Metallica 's 11th studio album , 72 Seasons, is set to be one of the biggest releases of 2023 – and certainly one of the biggest heavy metal successes of recent years. The successor to Hardwired… To Self-Destruct was announced late last year with the single “Lux Æterna” and an extensive tour schedule around the world. Since then, the band has released the singles “Screaming Suicide” and “If Darkness Had a Son”.
But what do you need to know about Metallica's new album? To help you prepare for its release, here's a list of all the details about 72 Seasons.
Where did the name 72 Seasons come from?
In a video posted on Metallica's social media , James Hetfield explained the meaning of "72 Seasons," the name chosen for the group's eleventh album. "72 Seasons came from a book I was reading about childhood, basically, and classifying childhood as an adult. And 72 seasons are basically the first 18 years of your life. How do you evolve, grow, mature, and develop your own ideas and identity after those first 72 seasons of the year?"
“Some things are harder than others – you know, some things you can’t unsee and they’ll be with you for the rest of your life, and other things you can rewind the tape and make a new one. So that’s the really interesting part for me, is how you’re able to deal with those situations as an adult and a mature person.”
Who worked on the album?
72 Seasons was produced by Greg Fidelman alongside Hetfield and Lars Ulrich at the band's own studio in San Rafael.
The band's history with Fidelman goes back a long way. The now-producer served as engineer and mixer for the album Death Magnetic, produced by Rick Rubin in 2008. Fidelman also helped produce Metallica's 2011 Lulu Lou Reed . On Hardwired… To Self-Destruct, he worked as a co-producer.
In addition to Metallica, Greg Fidelman has worked with Slipknot, Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Slayer, and Audioslave . He also worked on Adele 's 21 , which earned him a Grammy for his engineering work.
When will the album be released?
72 Seasons will be released on April 14, 2023. The release will mark the band's second album on their own label, Blackened Recordings, following Hardwired… To Self-Destruct.
How many singles have been released so far?
Three singles have already been released as part of the album. The first track, “Lux Æterna,” came out with the album, preceding “Screaming Suicide” and “If Darkness Had A Son.” It is not yet known if there will be a new single before the album's release in April.
What will the album sound like?
“Lux Æterna”, which was released alongside the album announcement, has strong roots in the band's early work, more specifically their first album, Kill 'Em All. The verses contour the song's riffs and feature a slightly louder drum beat than usual, strongly reminiscent of classic thrash metal.
The second single, “Screaming Suicide”, also has roots in the 80s thrash scene, but sounds more mature, approaching the recent albums Death Magnetic and Hardwired… To Self-Destruct.
“f Darkness Had A Son” brings something very different, with an almost aggressive rhythm throughout much of the song.
What is “Lux Æterna” about?
“Lux Æterna” is Latin for “eternal light.” But is that what the introductory single from 72 Seasons ? The term, while used for various works of art over the years, originated as a section of a liturgical chant in the Catholic Requiem Mass to honor the dead. Subsequently, it has been reimagined many times over the years.
Just listen to “Lux Æterna” in 2000’s Requiem for a Dream 2001: A Space Odyssey. Often dedicated to a lost loved one, a 1990s “Lux Æterna” by choir director Morten Lauridsen was inspired by his mother’s death.
Hetfield's own mother, Cynthia , died in 1980.
What is "Screaming Suicide" about?
The second single from 72 Seasons, “Screaming Suicide”, according to James, “addresses the taboo word of suicide”.
“The intention is to communicate about the darkness we feel inside,” he added. “It’s ridiculous to think that we should deny that we have these thoughts about it. You are not alone.”
What is "If Darkness Had A Son" about?
Featuring some of the album's darkest and most infernal imagery to date, "If Darkness Had A Son" leans into themes of temptation and desire. An indicator of the addiction problems that have plagued James Hetfield over the years?
What does album art mean?
The artwork for 72 Seasons was created by designer David Turner and his team at Turner Duckworth, which has studios in London, New York, and San Francisco. Turner won a Grammy Award for Death Magnetic and worked with the band on their subsequent releases: Through The Never, S&M2 , and Hardwired… To Self-Destruct.
As James previously stated, the album title refers to the formative years of a human being. A charred crib occupies the center of the image and is surrounded by debris from a pre-adult life damaged by fire: stuffed animals, a tricycle, wooden toys, a guitar, a baseball bat, and a pile of empty cans.
Kirk Hammett started writing material for the album a while ago.
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett made sure he had plenty of material ready for 72 Seasons , especially after he lost an iPhone containing 250 musical ideas in 2014 , thus contributing Hardwired without writing . In a 2019 interview, the rocker was eager to release a new Metallica album.
“When I was 13 or 14, bands released albums every year,” Hammett told Mixdown magazine. “Seriously, KISS releases an album every eight months. No way, eight years between albums. None of us are very comfortable with the fact that it’s been that long because it’s a very long time.”
He added: “We’re in our third year since Hardwired . Maybe we can focus a little more and go into the studio a little earlier. I have a ton of material. I’ve overcompensated, so I’m ready to go anytime.”
Metallica worked on the album separately during quarantine.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the members of Metallica started working on new material separately , as Ulrich indicated in an interview that year. However, instead of making a "quarantine album," they eventually reunited for a "pretty serious writing session," as the drummer called it.
“Will there be a Metallica quarantine album?” Ulrich said at the time. “I can’t tell you because… I don’t know how long the quarantine will last. But if you, me, and the rest of the world are sitting here six months from now or a year from now, I’d say there’s a very good chance.”
Rob Trujillo recorded vocals for the album for the first time.
Rob Trujillo revealed that he will make his singing debut on Metallica , 72 Seasons . The bassist lent his vocals to the track "You Must Burn!".
Trujillo has been a member of Metallica for 20 years, but had never used his vocals on the band's work. In an interview for Metallica's fanzine, So What!, he spoke about the experience (via Loudersound ):
“When I joined Metallica I had never sung in my life, so the fact that I can help with backing vocals now is really cool. For the first time in my life, I can sing on a Metallica album and support James [ Hetfield ]. I’m very proud of that.”
During the conversation, Rob Trujillo also mentions receiving a call from the producer of 72 Seasons , Greg Fidelman , asking him to record some vocals. “He said, ‘I’m going to have you sing on some things too,’ and I replied, ‘Really?’ I got a little nervous,” he admits.
At the same time, Trujillo also said that he felt "very motivated" and that the part he had to sing ended up fitting very well with his "personality and voice," as well as fitting well with the bass breakdown
What is the tracklist for 72 Seasons?
72 Seasons has 12 songs, totaling 77 minutes. Here is the confirmed tracklist:
1. 72 Seasons
2. Shadows Follow
3. Screaming Suicide
4. Sleepwalk My Life Away
5. You Must Burn!
6. Lux Æterna
7. Crown of Barbed Wire
8. Chasing Light
9. If Darkness Had a Son
10. Too Far Gone?
11. Room of Mirrors
12. Inamorata
Where can I listen to 72 Seasons?
72 Seasons is available for pre-order on Metallica's website , although part of the special edition is already sold out. The album will be available in its entirety in physical and digital formats starting April 14th.
On April 13th, one day before the official release of 72 Seasons , Metallica will premiere the new album in cinemas around the world, and Brazil is included. Tickets can be purchased on the event's official website , filtering the search by city and showtimes.
