I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected. Not a masterpiece or anything but I think I like it more than Hardwired. The title track, You Must Burn, Inamorata, and Shadows Follow are some of my favorites on the album.
As a Metallica, self professed "Die Hard" fan, since 1991, I've found that Metallica historically have made "sister" records periodically....Lightning/Puppets, Load/Reload and now I feel Harwired's sister album is 72 Seasons. I said to my friend last night at the theater listening event, that this new record was going to be a GROWER for me. Now that I've listened to it a few times through again, there are standout tracks and its solid and I'd probably agree with you 3.5 or 3.75 out of 5. Metallica doesn't need to be the FASTEST anymore, they don't need to be the Most Innovative anymore. The songs are a bit long, but damnit if the chorus's are not catchy and the melodies def have me humming them. Good Review! Thank you
Who are you trying to convince? It might sound like a 'nice take' to some but, to me, it sounds like a long list of making excuses and bunkum theories, still trying to tell yourself your favourite biggest dumbed down metal band in the world, is alright. If they were great and made great music, it would be: 'this thing is fucking fantastic, you have to hear it, nuff said', like you might say of Obituary's recent s/t album, Pallbearer's 'Heartless', most any album by Mastodon, Swallow The Sun's 'When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light', High On Fire's 'De Vermis Mysteriis'...the list goes on. That's just some of the great metal and rock from fairly recently that people like you have no clue about because you would rather spend your time talking yourself into why one of the most humdrum, massappeal, sellout, biggest, boring bands in the world is still good, rather than spending the time and effort, or even having the inclination, to find what the best metal artists and albums, actually are. You're all just Metallica apologists with minimal interest in metal and your taste in your fucking arse.
For people that think Metallica is good these days, please check out these songs and realize thrash is much more nowadays. Here's a list with modern thrash songs: Havok - Root of Evil HeXeN - Knee Deep in the Dead Warbringer - Remain Violent Power Trip - Executioner's Tax Traitor - 66 Exeter Street Blackened Thrash: Lucifuge - Black Battalions High Command - Fortified by Bloodshed Ketzer - Warlust Inculter - Impending Doom Witchtrap - Powerof the Maul Blackened Tech Thrash: Cryptosis - Transcendence Vektor - Pteropticon Revocation - The Grip Tightens Paranorm - Critical Mass
"Room of Mirrors" has the best moments on the album. "Shadows Follow" feels like an (almost) better "Holier Than Thou", "Chasing Light" has some excellent hooks.
Main riff from Room of Mirrors is pretty simple, but probably my favorite one from this album. Also the guitar harmony after solo is great, Im glad Im not the only one who liked this son
I personally prefer Hardwired as I feel that album has slightly more variety with it. I definitely have issues with the length of some of the tracks and the drumming from Lars sounds kinda repetitive when it comes to the slower tracks of the album. But otherwise, this is a solid-as new album for Metallica. My favourite songs were the title track, Lux Æterna, Inamorata, Room of Mirrors, Screaming Suicide, Sleepwalk My Life Away and You Must Burn.
Count me in as an old fan who thinks this could be one of their best. The consistency on display genuinely kicked my ass, as did the personally relevant subject matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s as good as ‘Master of Puppets’. This is its own beast, and deserves to be experienced as such, without the limitations caused by looking to the past the whole time. Great review! I’m glad the album surprised you. One review said: “they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. They ARE the wheel.”
@@neiljackson81 That's not called truth. That's called opinion and it's your perspective. I can respect an opinion, but not if it is passed off as truth.
I love the album. Look it's 2023 and we're still getting Metallica albums with absolute banger tracks on them. The musicianship is as good, if not better than it always was. Considering how a lot of their contemporaries are doing now this is kind of miraculous. If your compare James Hetfield to other vocalists who were around when Metallica got started the difference is crazy (Jon BonJovi anyone?). How can his voice be just as powerfeul and maybe even better? The man is God-like. At this point the band have nothing to prove. I can listen to Lux Aeterna alongside Master of Puppets and feel like they belong in the same conversation. That blows my mind. 72 seasons is literally the only album on my phone ATM. The only comment on content ill make is that the first two thirds of the album is stacked much more with bangers, but as I listen more I'm sure the final third will grow on me.
Yeah, it lives up to great standards. I don't care what anyone says, lyrics are fantastic, riffs are chunky and a bit speed metal in parts, good double kick in some parts....what more do want from a band that's been around since the early 80's??? Yeah man, it's a very decent album and i'm proud of the guys.
5 Words: Sixty Year Olds Playing Metal -I wouldn't say the album was "Underwhelming" because I didn't expect that much in the first place and prety got what I expected. There were some cool moments especially from Rob. James sounded great But yeah its Sixty Year Olds playing metal. Im probably not going to be doing something near as cool as that when Im 60 so credit where credit is due.
Kirk does the same licks over and over, Lars does the same snare fill, James the same Em blues riff and it gives the album some identity that hardwired lacked imo, but the intros last forever, death magnetic keeps getting better and better
I listened this record and ended to be better than expected. I was worried with length of the songs but the band managed well. Thumbs up to Metallica for this album and thumbs up for this review.
I usually try to avoid critics. But I think you did an overall good job of breaking down this album. WAAAYYYY TOO EARLY to compare this to Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, The Black Album and so on. Those albums all had their iconic, legendary tracks. These songs just came out, they can't be iconic yet. You gotta give them at least year, maybe more to reach that. I see potential for a few like "Screaming Suicide" or "72 Seasons". But you gotta wait.
Look something we gotta remember is, they don't NEED to do anything innovative at their age. I enjoy it. A lot. Like you said, James opens himself up quite a bit. Is it the first four albums or the black album? No, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. it's own beast and the fact they can even make an album like this at their age is mightily impressive. The fact they can PERFORM IT ALL LIVE at their age, is impressive. If the first five albums were 5/5 I'd put this one at 4/5. Not as good as the first five but far better than anything after black album (AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERY ALBUM FOR WHAT THEY ARE). i eat sleep and breathe this band, I'm 32 now and I've loved this band since I was 12. Again, they don't need to reinvent the wheel with their music now, they gotta a process that works and I'll bump any song on this album. Cheers y'all
The fact that I even did not know this album was coming and I lost interest in Metallica years ago (was a massive fan but we went different ways. Load reload.. )I just listened to the album without any expectations. Well I have been listening to it all day today! I like it alot. Some songs could have been shorter but it is a solid Metallica album. Even my wife and kids like it. Usually when I play Darkthrone or similar they just scream "turn that s"'t off!!!" Hitting 60 and still making good riffs and songs is at least for me impressive.
I definitely think this was better than Hardwired. Hardwired I will say had bigger highs, but it also had some serious lows. 72 Seasons was a lot more consistent in its quality, even if it never reached the same highs as Hardwired. Death Magnetic is still their best post-TBA release, but this is definitely a good second.
