ALBUM REVIEW: 72 Seasons – Metallica
What’s to say about METALLICA that hasn’t been said before? The biggest heavy metal metal band of all time without a doubt. We could do the usual band introduction but by now you know METALLICA‘s deal, so how about we just dive headfirst into this one shall we?
Let’s get this out of the way from the get-go. If you’re expecting something along the lines of Master Of Puppets, still to this day, you are going to be disappointed once again. If you have realised by now that their sound has deviated from their thrash heyday and the gents aren’t quite the sprightly young go-getters that they once were then perhaps you’ll come into 72 Seasons with an open enough mind to enjoy the album for what it is: a moody, stomping, riff-a-thon that may not be perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but is still a solid album. Sure, the band show sparks of youthful exuberance such as on the lead single Lux Æterna and the fiery Room Of Mirrors, but mostly 72 Seasons leans heavily into the swagger and stomp of The Black Album and Load/Reload. The BPMs are generally kept lower than previous releases and this gives the album a more focused feel. We’re talking arena-thumping jams rather than ferocious garage-based thrash.
The title track starts off the album with the band showcasing just how this record is going to go. It’s a lengthy number, full of twists and turns while mainly keeping the same overall blueprint as previous offerings. However, it is one of their better tracks that stick to this formula. Shadows Follow bounces along with a fun, if predictable, selection of riffs while Screaming Suicide fits better as an album track than as a standalone single. At this point, some fans may be wondering where the variation is. Thankfully they will find some in the grunge-tinged You Must Burn! There’s a hint of Sad But True sprinkled with Load’s thickness. It’s a track filled with a stomping groove and a modern METALLICA hook that sticks with you early on. Rob Trujillo’s bass (that is beautifully audible throughout the album) stands out towards the final third as Kirk Hammett unleashes a killer solo. The production is a lot better than was expected, as the levels seem to have been perfected on 72 Seasons.
James Hetfield’s voice has matured gracefully throughout the band’s career, and he sounds just as incredible as usual here on 72 Seasons. Sadly, we hear minimal moments of his softer register, but his unmistakable thrash vocals are still in top form. You can really hear the emotion pouring through more than on previous releases, partly due to the more open nature of the lyrical content. Crown Of Barbed Wire and Chasing Light allow Hetfield to bare his soul and after the viral video of him opening up to us and the other members at a live show, these songs and lyrics have so much more weight behind them.
Since the release of Death Magnetic, METALLICA have found their new signature sound, and this followed on into Hardwired and now 72 Seasons. Unfortunately, this is perhaps their biggest downfall. The band that once reinvented the game have now boxed themselves into this new style of riding the wave of a mediocre riff for far too long (see If Darkness Had A Son) which ultimately causes a real burnout for the listener. Most of the tracks on the album go on for at least six minutes, and for these lengthy tracks to work they must stay interesting enough to keep the listener invested. Sleepwalk My Life Away drags on and on without displaying anything memorable, while the 11-minute closer Inamorata, while a solid track, could have easily run for five minutes and been all the better for it.
The band have once again struggled with editing down their tracks, and it weakens the album. It should always be a case of quality over quantity and for some reason they have really struggled with making the best instrumental parts shine. Instead, they are overshadowed by moments of monotony. Without a single ballad, or barely a clean reprieve, these tracks can become exhausting to listen to. It’s always a great moment where an interesting riff kicks in, but you really shouldn’t be hoping for a part of the song to be over to get to that section.
72 Seasons isn’t an easy listen. It takes multiple playthroughs for certain riffs or hooks to really sink in, but if you’re willing to put the time in, you will find there are masterful moments here that prove that METALLICA still have their place.
Rating: 7/10
72 Seasons is set for release on April 14th via Blackened Recordings.
Like METALLICA on Facebook.