On the Metallica subject, yes Load and Reload are soft, and IMHO St Anger was just wrong, I thought Death Magnetic was hard, fast, and loud for the most part. And how anyone could say Justice isn't the best album...I don't even know how to respond.
And Justice isn't their best album. Their first three are arguably better than And Justice. Don't get me wrong, I like And Justice, but that's where Metallica ends for me.