I honestly thought you were going to shit on this album. So, pleasantly surprised to hear you give a fair review. I for one think it’s a pretty good record. Nothing to gush or write home about, but pretty good. You were spot on in saying they wrote a Metallica record. Nothing wrong with that. AC/DC and Motörhead made careers doing what they do and knowing their lane and strengths. Great review!
This album is definitely going to be divisive for sure. There's definitely a lot of emotion that was being put into making this record, and it definitely shows. I don't think it's bad that the production has been the same since Death Magnetic, unless you count the parts where you can hear some audio from one of the band members and Greg Fidelman at the end of a couple of songs. It's great to FINALLY have Rob do some backup vocals on a song for a change as well as have him lay down a killer bass line on "Sleepwalk My life Away". Everybody put in solid performances across the board here. James absolutely steals the show on this album though given what he's been through in the past couple of years. This album is its own beast and should be experienced on its own merits by treating it as such. Definitely better than the last album even though "Hardwired to Self Destruct" still has quite a few bangers on it.
I’m most definitely impressed! When I heard “Screaming Suicide” and “ If Darkness had a Son” as singles.. I was fearing the worst. Then when the album came out and I started with “Shadows Follow” I was hooked right back in. The rest of the album is better than half the singles. IDHAS has grown on me though. Going to Discord for an opinion was a bad idea. That’s like going into a shady back alley with people that only wanna do harm to anyone and everything. Oh and btw.. first time viewer.. subscribed 🤘🏻
@@KomboAndy 72 Seasons is boring and annoying with It's noisy, blues wah, wah pedals and Load, Stanger, magnetic, hardwired vibes all over the places.This album destroys their 80's thrash legacy. Better when Metallica retires after the Tour 72 seasions to leave the throne for Megadeth and come back for a last 80's alike thrash album. They have sold enough records and earned hundreds of millions of dollars.
My biggest critique is we don't have any "ballads" or softer songs. Halo On Fire is one of my favorite songs from Hardwired, and while it's not a "ballad" per se, I enjoyed the dynamics of it. Also, track 4 of RTL, MOP, Justice, and the Black Album were some of my favorite songs of all time.
Love Inamorata, Crown of Barbed Wire and Sleepwalk My Life Away. I heard Lux Aeterna and thought this was going to be meh, wasn't feeling that at all. But the rest of the album is very good. It gets the head nodding. I absolutely love Inamorata. Was sleep deprived for a few days with work and listened to that last night, semi exhausted. What a track!
Man glad to see you like this one. I get tired of seeing the SEAS of folks shitting on this just like every album after justice. I get all the complaints truthfully but it's a decent album. Take it for what it is and enjoy
I actually think it’s hard for any band with the popularity or influence of Metallica to not sound bland comparatively to their first succession of albums. However, 72 Seasons is a superb album. I actually am astounded on how the contrarian in me wants to piss on the hoopla. Metallica plays metal like old time blues players and I mean that as a compliment.
Agreed. 3 out of 5 for me as well. Some cool things here and there, buy also way too many similar sounding riffs .... reminded me quite a lot of Death Magnetic.
Listening to this album and then relistening to megadeths really reaffirms in my mind that hetfield and Mustaine need to get together one last time to record an album together before it’s too late.Both frontmen can still deliver the goods and haven’t run the well dry yet. Together I think they could create a super fun album of riffs and thrash hooks. Drums and solo guest spots by guys like Kiko and Marty and Petrucci and Hammett. Get dirk and Lars as well as Scott Travis and portnoy.
Just finished listening to 72 Seasons. Out of the entire record I've found two songs that I could go back to being Room of Mirrors and Inamorata. The record as a whole is just a bloated mess, they get stuck in a riff or groove for too long on every song. It's better than Hardwired but it does follow the pattern from the last few records since Death Magnetic of just not cutting any fat, it's quite boring in my opinion. James does sound really good even though the lyrics suck. A solid 2.5/5.
It's pretty ok. I liked Room of Mirrors and Lux Æterna the most. It's a pretty decent modern Metallica record, good production, some interesting (and corny) lyrics, some fun riffs. I agree.
Only listened to it once so far, but I definitely liked it more than I expected I would. Like so many people, Puppets was my first Metallica album, around the time it came out. One thing I noticed about this album was the guitars had quite a lot of Justice vibes to them. Obviously not as good - slower and less intricate - but similar styles of riffs and distortion sound. Heard some Shortest Straw style riffing in places. I too would give it an enthusiastic three out of five.
Overall, I like it. It’s a little boring and you can tell these guys are past their prime, but they still have talent left and there are some solid bangers on here. Better than Load/Reload, not as good as Death Magnetic, on par with Hardwired. 6.5/10.
I think that 72 Seasons is just an okay album. It’s an improvement over Death Magnetic and Hardwired but it still has its issues. The first half of the album is great but the second half drags on way to much and has a lot of filler. I still think it’s their best post-Black Album, but nothing will top their first five albums for me.
@The Metal Meltdown probably their Global evil Masters that they sold out to you know they played like Global citizen fest. dumb s*** like that nowadays. Don't tell me Lars isn't responsible because it's quite clear he is. The rest of the band looks f****** bored with it but apparently Lars is the boss so. I guess as long as they're getting their big fat paychecks that is all that matters now.
I think you're spot on with the review. First full album I've enjoyed since the Black album. Other albums I've enjoyed certain songs, but since every album is near 80 minutes long, it all gets tedious if listening in one sitting. This one though is more digestible for some reason. One gripe is Kirk's guitar sound. It just sounds more in the background for some reason.
I enjoyed the album for the most part, I would shorten most of the songs and even cut some of the filler songs off the album completely and just put them on an outtakes EP, still its a solid record in my opinion, and the lyrics were very relatable for me (I'm actually 18 years of age as I'm writing this)
Gotta say I agree with metal trenches on this one, death magnetic blows this out of the water for consistency and creativity from front to back, some of the riffs on this album (especially the singles) kinda sound like riffs that have been played to death by about every thrash band on the planet and fall firmly in that thrash metal cliche riff pile.. however Shadows fallow surprised me as a pretty cool song and there are definetly other songs that have alot going for them, also I do think the album generally will be more a grower instead of an immediate impact kinda deal, so I'm not gunna judge it too hard after just afew listens, there are alot of positives too and actually credit to lars, his drums and the production sound good compared to what they have been recently, so far after a couple listens I would say this is better than St anger, load, reload and hardwired but not nearly as good as there early career and death magnetic. Kinda feel the deeper cuts are the better songs
really impressed with the album, besides 1-2 songs i really enjoyed the album a lot, shadows follow, too far gone, room of mirrors and inamorata go hard, nice idle hands (unto others) shirt too btw seeing them in a few weeks!
