Metallica are diving back into one of their most polarizing eras — and they’re not doing it halfway. The band has officially announced a fully remastered deluxe box set of ReLoad, arriving June 26, 2026, as part of their ongoing archival reissue series.
Originally released in 1997, ReLoad marked a continuation of the band’s late-’90s evolution — a shift away from thrash into a more experimental, hard rock-driven sound. Now, nearly three decades later, Metallica are reopening that chapter with a release that goes far beyond a simple remaster.
At the core of the project is a newly remastered version of the album, handled by Reuben Cohen with longtime collaborator Greg Fidelman overseeing the process. The updated audio will be available across multiple formats, including vinyl, CD, cassette, digital, and even a Dolby Atmos mix, giving fans a modern way to experience the record.
But the real centerpiece is the limited-edition deluxe box set, described as a deep archival dive into Metallica’s late-’90s era. The collection is loaded with previously unreleased demos, rough mixes, live recordings, and rare video footage, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how the band created and performed during one of their most transitional periods.
This isn’t just about the music — it’s about the full story. The box set also includes a large-format book and exclusive memorabilia, capturing the visual identity, touring life, and creative direction that defined ReLoad.
To kick off the rollout, Metallica have already begun sharing updated content, including a refreshed version of “The Memory Remains” — one of the album’s most recognizable tracks — along with newly surfaced archival footage from the era.
The release follows the band’s ongoing campaign of revisiting their catalog through expanded editions, giving fans a deeper look into albums that were once divisive but have since gained new appreciation.
For ReLoad, this box set feels like a re-evaluation — not just of the album itself, but of a time when Metallica took risks, changed their identity, and pushed into unfamiliar territory.
Now, with decades of hindsight and a vault full of unheard material, that era is being reopened in full — louder, deeper, and more complete than ever before.
