By now, you’ve read the reviews, watched interviews, and possibly enjoyed seeing if Metallica can actually Master Puppets as their eleventh full length album, (Lux Æterna) 72 Seasons, has finally arrived today (14th) via the band’s own Blackened Recordings. However, you will now read a full recap from what you would call a Metallica lifer and someone who will travel anywhere and everywhere to see them as much as humanly possible. Here is a complete, extensive and honest perspective from the Global premiere of their album to assessing their entire discography from a die-hard Metallica fan.

 

The Global Premiere:

In terms of visuals, the film was a semi-disappointment comparing 72 Seasons with Metallica’s 2016 album, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct. While the music videos from their previous album were creative, inventive, and story-driven, some of the clips for 72 Seasons missed the mark relying too much on apparent automated graphics. They played out more like reminiscent auto-generated visuals that used to go along with the audio waves of 2003’s St. Anger on Windows Media Player. Others were oversimplified, returning me to an old arcade with games like Pac-Man. In contrast, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct had a team of creatives that produced short-film-like music videos, which would have been more appealing in theaters than seeing Pac-Man and Windows Media Player. This is my biggest and only criticism of the 72 Seasons delivery. However, it’s worth noting the lyric videos are more engaging and worth watching. But there are a few decent videos (“72 Seasons,” “Screaming Suicide,” “Sleepwalk My Life Away, “Lux Æterna,” and “If Darkness Had a Son.”) 

Let me share my experience from last night’s (13th) global premiere. The announcement for the premiere happened in March, prompting many fans worldwide to immediately purchase their tickets to hear the album a few hours before the official release date. I was one of them. However, since I relocated to nothingness in the boondocks, I found nothing as accessible as when I lived in New York. The closest movie theater I could find was about an hour away, and the ride cost between $100-200 (one way). Initially, I wouldn’t attend, but I knew how my die-hard fan self would feel, so I decided to take the plunge. Last night, I took a long cab ride to the AMC Theaters in Disney Springs, Lake Buena Vista, FL, a movie theater that I remember opened with Judge Dredd as one of its first movies.

Getting into the theater, I encountered a line of security personnel since it was on Disney property. Part of me felt like I was going to an actual Metallica show as I walked through the metal detectors and had my bag checked. However, there were no black or Metallica t-shirts in sight. There were families and lots of children. I even asked one of the guards if I was going in the right direction. He teased me by claiming that the battery pack for my cell phone was dangerous, laughed, and let me go on my way into the theater. Here I was, rocking out a Metallica t-shirt and hat, only to find no posters or signs for the screening.

Meanwhile, I saw posts from friends showing their theater had a poster. Mine had nothing. The theater, labeled “number nine,” was blacker than the black album, an empty screen of nothingness.

Since I arrived early, I scoped out the theater to find I was the only one there. Eventually, I discovered that you could buy drinks at the bar. I ordered a massive glass of The Velvet Devil, Merlot wine, which reminded me of Kirk Hammett, and I thought it was the perfect fit for the premiere. Finally, it was getting close to the screening, and the audience was a mixed bag of introverts, families, die-hard fans, and more. The film started closer to 7:20/7:30, as we had to watch many movie previews.

Finally, it was time for the film. I did everything I could to avoid screaming or headbanging as I was alone and sitting beside an older man. I posted on my social media instead of headbanging to somehow let out the excitement. Seeing your idols grow older is challenging, and I noticed that the black-and-white aesthetic choice more or less showcased that. It was somewhat relatable. However, the commentary between songs was necessary and gave a personal touch, as though the band was standing before you, handing out a behind-the-scenes explanation of each track. The audience seemed to enjoy themselves; they were cheering, clapping, and finally, the comfort of being surrounded by your Metallica family was there. You’re at home. And what better way to listen to a new Metallica album than to be in the comfort of your fellow Metallica family?

The album is fantastic, a great addition to their forty-plus years of mastery. Despite the lack of creativity in some videos, the film was well worth the experience and overpriced round-trip cab ride. This was the fourth time I’d seen this band on the big screen, and I’m pumped to see more of it!

 

Now let’s talk about the album…. 

