Metallica’s Surprise Announcement

Metallica fans across the globe were surprised last week with an early Christmas gift from the band: a new single, album announcement, and world tour showcase. Metallica’s 11th album, 72 Seasons, arrives on April 14th. Front man James Hetfield revealed that the LP’s title and theme revolve around their formative years. “Seventy-two seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves,” he explained in an interview. Their new single, “Lux Æterna,” was received quite well by most fans because of its similarity to songs on their first album, Kill ‘Em All.

Since the release of the 2003 album St. Anger, the majority of fans have become disappointed with the direction the band has been heading over the past two decades. To have a better understanding of why fans feel this way, let’s take a short walk through their genre history.

Metallica’s first four releases Kill ‘Em All (1983), Ride the Lightning (1984), Master of Puppets (1986), and …And Justice for All (1988) were all a sound categorized under the metal sub-genre thrash metal. Depending on what type of fan you ask, this is the genre Metallica has always been known for. With the release of Metallica (1991), also known as the black album, the band began to test the limits of their associated genre. Songs were shorter, the thrash was dialed back, the lyrics were simplified, and their first-ever ballad was on this album. Long-time fans everywhere cried ‘sell-out’ when they heard “Enter Sandman” on the radio every day, but this album pushed Metallica into the mainstream and established them as arguably the most popular metal band in history.

The two albums to follow, Load (1996) and Reload (1997), went in some different directions genre-wise but were very well received by fans everywhere. Garage Inc. (1998) was a heavy metal cover album; the band put their spin on songs by Bob Seger, Black Sabbath, Diamond Head, The Misfits, and more. In 2003, however, things changed.

After being together for 20 years, Metallica hit a rough patch. They had just sued Napster, and their own fans, for copyright infringement. Jason Newstead, their bass player, exited stage left when vocalist James Hetfield went on a control trip and blocked his side project. Also, various injuries kept them from touring, including a jet ski accident and neck injuries from excessive head-banging. During the production of this album, they decided to attempt aggressive raw production. The songwriting was less structured, more chaotic, and highly personal, with Hetfield sharing the struggles that sent him to rehab in the middle of its creation. To put it politely, no Metallica fan’s favorite album is St. Anger, and there’s good reason for it.

Metallica’s “Lux Æterna” has regained their fans’ respect for them in some fashion. Fast-paced and heavy from the beginning, it’s certainly a head-banger. The drum track features a double-kick bass that comes off as bold, loud, and self-assured. Lars Ulrich, Metallica’s drummer, has been harped on by fans in the past for his drumming skills and techniques, but his sound on “Lux Æterna” was a pleasant surprise. The riff is catchy, and James Hetfield’s vocals didn’t disappoint, as always. Kirk’s solo is electrifying and complex. If there’s one thing about this single, it screams bold. While this is only one of the new album’s twelve songs, Metallica seems to be returning to its original sound, and the members seem more comfortable in their brand and name than ever.