Good album, imo 2nd best since black album (behind DM) LOVE the last 4 songs. Crown of barbed wire is eh, and basically everything else was good. Mad respect to these guys for still putting music out
I enjoyed the album for sure… they seem to be trying very hard to tap into their older, vintage sound and not quite getting there but I appreciate the effort. Great review as always Melty 🤘🍻
Metallica is at the point in their career where their audience is TOO BIG. Everyone will find something they like, but its unlikely that everyone will come together to like everything on a given album. You can find a group of people calling Song x their best since Justice, and another group calling the same song dogshit. It is what it is
I love it. It's a total throw-back NWOBHM album. Much more consistent than the last two. For me, best Metallica album of the 21st century. 🤘🤘🤘🤘out of 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
The album is pretty good. I'm satisfied with it as someone who doesn't expect much from them at this point in their career, as they have nothing to prove anymore. The album is indeed HEAVY asf. I think it's some of their heaviest in a while. This album is %30-ish thrash and 70% classic heavy metal and I believe they're channeling their early influences like Diamond Head, Black Sabbath, Misfits and others. This is also James' best vocal performance since the 90's. He sounds AMAZING. My gripes with this album are basically: Most guitar solos. Length of the tracks and repetition - some songs could be much better if trimmed. The production is pretty good, but the drums are a bit too loud and the double bass is clicky. It does nothing new for the most part. My rating is: 3.5/5
Double bass sounds triggered with some very mediocre sample. Drumms overall are very weak point of this album when it comes to instrumental performance, Lars practiced a bit lately and he is less sloppy, especially live, but his creativity doesnt exist anymore. Its literally hard to believe that he came up with so much cool stuff on AJFA and at the same time played almost entire 72 seasons using the same beat and same single stroke fills on snare all the time
@@jez_77 yeah, I agree. That's one of my least favourite things about the album, but still there are a few cool moments on the album like Room of Mirrors.
I like it. I can listen to it with my son in car and going on a long trip. I was expecting something like the last 2 albums. There’s some killer riffs and James sounds amazing. I need to listen to it more and more.
I enjoyed the album for the most part on my first listen. I really liked James' vocals and there were alot of really cool moments and riffs throughout the album. But my biggest issue is the length of most of the songs. They're simply too long and would benefit from being trimmed a minute or three to make it more concise. It's going to affect replayability for me cause some of the songs really drag on. Inamorata is my favorite song by far, just really dug that one thoroughly despite it being the longest song.
Good objective review, I agree about all. Lyrics are issue for me, haven’t connected much to it yet in any song. (Maybe darkness only) But vocals are amazing on other hand. And Inamorata is something else, really feels special, cannot explain it.
It's okay for me, nothing great, but nothing horrible. Better than Hardwired but worse than DM. I actually really like Death Magnetic, I think it's their best album since The Black Album and I don't see many people talking about it. All Nightmare Long, That Was Just Your Life and Broken, Beat And Scarred are absolute bangers.
A usual going back to the Black album, I wouldn't listen to this again. There are way to many other albums, I want to listen to for the first time before I turn 50, in 2024.
On my first listen it almost feels like it’s the first song and then every other song from that I catches me. But songs are too long often times with parts that could be disposed of to tighten things up. The weaker songs seem better than the weaker songs on the last two. This really is a James hetfield album as he is the star of the show(no suprise) and at this stage and age of his life he proves he still has something to offer. This isn’t James in his 20s and 30s and that’s ok. That fact that he can still tap in to that love of metal he had in his youth to still riff out today is awesome. One of the best and most important frontmen of all time and when he steps away he will be missed but given a proper hero’s send off. And as usual the presence of Kirk Hammett is continuing to hold the band and songs back from greatness as he hasnt had anything of worth to offer the band since the black album. When Mustaine brings in new lead players you hear and feel it. Kiko rocks. Marty is a legend.
I think the problem with Metallica fans is that they want a game changer. They fail to remember, they already changed the game. No band has ever changed the genre game more than once. Metallica did it so well the first time, some of you all got greedy 🤣 I just allow myself to enjoy the fuck out of where those guys take us. I don't like every single song or album but that doesn't mean shit. They're the number 1 band on the planet!
Let this be a testament of how much St. Anger has emotionally scarred me that i'm willing to take anything remotely decent Metallica throws at me with no complaints. Fortunately, this album is one or two steps above decent. It's more Traditional Metal than Thrash, with many winks and nods towards the NWOBHM and continental Europe scene sp, if you're looking for speed, then there's the new Overkill album for you. Also, the first Metallica album in a while in which the production doesn't bother me. James' vocals are his best since Load/Reload; Lars, i'll give him credit, has been practicing during the quarantine and gives a respetable performance despite sounding repetitive a few times; Rob's bass is audible enough to notice what he's playing and does a good job helping to keep the songs together. My only complaint regarding the band members is Kirk's strange solos, and it's not the good type of strange. Disjointed and disoriented is how i would describe them. The riffs are definitely superior, reminiscent of AJFA and The Black Album. I get the inevitable backlash this album will get from a certain part of the Metal community but i can't help but think about recent turds released by other veteran Thrash bands that we were told they should replace Metallica or Anthrax as part of the Big 4 and concluding that i should be thankful with the final result. If this is Metallica's swansong then, at least for me, it's the perfect goodbye. 7/10.
I still need to finish the album (and review), but my feeling so far is: Every song feels just a tad too long. I have a feeling this will hold true for nearly every song.
Metallica have moved towards a more groove metal sound on this on this album. Chugging riffs with a mix of thrash and blues here and there, favorite albums are Load and Reload, so I’m really happy with it. I don’t mind the length of the songs as most do, transitions on some of the songs feel a little too choppy and rough The sound of this album is pure ear candy, it’s a culmination of their sounds throughout the years, cannot complain at all. Lyrics and vocals; great, hit a bit of a rough patch lately, so the themes of darkness, light, and temptations, help out a lot, James sounds gritty, clean; aged like a fine wine My other gripe is the solos, they start out good, and then Kirk throws in a fast speed lick out of nowhere, it feels shoehorned, and very out of place on most of the songs, could’ve been better I got three more tracks to go, so I’ll be back to give and update, but I’m feeling and A-, or a 7.8 on this one So far, so good, so what? Update:Just finished the final three tracks, all three got my approval, Inamorata is my favorite of the three. Final rating: A tier album, 4.4/5, 8.3/10, if this is their final album, it’s a good sendoff and a high note to leave on.
Hype? What hype? I wasn’t even aware the album was out, hahaha. I’ll have to go check it out now but making this post before watching your review I’m fully prepared to fall asleep.
Room of Mirrors is definitely the highlight of the album for me. The other songs are kinda meh for me. I wouldn’t say it’s better than Death Magnetic, I enjoyed Hardwired more overall to be honest. And it’s nowhere near their first four albums. But it’s hard to top Kill, Ride, Puppets, and Justice. Death Magnetic is their best album since …And Justice For All. The black album was always overrated to me.
