Which Metallica album includes the song “The Unforgiven II”? The answer is Reload.
Reload is Metallica’s seventh studio album, released on November 18, 1997. The record followed Load, issued the previous year, and the two albums grew from the same large batch of recording sessions at The Plant in Sausalito, California. The band originally considered releasing the material as one double album, but divided it into two separate records.
“The Unforgiven II” is a sequel to “The Unforgiven,” which appeared on Metallica’s 1991 self-titled album, commonly called the Black Album. James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett received writing credits on the sequel. Its musical connection to the original includes a related chord progression, while its lyrics present a new perspective on emotional conflict and damaged relationships.
A common mix-up is confusing the song with “The Unforgiven III,” which appeared much later on Death Magnetic in 2008. Reload also produced the singles “The Memory Remains” and “Fuel,” and was the last Metallica studio album to feature bassist Jason Newsted.