 

Metallica are known to make me at least skip a few heartbeats with what they will come up with next. There’s always something up their sleeves; they know how to take all my money from the 2023/2024 World Tour announcement, the All Within My Hands acoustic show, their 40th-anniversary shows, and many more. The surprising, heartbeat-skipping formula works the same way musically too. Aside from the brief discography analysis, I will be comparing the last twenty years of Metallica since 2023 also marks the twentieth anniversary of St. Anger. We will call this post-Load-era Metallica. Over the last twenty years, there’s been hidden gems and special treats for fans. St. Anger brought us the All Within My Hands foundation, well, the name at least, years after the album’s arrival. Metallica always gives back to the community in ways that make the haters respect them for what they do. For instance, I volunteered to pick up trash on a beach in San Francisco during their 40th Anniversary shows, making you part of the community and a reminder for the fans to always give back. Metallica also always remembers their roots, experienced during the Jon and Marsha Zazula tribute show in November 2022. Musically, 2008’s Death Magnetic gave us a third Unforgiven and an additional instrumental track with “Unforgiven III” and “Suicide & Redemption.” 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct gave us “Spit Out The Bone,” which will make you incredibly lucky to see live. And now, 72 Seasons has the longest Metallica song with “Inamorata,” clocking a second short from the magic 11:11 number. However, for over forty years, we’ve been lucky to receive something unique throughout each chapter of the legend’s iconic career. And now, let’s dive into the entire record.    

 

…..Track by Track

 

“72 Seasons”

Some people close off their emotions and detach from others, remaining an expressionless enigma unless absolutely necessary. With Metallica, that’s certainly not the case. They show their scars. And with 72 Seasons, all masks are off. The title track alone is from a book James Hetfield read, sorting out childhood as an adult, exploring the first eighteen years of your life and how you evolve, and formulating your own ideas and identity of self after the initial 72 seasons of your life. It’s no secret Hetfield had a challenging childhood, and seeing this explored in the title track of their eleventh studio album, only proves how those first eighteen years of your life remain vital well into your adult years. The song amplifies these powerful emotions through melody, heavy riffs, and ruthless charges. The lyrics speak for themselves, as Hetfield’s writing and vocal delivery both poured with brilliance, and emotional honesty, which would even take you lyrically back to more vulnerable songs such as “Fade To Black.” Music wise, it’s engaging and heavy AF, with pummeling riffs from Hammett.  

 

Lyrics:

“Feeding on the wrath of man
Shot down, traumatic
Time haunted by the past
Long gone, dogmatic
Although the die is cast
Shot down, volcanic
But what is gone is gone and done
Look back, psychotic
No chance before this life began

Staring into black light
Dominating birthright

Wrath of man
Leaching through, split in two
Wrath of man
Crash into point of view
Wrath of man
Violence, inheritance
Wrath of man
Thrive upon, feeding on
Seventy-two seasons gone

Feeding on the wrath of man
Shoot back, erratic
Mad seasons take their toll
New mask, chaotic
Completely lost control
Shoot back, fanatic
Wither under looming shadow cast
Slip back, narcotic
Blinded by the ashes of the past

Staring into black light
Choking on the stage fright

Wrath of man
Lеaching through, split in two
Wrath of man
Crash into point of view
Wrath of man
Violence, inhеritance
Wrath of man
Thrive upon, feeding on
Seventy-two seasons gone

Piercing through, cut in two
Polarize
Point of view crash into
Paralyze

Feeding on the wrath of man
Man down, barbaric
Quick fire machine gun thoughts
Deep seed, stigmatic
Some have and some have not
Man down, demonic
No mercy from the ghost within
Turn back, hypnotic
There’s breathing out, but not back in

Staring into black light
Permanently midnight

Wrath of man
Leaching through, split in two
Wrath of man
Crash into point of view
Wrath of man
Violence, inheritance
Wrath of man
Thrive upon, feeding on
Seventy-two seasons gone

Feeding on the wrath of man”

 

 

 

“Shadows Follow”

“Shadows Follow” continues the dark theme from the title track, but the tempo drops. It’s a song you must hear a few times before grasping its strengths and minimal weaknesses. The lyrics are a deep dive into Hetfield’s head, taking you back to 2019, shortly after S&M2, when Metallica announced his return to rehab, reminding us all once again that our heroes are just like the rest of us. The song explores dark subjects, such as “demonized, liquified, tranquilized, prophesied, just to hide from life,” regardless of how hard we work to destroy our inner demons, our “Shadows” continue to “Follow.” At least, that’s the grasp I took from this song, which I connect with on a deeper level, and I’m sure many of you can as well. While Hetfield said this song has a Ramones feel, and Rob Trijulio said it gives Sabbath vibes, I don’t necessarily hear either of those for this song. But I do hear some heavy riffage intertwined with classic and progressive melodies.   

