’s most recognizable late-’90s tracks, including “Fuel,” “The Memory Remains,” and “The Unforgiven II.”
Now, nearly three decades later, Metallica are giving the album the full deluxe treatment.
The limited-edition box set includes the newly remastered version of Reload pressed on 180-gram double vinyl, along with a special 7-inch of “The Memory Remains.” Fans will also get Live at Ministry of Sound ’97, a triple LP capturing a live performance from that era.
But that’s only the beginning.
The set also features 15 CDs loaded with unreleased content, including riff tapes, demo recordings, rough mixes, B-sides, rarities, and a large collection of live performances. For collectors and hardcore fans, this is where the real treasure lies—an inside look at how the album evolved behind the scenes.
In addition, four DVDs will offer a deep visual archive from the Reload era, including studio footage, live shows, TV appearances, radio broadcasts, backstage moments, and even Metallica’s surprise parking lot performance at the CoreStates Complex in Philadelphia. There’s also footage from international visits, including Seoul, adding even more historical value to the package.
The physical extras are equally impressive.
Collectors will find a deluxe 128-page hardcover book filled with rare photos and personal stories from people who were part of that era. The box also includes a “Gimme Fuel” poster, a Pushead print, lyric sheets, a sticker, laminated tour passes, a 10-pack of guitar and bass picks, and even a set of 13 Rorschach Test cards—an unusual but fitting nod to the visual aesthetic of that period in Metallica history.
For many fans, Reload remains one of the band’s most misunderstood releases. It marked the final Metallica studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted and also included the band’s first use of a guest vocalist, with Marianne Faithfull appearing on “The Memory Remains.” It was bold, strange, controversial—and impossible to ignore.
Whether fans loved it or criticized it, Reload has always stood as an important snapshot of a band refusing to repeat itself. This new box set seems designed not just to celebrate the album, but to reframe it—offering a deeper look into a period when Metallica challenged both themselves and their audience.
With the success of previous deluxe reissues like The Black Album and Load, this latest release continues Metallica’s commitment to preserving every era of their legacy, even the ones that sparked the most debate.
And for fans who have spent years defending Reload, this might finally be their moment.
