Just as 2022 was ending Metallica has taken the Internet by storm with the surprise announcement of their next studio album, a 2023 + 2024 world tour, and most notably a new single. 72 Seasons marks the band’s 11th studio album which is slated to arrive April 14th, 2023, almost 7 years after the release of 2016’s Hardwired… to Self-Destruct. The album announcement is lead by the new single “Lux Aeterna,” which showcases Metallica with a very vibrant aesthetic both sonically and visually.
Hello and welcome to the Rock n Coasters Podcast. I’m Michele Forto for First Paw Media. Today we are talking about the recent news that Metallica is dropping a new album in April and a new, two-year tour that we already have tickets too. I am flying solo on this podcast episode as Robert is still recovering from dental surgery.
Robert and I are huge Metallica fans. I believe after we see them on the next tour, they will be the band I have seen the most live. I think Robert has seen them more than 20 times. I am so excited for their show in Phoenix later this summer. Robert is a member of their “fan club” which gives exclusive pre-sale access, and partner that with the benefits of an American Express Platinum and you will soon know why membership has its privileges as the old commercial used to say…We snagged the two show tickets which they are saying will be two unique sets each night and dubbed, “A Weekend with Metallica.” This is like how they did it on the festival circuit last year and when we saw them at Louder Than Life 2021. We also snagged tickets to their 2024 shows in Seattle.
So what is the breaking news?
Similar to how Hardwired… to Self-Destruct recalled elements of the band’s early thrash days, “Lux Aeterna” has Metallica revitalizing their old school sound but to an even further extent. Straight out of the gate, the production quality and performances by each the members is surprisingly good. Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield seem like the clear standouts on “Lux Aeterna,” with Hetfield’s vocal melodies and rhythm playing being as tight as ever and Ulrich’s pummeling drum patterns putting the band’s youthful energy on full display.
In proper ‘album announcement etiquette,’ Metallica has also revealed a massive world tour for 2023 and 2024 in support of the new record. The band has already gone ahead with the pre-orders for 72 Seasons as well as providing the record’s length and track listing details:
Screaming Suicide
Sleepwalk My Life Away
You Must Burn!
Lux Æterna
Crown of Barbed Wire
Chasing Light
If Darkness Had a Son
Too Far Gone?
Room of Mirrors
Inamorata
12 (10 announced thus far) new tracks clocking in at 77 minutes is certainly a bulky amount of new Metallica, and it also happens to be the exact same length and number of tracks as their previous LP, Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, which the band initially released as a double album. Call it cliche, but it would have been neat if they decided to keep 72 Seasons at 72 minutes in keeping with the title. Speaking of, in a new press release James Hetfield has revealed where the concept behind the album’s title came from:
“72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”
Overall, this is a very powerful and promising start for Metallica and their next album cycle. The band is obviously getting older as the years go on but it’s hard see through that aspect given the sheer energy and charisma on display in “Lux Aeterna.” Metallica is clearly still capable of churning old school metal anthems, and they seem to be having a good time all the while doing it.
So…are you excited for the Metallica announcement? Are you going to any of the shows? If so, let us know in the comments section or on our social channels, just search Rock n Coasters podcast.
Oh, and one last thing, did you know the single best thing you can do for our show is to tell your family and friends how to listen. Who knows, they might just become a rabid listener just like you.
Until next time, I am Michele Forto for First Paw Media.