 

Lyrics:

“Hanging by a thread as I play dead
Hanging by a thread and my mind is code red
Cut and run, try to hide, get away, shut my eyes, just to hide from the fate
Cut and run, try to hide, get away, cover up, get shelter from the hate
Demonized, liquified, tranquilized, prophesied, just to hide from life
Night and day, led astray, in decay, come what may, not to face that fight

Seething, breathing, nightmares grow
On I run, still, my shadows follow

Never can I stop ’cause they haunt me
Never can I stop ’cause the beast is hungry
Like a wolf on the hunt, stalking prey, closing in
No, it won’t let me be
Like a wolf on the hunt stalks a prey
Any cost, fulfill a destiny

Seething fast, breathing, nightmares grow
On I run, still, my shadows follow
On I run, but still, my shadows follow

Cut and run, hide away from fate
Cover up, try to hide the hate
Like a wolf, it won’t let me be
Closing in, wish away, shut my eyes

Wish it away

Seething fast, breathing, nightmares grow
On I run, still, my shadows follow
Facin’ my demons, now I know
If I run, still, my shadows follow
I say “No,” still, my shadows follow”

 

 

“Screaming Suicide”

“Screaming Suicide” is one of my favorite songs on this album. It wasn’t like this at first, but after countless listens since it was released as the second single, man, this song is so powerful. Again, Hetfield’s lyrics tell us not to be afraid of admitting to having dark thoughts. It’s not a weakness, and it’s ok not to be ok. We all have those negative thoughts lurking in the back of our minds, and the end of this song gives a hopeful message reminding us that there’s a lifeline to strive for survival. Musically, it takes you back to Load with a modern groove-jammy twist. The album’s continuous theme focusing on the lyrics, James’ vocals, and the magical work of Hammett, all while the whole rhythm with Lars and Rob makes for a well-balanced production, is amplified in this song. 

 

Lyrics:

“Welcome to this life
Born into the fight
Here to claim your dream
Look you in the eye
Patch the broken sky
Craving dopamine
Then my voice appears
Teaching you of fears
Are you good enough?
You don’t recognize
Head is full of lies
You should just give up

Listen well, better listen well
Listen well, better listen well

Don’t ever speak my name
Remеmber you’re to blame
Keep mе inside
Keep me inside
My name is suicide

Curse another day
Spirit locked away
Punish and deprive
Hate to be awake
Living a mistake
More dead than alive
Then a voice appears
Whisper in your ears
“You are good enough”
Throwing down a rope
A lifeline of hope
Never give you up

Listen well, better listen well
Listen well, better listen well

Don’t ever speak my name
Remember you’re to blame
Keep me inside
Keep me inside
My name is suicide

Terrified in sleepless nights
Caught in spotlight, dead to rights
Isolate and fight your mind
Tellin’ you you’re left behind

My lying voice inside
Keeps drinking cyanide
And no more can you run
Into the sun

Terrified, sleepless nights
Caught in spotlight dead to rights
Isolate and fight your mind
Tellin’ you you’re left behind

And now you speak my name
You’ve given back the blame
Keep me deep inside
Don’t you keep me inside
Screaming suicide

Now that I’m exposed inside
Shined a light on cyanide
I’m no longer needed here
Now you’ve faced your biggest fear
(Nice)”

 

 

 

“Sleepwalk My Life Away”