The drums sound like they are on a friggin loop, and they are way too loud in the mix for me, and the solos are all random blues licks. It’s so sad and underwhelming. I usually like Lars drumming, but here it’s so stock that it’s distracting.
Sorry, but Death Magnetic was by far more dynamic, more interesting, more energetic, heavier, more diverse and was their best output since the Black album. Hardwired to Self-Destruct and 72 Seasons are both chores to get through. They meander, are monotonous, uninspired, bloated, dull, lacking energy, heaviness and a sense of urgency. I stuck by them religiously from 1988 until 2017 (I saw them live many times between 1989 and 2017), but did not enjoy anything they have done on their last 2 albums. They have fallen into a very formulaic and predictable way of writing their songs and sadly, they magic they once had, is not present anymore. If these last 2 albums were their starting point, they would never have become the monster they are today. All their contemporary bands release so much heavier, faster and better composed albums than them today. Sad but True.
Yeah, I feel the same. It’s a decent album. Some definite high points, some low points as well. Quite a few of the songs could’ve had some fat trimmed, Kirk’s solos and Lars’ drumming are generic. I like James’ vocals quite a bit, and there’s a lot of good riffs and grooves here. Some nice lyrics too, especially on tracks like Screaming Suicide. Inamorata in particular is a really good song for how long it is. I also enjoy the title track, Lux Æterna, You Must Burn!, Shadows Follow, and Chasing Light. I will say, it has been fun to watch the seemingly endless arguing between those who think this album is amazing and those who think this album is terrible. Good review as usual👍
i havent listened to it in its entirety, aside from lux i cant recall what other songs I listened too, crown of barbed wire was one i think but i cant recall much of it. I really haven’t been big on their newer stuff as far back death magnetic and hardwired but both of those albums did have a few tracks i liked I like the 80s stuff and i even enjoy tba, load, and reload but for some reason 72 seasons i havent been interested in diving deep into
Honestly I found 72 Seasons so bland and boring. The album doesn't go anywhere or do anything. Felt like stuff that was left off 'Hardwired...' Inamorata being the bands longest song at 11 minutes I was hoping for something special, but it's not a patch on Spit Out The Bone.
Idk how how people liked hardwired more ? 72 seasons had way better tracks especially the 2nd half of the album hardwired was only good on the first half with the exception of spit out the bone
I don't understand why these guys have production questions. The Black Album through Loads sounded phenomenal(whatever you think of the songs). How can they learn how to make a phenomenal sounding record, and then abandon it. StA was intentional. Magnetic, which I loved, but I do understand the whole 'loudness wars' aspect of it. The Guitar Hero version had a much warmer feel. And it's been a steady issue since. Why? They have the means, experience as music fans and experience with their own creations, to know how to do this right. Smh.
I definitely agree with your review more than with some others, it's a decent album. Could it be better? Yes. Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it awful and unlistenable? Hell no! Are there songs that I enjoyed? Yes, actually the majority of them. I'd give this album a solid B and place it slightly above "Hardwired" and slightly below "Death Magnetic" in their post-"St.Anger"-era. I'd say Metallica are doing good for their age, and get overhated just for being Metallica. I was on their show in Munich lately, and it was great. Actually, when I get started, quite many other old bands which started in 70-s or 80-s are still doing good also: Iron Maiden post-reunion ("AMOLAD" and "Brave New World" are masterpieces, every other album was very good, "Frontier" had some great moments but too many filler songs), Blind Guardian (they have one of the most consistent discographies overall imo, no bad albums at all and their last album was just superb), Judas Priest's recent two albums were great (they've had some stinkers prior to them though), Helloween (I love their self-titled album after reunion with Kiske and Hansen, "Gambling with the devil" and "7 sinners", the rest were also good, only "My God-Given Right" was meh), Kreator (I didn't like their last one, but four albums prior to it were great), Overkill (an example of the band that doesn't reinvent a wheel and just stabily produces good material), even Megadeth (I enjoyed"Dystopia" and "Endgame").
I respect that they still play like this in their age, but I didnt very enjoy the full listen to this album, it was pretty repetitive and boring after while. The song that really stood out for me was Room of mirrors. This one, Lux Aeterna and partially If darkness had a son (it could be little faster and shorter tho) are the highlights of the entire album, but still far from Spit out the bone and Halo on fire that I like the most from Hardwired. Not many good hooks, not many cool moments, few really bad tracks that I reall struggle to listen to (You must burn is honestly one of the worst Metallica songs for me), lots of just 'meh' songs and sadly, probably the most unispiring drumming Ive ever heard on a metal album ever. Overall, I didnt expect too much, kinda got what I was prepared for. Not disappointed, its not horrible, but theres also not much to be positively surprised
I just watched another review that literally said almost the exact opposite of everything this review said, and I think that in a nutshell is what we can expect the reactions to the rest of Metallica's music post St. Anger and going forward until they die.
Ok, so production handled in separate reply, my thoughts on this. I've been a big Metallica fan for years. But a touch lesser in recent years more due to me discovering so much new stuff. In Hardwired, the simplicity, sameness, 'stock' feel of the riffs in some of the hits(moth, atlas) didn't sit well with me. I loved the title track, Bone, Halo, and was bored to tears with a couple tunes. This album, while kinda structured more like Justice overall, has sooooo many riffs that are either their own(hit the lights, shortest straw, no remorse) or are very stock. So the album wasn't bad, but it kinda felt like they were very short on new, interesting riffs. Lars and Kirk have punted. Lars publicly admitting his dumbed down approach, and Kirk 'winged' solos, usually swamped in the Wah, all but annoy me now. This record has grown on me with each listen, liking many of the songs for the most part. But the riffs throughout had the originality of Star Wars Episode 7. And that bums me out. Is it because James can't write anything more complex that Lars and Kirk can play to?
I see it similar. I think 3/5 is fair. My expectations weren't too high, the band has gotten into a kind of rut by now, so it fits. It's always going to be a bit difficult for old fans because we have our three in a row ('83-'86). I don't think we can be blamed for that. 😊
A good balanced and insightful review. Sounded like you wanted to give it a 3.5 but bowed to pressure! It's pretty difficult to rate albums without enough time to fully digest them but I'd say this is in the 3.5 - 4 range.
I had literally 0 expectations coming into the full listen after how much I hated Screaming Suicide and If Darkness Had almost 8 minutes of my life wasted away, but the fact it had some decently good moments like Crown of Barbed Wire, Inamorata and Too Far Gone is more than what I ever thought they'll achieve with this album. I'll probably come back to those songs occasionally but just like majority of Hardwired disc 2 theres nothing that makes me replay the rest
Thanks for not just going in blasting this album. At least you give a fresh perspective as others that have given commentary and are just speaking words of venom and hate. For me I really like this album and think that for the band's age and what they've been through they are right where they need to be. If every song was blazing fast Metallica would probably fizzle out in the end.
