Metallica
72 Seasons is a not the album some old school 'tallica fans have been asking or hoping for since And Justice for All. It does not delve into Lovecraftian worlds or embody the minds of embattered soldiers on/off the battlefield. This is a much more personal album at least in lyricism. Frontman James Hetfield's personal battles offstage with sobriety, mental health and relationships have been well documented. All of these experiences really set the tone of this album. There is a duality between the brightness of the musicianship and the darkness of the lyricism. While Death Magnetic and Hardwired felt like experiments in trying to recapture lightning in a bottle, 72 Seasons finds the band much more comfortable in it's present skin. I personally listened to this album for the first time with little expectation. I was pleasantly surprised. There are plenty of Kirk solo's, tasty Trujillo basslines and (despite all the post Napster/St. Anger hate for Lars) expertly produced Lars drum moments throughout this album. James stays in the pocket on vocals which is another strength of 72 Seasons. I've been a critic of James trying too hard to scream out of his current "post Black album" range and many times sounding like a cat thrown in a cold bath. Gone also for the most part is the Diamonhead and Motorhead worship from Hardwired. Where the album could've used some adjusting is the overall mix in post production. I personally feel Hetfield's vocals could've been brought forward a few steps. The strongest moments of the album are when we get to fully take in the lyrics, the space between that wall of sound and in turn form those aural memories.
While 72 Seasons does not boast memorable tales of paperback horror or wartime ptsd....sometimes Life is stranger and Darker than fiction. There are several stand out tracks on this album that may take fickly fans years to actually give a chance.
"Sleepwalk My Life Away" is a slowburn track that opens with a nice fat bass line. It is probably one of the slower songs on the album, giving the listener a little breathing room after the blistering "Screaming Suicide". Kirk pulls out a bluesy solo tinged complete with his signature runs. Lars for the most part on this album, stays in his lane and is not mixed particularly too high.
"You Must Burn!" is the second half of the one-two punch following "Sleepwalk My Life Away". Dark, heavy and fresh in it's intensity. Kirk shines on the latter half of the track, jamming out, following his runs with a bridge back to the chorus.
"If Darkness Had A Son" is one of the top tracks on the album. Militaristic drums open the track and we get a whole lot of the "heavy". The entire band's delivery is on another level. Metallica feels so comfortable in it's skin. In it's truest form, it's probably the closest in tone to prime "tallica" without even nodding to that era. James kills it in his delivery.
Do with this review what you will but I'm glad to say that after all these years Metallica is finding a place within themselves that they can live with, without trying to reinvent or rejuvenate in the waters of past times. All of life's experiences, the good and the bad, is what has culminated into creating 72 Seasons. As a 47 year old, old school "tallica" fan, I'm not hating on this at all. Give this album a listen with an open mind. The album and legacy of this band has earned it.
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