The magic of Metallica is that you see glimpses of their career, and in “Sleepwalk My Life Away” in particular, some parts remind me of “Broken, Beat, & Scarred” from Death Magnetic (go 1:20 in, and you’ll hear what I’m talking about). However, that glimpse quickly fades away as this track takes a life of its own. The lyrics remind me of living in auto-pilot, where you more or less end up “Sleepwalk” your “Life Away.” Musically, it takes you to another groovy and classic heavy approach, a tribute to heavy metal roots with Sabbathy vibes. If you listen carefully enough, there’s even a small reminder of the Black album. And that’s the problem with Metallica haters; they don’t hear the brilliance; they shrug it off because it’s not Master of Puppets or what have you. But it goes deeper there, those bluesy riffs that Hammett loves and learned at the beginning of his masterful career, followed by explosive solos. You can even envision Metallica at the HQ formulating this song by free-flowing jamming like the old-school garage days. Once again, a fantastic track. Heavy, rich, old school mixed with fresh interludes and pristine production.   

 

Lyrics:

“Take a deep-waking breath
Hope the blood arrives
Burn my eyes with the sun
And pretend I’m alive
It never will appear
Strong as past desire
Light warming disappears
Like a cold, dead fire

Should I fall, I fall down?
Would you come, you come ’round?

Wake me
Caught in the spell I’m dreaming
Wake me
Day after day, repeating
Wake me
Sleepwalk my life away

Stagger on through the fog
In the midnight sun
Shouting out at the shapes
Of the namelеss no ones
All isn’t what it seems
Cannot comprehend it
Captivе inside a dream
Where the dawn won’t end it

Should I fall, I fall down?
Would you come, you come ’round?

Wake me
Caught in the spell I’m dreaming
Wake me
Day after day, repeating
Wake me
Sleepwalk my life away

Should I fall, I fall down?
Would you come, you come ’round?

Wake me
Caught in the spell I’m dreaming
Wake me
Day after day, repeating
Wake me
Sleepwalk my life away

That was good, right?”

 

 

 

“You Must Burn!”

“You Must Burn!” may be considered as “Here Comes Revenge” 2.0, but with one of the best guitar riffs from the entire album. There’s even another throwback to Load, with a sliver of “The House Jack Built.” While the song appears dark, the meaning is quite uplifting, telling you to “burn all the misery.” With the album color showing yellow, as James Hetfield explained, there’s light from the darkness. And without darkness, how can you find the light? This track more or less emphasizes that, as the song is more of a downtempo, doomy, heavy, and sludgey, but eventually picks up with a riff that will get you to want to listen to this song over and over again. 

 

Lyrics:

“Catch a fire and burn all the misery
Foul fingers spin mob mentality
Anger on the rise as the flames grow higher
Choke on the smoke of the funeral pyre
Backfire

Killing all we’ve learned
History will burn
Burn it

Smile as it burns to the ground
The perfect don’t want you around
Question yourself, you may learn
Who’s the next witch you must burn?
You must burn

In the name of hell, henchmen to conspire
Black figures loom as a dark desire
Inquisition served, build your enemy
Tied to the stake, torching heresy
Flame out

Killing all we’ve learned
History will burn
Burn it

Smile as it burns to the ground
The perfect don’t want you around
Question yourself, you may learn
You are the witch, you must burn
You must burn

In the heat of the night, in the moon’s shining light
Feed the appetite
In the heat of the night, in the moon’s shining light
Feed the appetite

Smile as it burns to the ground
The perfect don’t want you around
Question yourself, you may learn
You are the witch, you must burn
You must burn

You must burn
You must burn
You must burn”

 

 

“Lux Æterna”

When “Lux Æterna” was first released, I thought I was dreaming. It’s a solid single and one of the best, if not the best, track on the entire album. It’s heavy, light, fun, and exciting, and seeing it live for the first time in LA made it ten times more powerful. “Full Speed Or Nothing” took me back to Kill ‘Em All, and maybe this is the only song that brought me back to the very beginning of Metallica, as that lyric reminded me of “Motorbreath” with “Don’t stop for nothing, it’s full speed or nothing.” It also has the high, careless energy the song displayed, and despite being forty years apart, it holds a similar youthful execution. It’s brilliant.    