Please make a video about Iron maidens dodgy album art. Of all 20 albums or so. Only 6 has decent art. Sad that 72 seasons does not have Metallica in black on the yellow. It would stand out so good.
I gave it a light 3.5/5. I actually enjoyed the title track, Screaming Suicide, Lux Æterna and Inamorata quite a bit. Many of the tracks could be trimmed like a minute or two and If Darkness Had a Son and Shadows Follow should be removed imo
I feel the 4 singles they released were the weakest links but I still enjoyed them. But overall they're pushing their 60s and this is a cool album and I wasn't expecting something groundbreaking
I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected. Not a masterpiece or anything but I think I like it more than Hardwired. The title track, You Must Burn, Inamorata, and Shadows Follow are some of my favorites on the album.
you know your music dude, much better than the 3 disc compendium of Hardwired To Self Destruct. I wish metallica the best in their new release.
Exact same here those songs are dope. I also love the title track and if darkness had a son 😂
The more time passes, the more you realize what a banger Hardwired really was
It was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but the good shit hit HARD.
72 Seasons feels like all the things mashed together that didn’t make the cut in Hardwired, Death Magnetic and even St Anger
Kinda 🤣
I actually like Hardwired more than this one. However it's a bit early to judge.
No. it wasn't that great then adn still isn't that gret. Just because metallica made an even worse record doesn't change anything
As a Metallica, self professed "Die Hard" fan, since 1991, I've found that Metallica historically have made "sister" records periodically....Lightning/Puppets, Load/Reload and now I feel Harwired's sister album is 72 Seasons. I said to my friend last night at the theater listening event, that this new record was going to be a GROWER for me. Now that I've listened to it a few times through again, there are standout tracks and its solid and I'd probably agree with you 3.5 or 3.75 out of 5. Metallica doesn't need to be the FASTEST anymore, they don't need to be the Most Innovative anymore. The songs are a bit long, but damnit if the chorus's are not catchy and the melodies def have me humming them. Good Review! Thank you
nice take.
Who are you trying to convince? It might sound like a 'nice take' to some but, to me, it sounds like a long list of making excuses and bunkum theories, still trying to tell yourself your favourite biggest dumbed down metal band in the world, is alright.
If they were great and made great music, it would be: 'this thing is fucking fantastic, you have to hear it, nuff said', like you might say of Obituary's recent s/t album, Pallbearer's 'Heartless', most any album by Mastodon, Swallow The Sun's 'When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light', High On Fire's 'De Vermis Mysteriis'...the list goes on.
That's just some of the great metal and rock from fairly recently that people like you have no clue about because you would rather spend your time talking yourself into why one of the most humdrum, massappeal, sellout, biggest, boring bands in the world is still good, rather than spending the time and effort, or even having the inclination, to find what the best metal artists and albums, actually are.
You're all just Metallica apologists with minimal interest in metal and your taste in your fucking arse.
since 91 pfft 91 was the year of their first worst album
If Darkness Had A Son is a great song, woulda fit in perfectly on the Black Album.
The title alone is chessy and hilarious.
@@xrt7874 The Loneliness of a Long Distance Runner is a cheesy title yet a good Iron Maiden song
@@angelotrinidad6888 this song however is cheesy AND bad.
Also Shadows fall intro riff is exactly like Black album music
I’m impressed with this album honestly
I agree. It's better than Hardwired, IMHO.
Same here
True. This guy is an idiot
For people that think Metallica is good these days, please check out these songs and realize thrash is much more nowadays.
Here's a list with modern thrash songs:
Havok - Root of Evil
HeXeN - Knee Deep in the Dead
Warbringer - Remain Violent
Power Trip - Executioner's Tax
Traitor - 66 Exeter Street
Blackened Thrash:
Lucifuge - Black Battalions
High Command - Fortified by Bloodshed
Ketzer - Warlust
Inculter - Impending Doom
Witchtrap - Powerof the Maul
Blackened Tech Thrash:
Cryptosis - Transcendence
Vektor - Pteropticon
Revocation - The Grip Tightens
Paranorm - Critical Mass
Same here
"Room of Mirrors" has the best moments on the album. "Shadows Follow" feels like an (almost) better "Holier Than Thou", "Chasing Light" has some excellent hooks.
Main riff from Room of Mirrors is pretty simple, but probably my favorite one from this album. Also the guitar harmony after solo is great, Im glad Im not the only one who liked this son
I personally prefer Hardwired as I feel that album has slightly more variety with it.
I definitely have issues with the length of some of the tracks and the drumming from Lars sounds kinda repetitive when it comes to the slower tracks of the album.
But otherwise, this is a solid-as new album for Metallica.
My favourite songs were the title track, Lux Æterna, Inamorata, Room of Mirrors, Screaming Suicide, Sleepwalk My Life Away and You Must Burn.
Count me in as an old fan who thinks this could be one of their best. The consistency on display genuinely kicked my ass, as did the personally relevant subject matter. It doesn’t matter if it’s as good as ‘Master of Puppets’. This is its own beast, and deserves to be experienced as such, without the limitations caused by looking to the past the whole time. Great review! I’m glad the album surprised you.
One review said: “they don’t need to reinvent the wheel. They ARE the wheel.”
Are you on drugs 😆
@@neiljackson81I don't think they are, but you must be.
@_PuppetMaster86 this album is long and boring. I'm sorry but that's the truth. Nowhere near their best work.
@@neiljackson81 That's not called truth. That's called opinion and it's your perspective. I can respect an opinion, but not if it is passed off as truth.
@@_PuppetMaster86 if you think 72 seasons is a great album than hot damn
I love the album. Look it's 2023 and we're still getting Metallica albums with absolute banger tracks on them. The musicianship is as good, if not better than it always was. Considering how a lot of their contemporaries are doing now this is kind of miraculous. If your compare James Hetfield to other vocalists who were around when Metallica got started the difference is crazy (Jon BonJovi anyone?). How can his voice be just as powerfeul and maybe even better? The man is God-like. At this point the band have nothing to prove. I can listen to Lux Aeterna alongside Master of Puppets and feel like they belong in the same conversation. That blows my mind. 72 seasons is literally the only album on my phone ATM. The only comment on content ill make is that the first two thirds of the album is stacked much more with bangers, but as I listen more I'm sure the final third will grow on me.
Yeah, it lives up to great standards. I don't care what anyone says, lyrics are fantastic, riffs are chunky and a bit speed metal in parts, good double kick in some parts....what more do want from a band that's been around since the early 80's??? Yeah man, it's a very decent album and i'm proud of the guys.
"Temptation, temptation, temptation,temptation... Misery,misery, misery, misery, misery...". -The album
Precisely. What an uninspired record. Sucks big time.
