Song Information
Title: Fuel
Artist: Metallica
Album: St. Anger
Bassist: Jason Newsted
Difficulty: Intermediate
Tuning: Half-Step Down Tuning
Key: C♯ Major
Tempo: 107
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Bass Diary Entry
Reload was the last Metallica album I bought before Death Magnetic arrived years later. I’d avoided it for a while — just like Load — mainly because of how often both records were described as too different from what Metallica had done before. But once I finally gave Load a proper chance and realised how strong the songwriting actually was, I knew I had to check out Reload too.
“Fuel” wastes absolutely no time. It smashes through the gate and sets the tone instantly, bursting with energy and confidence. From the very first listen, it felt like a statement — loud, unapologetic, and built to hit hard. It’s no surprise this song often shows up early in Metallica’s live sets; it kicks everything up a notch and grabs the crowd straight away.
From a bass point of view, the groove is just badass. It’s not complicated, but it doesn’t need to be — the power comes from how locked-in and relentless it feels. When I pick up the bass and fancy jamming some Metallica, “Fuel” almost always gets a run because it’s such a fun song to play. It’s one of those tracks where you can really feel the momentum carrying you along.
Over time, Load and Reload have become two of my most-played Metallica albums. While the older records are obviously legendary, there’s something about this era that I find incredibly satisfying to listen to now. The groove, the attitude, and the sheer confidence of songs like “Fuel” make them an absolute pleasure — and a reminder that Metallica’s catalogue is far deeper than people often give it credit for.
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