 

Lyrics:

“Anticipation
In domination
A sea of hearts beat as one, unified
Magnification
All generations
Approaching thunder awaiting the light

Full speed or nothing
Full speed or nothing

Lux æterna
Lux æterna, yeah

Exhilaration
Frenzied sensation
Kindred alliance connected inside
Commiseration
Sonic salvation
Cast out the demons that strangle your life

Full speed or nothing
Full speed or nothing

Lux æterna
Lux æterna, yeah

Lux æterna

Emancipation
Kill isolation
Never alone for the feelings alike
Amplification
Lightning the nation
Never alive more than right here tonight

Full speed or nothing
Full speed or nothing

Lux æterna
Lux ætеrna, yeah

Light it”

 

 

 

“Crown of Barbed Wire”

A single note takes you briefly to “Halo On Fire,” but nope, “Crown of Barbed Wire” is some kind of darker and vicious monster. Lars shines on this track, along with phenomenal guitar parts. Still, the melody is another continuation of the jam-like garage days feel, making you know they must have had fun and a lot of time creating this album during the pandemic. Wait for it; that immaculate ending will have you slamming your hands down or breaking your neck.  

 

Lyrics:

“So tight, this crown of barbed wire
It’s destiny, I wear
It splits the skin to the soul
This jagged wreath I bear

This rusted empire I own
Bleed as I rust on this throne
Pierce me with torment
And all the rust that I own

So tight, this crown of barbed wire
So tight, this crown of barbed wire
So tight, this crown

Fist tight, it stains conviction
Drips down to bloodshot eyes
It crushes down what is real
Deep crimson blots the skies

This rusted empire I own
Bleed as I rust on this throne
Pierce me with torment
And all the rust that I own

So tight, this crown of barbed wire
So tight, this crown of barbed wire
So tight, this crown

This rusted еmpire I own
Bleed as I rust on this throne
Piercе me with torment
And all the rust that I own

So tight (So tight), this crown of barbed wire
So tight (So tight), this crown of barbed wire
So tight, this crown”

 

 

“Chasing Light”

“Chasing Light” starts with “Wherever I May Roam” vibes until it turns to its original heavy mastery beats. A definite headbanging track, and if you still need to fall in love with this album, this track will do the trick, convincing you how solid it is. I’m curious how this song will pan out live; I can hear the crowd shouting, “Lean on me!” It’s a fun, blistering, and continuous groovy tune with ongoing reminders of classic metal gems, a sound we’re missing in today’s mixed chaos and failed Meshuggah-sounding attempts. As the song progresses, it fills you with heavy surprises and once again, a fantastic guitar solo. Hammett for the win so far on this entire album.    

 

Lyrics:

“There’s no light

Ooh, down and out as darkness falls
So much more than he can take
Oh, shakes the cage in deep withdrawals
Come on, give the boy a break

Oh, he will break
He’s no mistake

Chase that light, lean on me
Face that fight, lean on me
Catch your fall, lean on me
End it all, lean on me

Struggle on ’cause without darkness
Without darkness, there’s no light

Ooh, lost his way through wicked streets
But he is someone’s little boy
Oh, all the love a young one needs
Thoughtless еlders have destroyеd

Endless destroy
He’s just a boy

Chase that light, lean on me
Face that fight, lean on me
Catch your fall, lean on me
End it all, lean on me

Struggle on ’cause without darkness
Without darkness, there’s no light

One step down, block it all from view
One step down, with apathy, look straight through
One step down, turn so you won’t see
One step down, he’s just like you and me

Chase that light, lean on me
Face that fight, lean on me
Catch your fall, lean on me
End it all, lean on me

Struggle on ’cause without darkness
Without darkness, there’s no light

There’s no light”

 

 

“If Darkness Had a Son”

“If Darkness Had a Son” is the darkest track on the album. I hate it in all the glorified ways to enjoy a song. The opening riffs alone spill out your own dark emotions, stringing up your anxiety and making you feel uneasy, similar to watching a horror film. It’s one of the cruelest songs, and it’s fantastic. Getting lost in “Temptation,” how it damages yourself and those in your closest circles, and knowing what it does, is the root cause of this track, giving a sense of unease. That’s how brilliant this song is. It’s, again, one of the most powerful tracks on the album and a perfect fit for the record’s third single. Lars and Rob enhance the trepidation with their demonical rhythmic formation. Let’s not forget the main force, James, when he cries out “Temptation,” all knowing where that leads, a reminder of “Moth Into Flame,” “Master of Puppets,” and tracks taking us into sinful spins. But then we have Hammett ripping into another solo, making you excited to hear this track live. A definite headbanging listen on repeat.   