5 Words:
Sixty Year Olds Playing Metal
-I wouldn't say the album was "Underwhelming" because I didn't expect that much in the first place and prety got what I expected. There were some cool moments especially from Rob. James sounded great
But yeah its Sixty Year Olds playing metal. Im probably not going to be doing something near as cool as that when Im 60 so credit where credit is due.
Kirk does the same licks over and over, Lars does the same snare fill, James the same Em blues riff and it gives the album some identity that hardwired lacked imo, but the intros last forever, death magnetic keeps getting better and better
Death Magnetic might be even better than the Black Album for me.
I listened this record and ended to be better than expected. I was worried with length of the songs but the band managed well. Thumbs up to Metallica for this album and thumbs up for this review.
I usually try to avoid critics. But I think you did an overall good job of breaking down this album. WAAAYYYY TOO EARLY to compare this to Master of Puppets, Ride the Lightning, The Black Album and so on. Those albums all had their iconic, legendary tracks. These songs just came out, they can't be iconic yet. You gotta give them at least year, maybe more to reach that. I see potential for a few like "Screaming Suicide" or "72 Seasons". But you gotta wait.
Look something we gotta remember is, they don't NEED to do anything innovative at their age. I enjoy it. A lot. Like you said, James opens himself up quite a bit. Is it the first four albums or the black album? No, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE. it's own beast and the fact they can even make an album like this at their age is mightily impressive. The fact they can PERFORM IT ALL LIVE at their age, is impressive. If the first five albums were 5/5 I'd put this one at 4/5. Not as good as the first five but far better than anything after black album (AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EVERY ALBUM FOR WHAT THEY ARE). i eat sleep and breathe this band, I'm 32 now and I've loved this band since I was 12. Again, they don't need to reinvent the wheel with their music now, they gotta a process that works and I'll bump any song on this album. Cheers y'all
Nailed it. I read this after posting something similar. They already changed the game. Metallica fans are just greedy 🤣 I'm one of them.
SKAL 🍻🍻🍻🍻
The fact that I even did not know this album was coming and I lost interest in Metallica years ago (was a massive fan but we went different ways. Load reload.. )I just listened to the album without any expectations. Well I have been listening to it all day today! I like it alot. Some songs could have been shorter but it is a solid Metallica album. Even my wife and kids like it. Usually when I play Darkthrone or similar they just scream "turn that s"'t off!!!" Hitting 60 and still making good riffs and songs is at least for me impressive.
I definitely think this was better than Hardwired. Hardwired I will say had bigger highs, but it also had some serious lows. 72 Seasons was a lot more consistent in its quality, even if it never reached the same highs as Hardwired. Death Magnetic is still their best post-TBA release, but this is definitely a good second.
I honestly thought you were going to shit on this album. So, pleasantly surprised to hear you give a fair review. I for one think it’s a pretty good record. Nothing to gush or write home about, but pretty good. You were spot on in saying they wrote a Metallica record. Nothing wrong with that. AC/DC and Motörhead made careers doing what they do and knowing their lane and strengths. Great review!
Seems a lot of people thought that lmao, whatevs. Thanks bud.
This album is definitely going to be divisive for sure. There's definitely a lot of emotion that was being put into making this record, and it definitely shows. I don't think it's bad that the production has been the same since Death Magnetic, unless you count the parts where you can hear some audio from one of the band members and Greg Fidelman at the end of a couple of songs.
It's great to FINALLY have Rob do some backup vocals on a song for a change as well as have him lay down a killer bass line on "Sleepwalk My life Away". Everybody put in solid performances across the board here. James absolutely steals the show on this album though given what he's been through in the past couple of years. This album is its own beast and should be experienced on its own merits by treating it as such.
Definitely better than the last album even though "Hardwired to Self Destruct" still has quite a few bangers on it.
I’m most definitely impressed! When I heard “Screaming Suicide” and “ If Darkness had a Son” as singles.. I was fearing the worst. Then when the album came out and I started with “Shadows Follow” I was hooked right back in. The rest of the album is better than half the singles. IDHAS has grown on me though. Going to Discord for an opinion was a bad idea. That’s like going into a shady back alley with people that only wanna do harm to anyone and everything. Oh and btw.. first time viewer.. subscribed 🤘🏻
I actually enjoyed it. Obviously is not Master of Puppets. No bio needed.
It's Reload part 2 with hardwired tone.
@@xrt7874 ok
@@xrt7874 Best description I've heard so far
@@KomboAndy
72 Seasons is boring and annoying with It's noisy, blues wah, wah pedals and Load, Stanger, magnetic, hardwired vibes all over the places.This album destroys their 80's thrash legacy. Better when Metallica retires after the Tour 72 seasions to leave the throne for Megadeth and come back for a last 80's alike thrash album. They have sold enough records and earned hundreds of millions of dollars.
My biggest critique is we don't have any "ballads" or softer songs. Halo On Fire is one of my favorite songs from Hardwired, and while it's not a "ballad" per se, I enjoyed the dynamics of it. Also, track 4 of RTL, MOP, Justice, and the Black Album were some of my favorite songs of all time.
Love Inamorata, Crown of Barbed Wire and Sleepwalk My Life Away.
I heard Lux Aeterna and thought this was going to be meh, wasn't feeling that at all.
But the rest of the album is very good. It gets the head nodding.
I absolutely love Inamorata. Was sleep deprived for a few days with work and listened to that last night, semi exhausted. What a track!
Man glad to see you like this one. I get tired of seeing the SEAS of folks shitting on this just like every album after justice. I get all the complaints truthfully but it's a decent album. Take it for what it is and enjoy
They really need a good producer that cut away all the excess fat from the songs. About 45 minutes worth of good to great material here.
I don't think it would matter who they brought in, Metallica have no reason to listen to anybody other than themselves at this point.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial and that's the main issue with today's Metallica.
I actually think it’s hard for any band with the popularity or influence of Metallica to not sound bland comparatively to their first succession of albums. However, 72 Seasons is a superb album. I actually am astounded on how the contrarian in me wants to piss on the hoopla. Metallica plays metal like old time blues players and I mean that as a compliment.
The concept of this album could be summed up in Dyers Eve pt.2
I enjoyed this album quite a lot, but I still prefer Hardwired tho
Agreed.
3 out of 5 for me as well.
Some cool things here and there, buy also way too many similar sounding riffs .... reminded me quite a lot of Death Magnetic.
Listening to this album and then relistening to megadeths really reaffirms in my mind that hetfield and Mustaine need to get together one last time to record an album together before it’s too late.Both frontmen can still deliver the goods and haven’t run the well dry yet. Together I think they could create a super fun album of riffs and thrash hooks. Drums and solo guest spots by guys like Kiko and Marty and Petrucci and Hammett. Get dirk and Lars as well as Scott Travis and portnoy.
I don't think thats ever gonna happen bud
@@themetalmeltdownofficial probably not but there was a time when Dave seemed to let pettiness go a bit. Unfortunately he seems petty again haha.
