Metallica: Ranking Every Album’s Last Song
1. The Outlaw Torn - Load
The Load and Reload albums often take criticism for not being intense enough, for being at a slower pace, for not being "metal" than previous Metallica outings.
But, if they never slowed things down, we'd have never gotten "The Outlaw Torn".
A swooping movement that almost runs a full 10 minutes, listening to this song is a full body experience because all the members play their parts perfectly.
The guitar playing that is usually so fast to even register is slow and deliberate, helping to create a foreboding atmosphere throughout.
Hetfield delivers heartfelt lyrics about loneliness and longing with all the weight they deserve. Lars' drumming is also exceptional, flicking expertly between toms, hi-hats, and crashes to create one of the fullest beats of his career.
Also, you can hear the bass on this song! For years, Metallica may not have hired a bass player as they were drowned out by the cacophony of the rest of the band. But you can actually hear the base on "The Outlaw Torn"! And it's really good.
A song that will appeal to fans of metal and lovers of music in general, "The Outlaw Torn" is one of Metallica's most underrated gems and would be the perfect closer to any album.