Metallica: 72 Seasons Album Review

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72 Seasons album cover featuring yellow and black artwork, set against a sleek black background, with the post title in stylish teal and white modern font.

Metal heads, rejoice! Iconic California thrash metal band, Metallica, has released its latest album – and you know what that means, right?! It’s time for my 72 Seasons album review! So grab yourself a decent pair of headphones and something to snack on because we’re about to get our faces melted by one of the baddest bands in the land, y’all!

72 Seasons, Metallica’s 12th Studio Album

Swathed in the hues of cautionary tales and impending doom, yellow and black, Metallica’s 12th full-length album, 72 Seasons, delves into the merciless nature of youth and the perils of growing older. With members now teetering around the big 6-0, the heavy metal legends revisit and reinterpret themes previously explored in tracks like “The Unforgiven” and “Dyers Eve.”

72 Seasons sees Metallica reminisce about their reckless beginnings, with Hetfield recycling lyrics from their 1983 debut, Kill ‘Em All, on “Lux Æterna” and echoing sentiments from 2008’s Death Magnetic on the ponderous “Room of Mirrors.” Time has only sharpened the band’s skill for weaving colossal, groove-laden riffs and intricate compositions. Long gone are the days of unhinged velocity; Metallica now perform with a newfound sense of purpose and control.

Album cover for Metallica's 2023 album, 72 Seasons.

You Must Burn!” – a track reminiscent of their Black Album classic “Sad But True” – showcases eerie, spectral vocals, previously uncharted territory for the thrash titans. The punk-infused “Too Far Gone?” and introspective “Sleepwalk My Life Away” further illustrate Hetfield’s vulnerability, possibly reflecting his real-life struggles with addiction and the dissolution of his 25-year marriage.

The album’s pièce de résistance is the sprawling, 11-minute epic “Inamorata,” which unfolds with viscous, growling riffs and Hetfield’s poignant confession, “Misery, she needs me/Oh, but I need her more.” A master class in sorrow, “Inamorata” is Metallica’s lengthiest song to date, yet it never loses its grip, thanks to the authenticity of Hetfield’s anguish.

72 Seasons marks Metallica’s harrowing journey through their first six decades, emerging from the ashes of an apocalypse with hard-earned wisdom to impart. This powerful record is a testament to their unyielding resilience, proving that the metal gods still have plenty of fire left in their arsenal.

FOO FIGHTERS ‘BUT HERE WE ARE’ (REVIEW): A TRIUMPH OVER TRAGEDY

Track List

172 Seasons
2Shadows Follow
3Screaming Suicide
4Sleepwalk My Life Away
5You Must Burn!
6Lux Æterna
7Crown of Barbed Wire
8Chasing Light
9If Darkness Had a Son
10Too Far Gone?
11Room of Mirrors
12Inamorata

Conclusion

In conclusion, 72 Seasons is a triumphant testament to Metallica’s enduring legacy and ability to evolve. As they reflect on their turbulent past and embrace the wisdom gained through life’s trials, the band has crafted an album that is both a love letter to fans and a poignant exploration of the human experience. So crank up the volume, let the riffs wash over you, and join Metallica on this introspective, face-melting journey through the seasons of their lives.

Let me know in the comments what your favorite track from 72 Seasons is. I’m also curious to hear what you think of the album itself.

Happy headbanging!

Metallica: 72 Seasons Album Review (Final Score)

Metallica: 72 Seasons

Tony Simons

Album cover for Metallica's 2023 album, 72 Seasons.
72 Seasons, Metallica’s 12th full-length album, delivers a powerful mix of heavy riffs, intricate song structures, and poignant lyrics, as the band navigates the perils of youth and the wisdom of age.
Overall Rating

Summary

72 Seasons explores Metallica’s introspective journey through youth and age, showcasing their mastery of thrash and evolving sound. While it might not be the best work in their catalog, that’s a tall order to fill and this is still a banger of an album!

4.5

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