Yes! Absolutely agree that they should form a thrash metal super band to do one album. That would be wild!
Just finished listening to 72 Seasons. Out of the entire record I've found two songs that I could go back to being Room of Mirrors and Inamorata. The record as a whole is just a bloated mess, they get stuck in a riff or groove for too long on every song. It's better than Hardwired but it does follow the pattern from the last few records since Death Magnetic of just not cutting any fat, it's quite boring in my opinion. James does sound really good even though the lyrics suck. A solid 2.5/5.
It's pretty ok. I liked Room of Mirrors and Lux Æterna the most.
It's a pretty decent modern Metallica record, good production, some interesting (and corny) lyrics, some fun riffs. I agree.
In my opinion, I think it's their best album since AJFA....
I don’t think I’d say AJFA ‘cause The Black Album is one of their top three albums. I think it’s up there amongst their best work, though, for sure!
Better than Black Album? No way dude.
@@yogxoth1959 I respect your opinion bro.
Only listened to it once so far, but I definitely liked it more than I expected I would. Like so many people, Puppets was my first Metallica album, around the time it came out. One thing I noticed about this album was the guitars had quite a lot of Justice vibes to them. Obviously not as good - slower and less intricate - but similar styles of riffs and distortion sound. Heard some Shortest Straw style riffing in places. I too would give it an enthusiastic three out of five.
Overall, I like it. It’s a little boring and you can tell these guys are past their prime, but they still have talent left and there are some solid bangers on here. Better than Load/Reload, not as good as Death Magnetic, on par with Hardwired. 6.5/10.
The album should've been called 77 Minutes
“77 dragging and uninspiring minutes”
I'm very happy with the album! It definitely had some surprises and riffs that actually had me listening to it on repeat 🔥
I think that 72 Seasons is just an okay album. It’s an improvement over Death Magnetic and Hardwired but it still has its issues. The first half of the album is great but the second half drags on way to much and has a lot of filler. I still think it’s their best post-Black Album, but nothing will top their first five albums for me.
Death Magnetic is so underrated. Songwriting was at it’s peak there, production wasn’t.
I originally gave it a 5/10 but now it's a 0/10 after learning they're promoting it on roblox...
Shits so goofy its immediately souring my view of this album lmao
I'm sure Lars is responsible for this he's sold out to man in the worst way.
@@kskip4242 bruh these guys too old to know what Roblox is lmao, most likely somebody representing them put this shit together.
@The Metal Meltdown probably their Global evil Masters that they sold out to you know they played like Global citizen fest. dumb s*** like that nowadays. Don't tell me Lars isn't responsible because it's quite clear he is. The rest of the band looks f****** bored with it but apparently Lars is the boss so. I guess as long as they're getting their big fat paychecks that is all that matters now.
@@themetalmeltdownofficial do they really need to put metallica on everything they where on stranger things, fortnite now roblox
72 seasons is better than Hardwired but Death Magnetic is still my last favorite album of theirs
I like it. Wish Torben was in the studio to say "I would delete that" and make it 9 songs. Shadows Follow and Inamorata are awesome.
I think you're spot on with the review. First full album I've enjoyed since the Black album. Other albums I've enjoyed certain songs, but since every album is near 80 minutes long, it all gets tedious if listening in one sitting. This one though is more digestible for some reason.
One gripe is Kirk's guitar sound. It just sounds more in the background for some reason.
I enjoyed the album for the most part, I would shorten most of the songs and even cut some of the filler songs off the album completely and just put them on an outtakes EP, still its a solid record in my opinion, and the lyrics were very relatable for me (I'm actually 18 years of age as I'm writing this)
Gotta say I agree with metal trenches on this one, death magnetic blows this out of the water for consistency and creativity from front to back, some of the riffs on this album (especially the singles) kinda sound like riffs that have been played to death by about every thrash band on the planet and fall firmly in that thrash metal cliche riff pile.. however Shadows fallow surprised me as a pretty cool song and there are definetly other songs that have alot going for them, also I do think the album generally will be more a grower instead of an immediate impact kinda deal, so I'm not gunna judge it too hard after just afew listens, there are alot of positives too and actually credit to lars, his drums and the production sound good compared to what they have been recently, so far after a couple listens I would say this is better than St anger, load, reload and hardwired but not nearly as good as there early career and death magnetic. Kinda feel the deeper cuts are the better songs
really impressed with the album, besides 1-2 songs i really enjoyed the album a lot, shadows follow, too far gone, room of mirrors and inamorata go hard, nice idle hands (unto others) shirt too btw seeing them in a few weeks!
When I heard the all album in one go , it’s just so good and fun , and the last track was so unexpected that makes me feel sad and happy!!
Good album, imo 2nd best since black album (behind DM) LOVE the last 4 songs. Crown of barbed wire is eh, and basically everything else was good. Mad respect to these guys for still putting music out
I enjoyed the album for sure… they seem to be trying very hard to tap into their older, vintage sound and not quite getting there but I appreciate the effort. Great review as always Melty 🤘🍻
Metallica is at the point in their career where their audience is TOO BIG. Everyone will find something they like, but its unlikely that everyone will come together to like everything on a given album. You can find a group of people calling Song x their best since Justice, and another group calling the same song dogshit. It is what it is
Dogshit 😅
Yeah My grandmother knows who Metallica is at 78 years old. She love the Songs Mama Said from load Nothing Else Matters pop Don’t tread on me.
I can't imagine anyone saying this album is mid at best without a full set of clown attire on, complete with makeup.
I love it. It's a total throw-back NWOBHM album. Much more consistent than the last two. For me, best Metallica album of the 21st century.
🤘🤘🤘🤘out of 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
The album is pretty good. I'm satisfied with it as someone who doesn't expect much from them at this point in their career, as they have nothing to prove anymore. The album is indeed HEAVY asf. I think it's some of their heaviest in a while. This album is %30-ish thrash and 70% classic heavy metal and I believe they're channeling their early influences like Diamond Head, Black Sabbath, Misfits and others.
This is also James' best vocal performance since the 90's. He sounds AMAZING.
My gripes with this album are basically:
Most guitar solos.
Length of the tracks and repetition - some songs could be much better if trimmed.
The production is pretty good, but the drums are a bit too loud and the double bass is clicky.
It does nothing new for the most part.
My rating is: 3.5/5
Low standard and still happy LOL
@@stephanea5364 straw man LOL
Double bass sounds triggered with some very mediocre sample. Drumms overall are very weak point of this album when it comes to instrumental performance, Lars practiced a bit lately and he is less sloppy, especially live, but his creativity doesnt exist anymore. Its literally hard to believe that he came up with so much cool stuff on AJFA and at the same time played almost entire 72 seasons using the same beat and same single stroke fills on snare all the time
@@jez_77 yeah, I agree. That's one of my least favourite things about the album, but still there are a few cool moments on the album like Room of Mirrors.