 

Lyrics:

“Temptation
Temptation
Temptation
Temptation

The beast still shouts for what it’s yearning
He stokes the fire, desire burning
The never-ending quenchless craving
The unforgiven misbehaving

If darkness had a son, here I am
Temptation is his father
If darkness had a son, here I am
I bathe in holy water
Temptation, leave me be

Temptation
Temptation
Temptation
Temptation

So paint your eyеs as black as sorrow
Hide yourself behind tomorrow
Thе nightmares search for infiltration
In domination, captivation

If darkness had a son, here I am
Temptation is his father
If darkness had a son, here I am
I bathe in holy water
Temptation, leave me be

Return again to where it’s darkest
Dragging home this heathen harvest
And all the children subjugated
Manipulated, propagated

If darkness had a son, here I am
Temptation is his father
If darkness had a son, here I am
I bathe in holy water

If darkness had a son (Here I am)
If darkness had a son (Here I am)
If darkness had a son (Here I am)
I bathe in holy water
Temptation, leave me be”

 

 

 

“Too Far Gone?”

The opening riff sounds familiar to old-school Metallica but something you can’t pinpoint exactly which era or record. However, the song rips in with James’ haunting vocals—something I find myself relating and connecting a lot with the lyrics on this album. You feel Hetfield’s dark emotions, with thoughts I see myself, and I’m sure many of you are struggling with. While working on yourself, you sometimes have doubt; reveling in your mistakes, you start to have regret and form a severe self-loathing for the mistakes you’ve made, so lyrics such as “Am I too far gone to save” and “Help me make it through the day,” “I can make it through the day. Make it through the day, just for today,” holds such an intense meaning. James’ cutthroat honesty shines, and you hear it in each song. The musical execution gives more of an uplifting melody with harsh riffage, and once again, Hammett comes in to make the song sound exceptionally awesome.   

 

Lyrics:

“I, I am desperation
Need it so bad today
I, I am isolation
Static and disarray
Need this, gotta have more
Crawlin’ out my skin
Sickness, scarring returns
Burning me again

Too far gone
Am I too far gone?
Am I too far gone to save?
Help me make it through the day
Oh

I, I am tribulation
Digging down to the bone
I, I am agitation
Never leaves me alone
Keep on, push it along
Don’t want to feel this
Sink in, start to believe
That I don’t exist

Too far gone
Am I too far gone?
Am I too far gone to save?
Help me make it through the day
Oh

All away
I am desperation
All away
I am isolation
All away
I am agitation
All away

Too far gone
Never too far gone
I’m too far gone to save
I can make it through the day
Make it through the day

Just for today”

 

 

“Room of Mirrors”

“Room of Mirrors” is a collection of all the great things we’ve heard from Metallica throughout their storied career. I fell in love with it instantly, especially at the premiere. It’s a perfect ensemble filled with, once again, brilliant guitar solos that will make you listen to this track on repeat to hear Hammett’s excellence. It holds the ongoing groovy and jamming beats you’ve listened to throughout the record while having some melodic interludes, similar to Hardwired…To Self-Destruct while maintaining fast-paced rhythms that take you back to old-school Metallica. 

 

Lyrics:

“In a mirrored room, all alone I stand
Strip away the phantom fame
Exposing all sides to see
The good and bad in me
In a mirrored room, all alone I stand
Seeing past the flesh and bone
The shame and the fear I hide
Could I show you what’s inside?

Would you criticize, scrutinize, stigmatize my pain?
Would you summarize, patronize, classify insane?
So I stand here before you
You might judge, you might just bury me
Or you might set me free

In a mirrored room, talking to myself
And the voices pushing back
I’ll let them inside my heart
But they’ll tear it all apart
In a mirrored room, just a simple man
Naked, broken, beat, and scarred
What do I really know?
That fear of letting go

Would you criticize, scrutinize, analyze my pain?
Would you summarize, patronize, classify insane?
So I stand here before you
You might judge, you might just bury me
Or you might set me, or you might set me free

Would you criticize, scrutinize, ostracize my pain?
Would you summarize, patronize, classify insane?
So I stand here before you
You might judge, you might just bury me
Or you might set me
Oh, please, won’t you set me free? Yeah, yeah”

 

 

“Inamorata”

The biggest surprise is “Inamorata.” It is their longest song ever, filled with doom, sludge, progressive, and heavy beats that will melt your face off. Lyrically, it ironically takes you back to “My Friend of Misery,” where you wonder what this song would sound like if Jason Newsted had never left. However, the track is brutal and dark, and I’ve said this a lot, but it’s one of the best tracks on the album—a glorified finish line. A melodic ensemble highlighting James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Rob Trujillo, Metallica 2023, wrapped up into one magnificent song.  

 

Lyrics:

“Welcome, won’t you come inside?
Leave the ghost where I reside
Despite how they’re refusin’ me
If only I would never be
Comfort in the hell I know
Resentment like a cancer grows
Longing for the day I’m free
Burning gets you out of me

Lyin’, supplyin’ in need
Shedding and spreading the seed
Setting the trap with a thread
Spinnin’ a web

Misery, she needs me
Oh-oh, but I need her more
Misery, she loves me
Oh-oh, but I love her more
Misery, she kills me
Oh-oh, but I end this war
Misery, she fills me
Oh no, but she’s not what I’m livin’ for

Ricochets within my head
Conversations never said
Magnifyin’ every thought
That familiar pain she bought
Seeps inside eventually
Misery loves company
Sorry I created you
I suppose that I could end you too

She weeps (She weeps, she weeps, she weeps)
She weeps (She weeps, she weeps, she weeps)

Misery, she needs me
Oh-oh, but I need her more
Misery, she loves me
Oh-oh, but I love her more
Misery, she kills me
Ooh, but I end this war
Misery, she fills me
Oh no, but she’s not what I’m livin’ for, oh no

Ooh, misery
She needs me
But I need her more
She loves me
But I love her more
She kills me (She kills me)
But I end this war
She fills me (She fills me)
And she’s not what I’m livin’ for, oh no, oh no
No, no, no, no, no, no
Not while I’m livin’

Misery, she needs me
Oh-oh, but I need her more
Misery, she loves me
Oh, but I love her more
Misery, she kills me
Oh, but I end this war
Misery, she fills me
Oh no, but she’s not what I’m livin’ for

Misery, my misery
Misery, my misery
Misery
She’s not why I’m livin’ (My misery)
She’s not why I’m livin’
Misery
She’s not what I’m livin’ for, no, no (My misery)

Thank you, good night
That was the best one

That button was the best one

The best button”

 

 

Overall:

Overall, 72 Seasons is a nearly flawless album. There are zero filler tracks; each song stands firm and could be well-received live. It would be interesting to see if they decide to play the album in its entirety during their 2023/2024 world tour. There’s a little bit of everything, all while seeing their maturity. Bravo!

 

The Discography:

Placing Metallica albums from best to worst is difficult. While other reviews for 72 Seasons claim this record is their best album in twenty years, I beg to differ. Each record highlights a chapter and era of these legends that remain untouchable. From the rich rawness we heard in Kill ‘Em All, the heavy unstoppable Ride The Lightning, the classic Master of Puppets, and the iconic …And Justice For All to the Black album that gave them commercial success, and so forth. While many wish Metallica would stay in their twenties, releasing albums that sound exactly like Master of Puppets, they’ve stepped out of their comfort zone and brought new explorations, as we heard in both Load and Reload. Finally, after an extended absence, we witnessed the band almost breakup when instead, they attempted to bring back a garage-jamming sound with 2003’s St. Anger. However, with the post-St. Anger albums, Death Magnetic, Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, and now, 72 Seasons, have their own charm and solid stamina making them incomparable to other acts. They continue to push boundaries and give fans the best live shows and unique merchandise, consistently delivering excellence. You may argue or disagree with this, but that’s your call. They are legends for a reason, and it goes beyond the music.

 

What’s next?

It’s time to see them live, of course. Will they release another album after 72 Seasons? I’m honestly not so sure. However, with the surprises they are known to give, I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear a few standalone singles or maybe another EP somewhere down the road. It would be great to listen to another record, but we must wait and see and be grateful for eleven unique albums.