@@MoSweiti666 Yeah, Room of Mirrors is definitely highlight of this album, best song from 72 seasons for me
I like it. I can listen to it with my son in car and going on a long trip. I was expecting something like the last 2 albums. There’s some killer riffs and James sounds amazing. I need to listen to it more and more.
It’s a 3/5 for me. Decent album overall but not the greatest they released still pretty good tho
I enjoyed the album for the most part on my first listen. I really liked James' vocals and there were alot of really cool moments and riffs throughout the album.
But my biggest issue is the length of most of the songs. They're simply too long and would benefit from being trimmed a minute or three to make it more concise. It's going to affect replayability for me cause some of the songs really drag on.
Inamorata is my favorite song by far, just really dug that one thoroughly despite it being the longest song.
Good objective review, I agree about all. Lyrics are issue for me, haven’t connected much to it yet in any song. (Maybe darkness only) But vocals are amazing on other hand. And Inamorata is something else, really feels special, cannot explain it.
It's okay for me, nothing great, but nothing horrible. Better than Hardwired but worse than DM. I actually really like Death Magnetic, I think it's their best album since The Black Album and I don't see many people talking about it. All Nightmare Long, That Was Just Your Life and Broken, Beat And Scarred are absolute bangers.
For sure, DM it's amazing
All Nightmare Long goes so hard its unreal, Cyanide is great too.
I'd enjoy DM soo much more if it had good production.. such a missed opportunity. I enjoy this record tho.
@@YourEx.. try death magnetic unloaded v2 somewhere is torrent file with flac files and the production is better than on original record.
Pretty much the whole entire album,Death Magnetic that it, is great. I simply do not understand the hate it gets.
A usual going back to the Black album, I wouldn't listen to this again. There are way to many other albums, I want to listen to for the first time before I turn 50, in 2024.
On my first listen it almost feels like it’s the first song and then every other song from that I catches me. But songs are too long often times with parts that could be disposed of to tighten things up. The weaker songs seem better than the weaker songs on the last two. This really is a James hetfield album as he is the star of the show(no suprise) and at this stage and age of his life he proves he still has something to offer. This isn’t James in his 20s and 30s and that’s ok. That fact that he can still tap in to that love of metal he had in his youth to still riff out today is awesome. One of the best and most important frontmen of all time and when he steps away he will be missed but given a proper hero’s send off. And as usual the presence of Kirk Hammett is continuing to hold the band and songs back from greatness as he hasnt had anything of worth to offer the band since the black album. When Mustaine brings in new lead players you hear and feel it. Kiko rocks. Marty is a legend.
I enjoyed 72 season's
Its just kinda ridiculous how people that aren't fans come on these threads just to complain about the album.
Yeah because the album is actually shit.
I think the problem with Metallica fans is that they want a game changer. They fail to remember, they already changed the game. No band has ever changed the genre game more than once. Metallica did it so well the first time, some of you all got greedy 🤣 I just allow myself to enjoy the fuck out of where those guys take us. I don't like every single song or album but that doesn't mean shit. They're the number 1 band on the planet!
Well said. We all wanted a Metallica album and we've got one.
Skal 🍻🍻🍻🍻
Let this be a testament of how much St. Anger has emotionally scarred me that i'm willing to take anything remotely decent Metallica throws at me with no complaints. Fortunately, this album is one or two steps above decent.
It's more Traditional Metal than Thrash, with many winks and nods towards the NWOBHM and continental Europe scene sp, if you're looking for speed, then there's the new Overkill album for you. Also, the first Metallica album in a while in which the production doesn't bother me. James' vocals are his best since Load/Reload; Lars, i'll give him credit, has been practicing during the quarantine and gives a respetable performance despite sounding repetitive a few times; Rob's bass is audible enough to notice what he's playing and does a good job helping to keep the songs together. My only complaint regarding the band members is Kirk's strange solos, and it's not the good type of strange. Disjointed and disoriented is how i would describe them. The riffs are definitely superior, reminiscent of AJFA and The Black Album.
I get the inevitable backlash this album will get from a certain part of the Metal community but i can't help but think about recent turds released by other veteran Thrash bands that we were told they should replace Metallica or Anthrax as part of the Big 4 and concluding that i should be thankful with the final result. If this is Metallica's swansong then, at least for me, it's the perfect goodbye. 7/10.
I still need to finish the album (and review), but my feeling so far is: Every song feels just a tad too long.
I have a feeling this will hold true for nearly every song.
It most certainly will lmao
Metallica have moved towards a more groove metal sound on this on this album. Chugging riffs with a mix of thrash and blues here and there, favorite albums are Load and Reload, so I’m really happy with it.
I don’t mind the length of the songs as most do, transitions on some of the songs feel a little too choppy and rough
The sound of this album is pure ear candy, it’s a culmination of their sounds throughout the years, cannot complain at all.
Lyrics and vocals; great, hit a bit of a rough patch lately, so the themes of darkness, light, and temptations, help out a lot, James sounds gritty, clean; aged like a fine wine
My other gripe is the solos, they start out good, and then Kirk throws in a fast speed lick out of nowhere, it feels shoehorned, and very out of place on most of the songs, could’ve been better
I got three more tracks to go, so I’ll be back to give and update, but I’m feeling and A-, or a 7.8 on this one
So far, so good, so what?
Update:Just finished the final three tracks, all three got my approval, Inamorata is my favorite of the three.
Final rating: A tier album, 4.4/5, 8.3/10, if this is their final album, it’s a good sendoff and a high note to leave on.
personally, i don't feel it long.. so banger
THE ALBUM IS A MASTERPIECE AND IF YOU CANNOT SEE OOR HEAR THAT THEN I WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER YOU BEING A METALLICA FAN
@@jeffqualizza7612 shut up
@@jeffqualizza7612 if you feel that way, then this album is definitely for you
@@Hamptainment HELL YEAH I FEEL THAT WAY AND THAT IS THE WAY I FEEL ABOUT ALL THE METALLICA ALBUMS
Ayyyyy I have the same Idle Hands shirt. Dude i love that band.
Lux is the hardest driving song on the album by far⚡
Hype? What hype? I wasn’t even aware the album was out, hahaha. I’ll have to go check it out now but making this post before watching your review I’m fully prepared to fall asleep.
Room of Mirrors is definitely the highlight of the album for me. The other songs are kinda meh for me. I wouldn’t say it’s better than Death Magnetic, I enjoyed Hardwired more overall to be honest. And it’s nowhere near their first four albums. But it’s hard to top Kill, Ride, Puppets, and Justice. Death Magnetic is their best album since …And Justice For All. The black album was always overrated to me.
Digging this more than Hardwired.
It’s sooooooo great! Two tunes don’t really do a lot for me, but everything else absolutely smokes. One of their best! 🤘🤘🤘
The drums sound like they are on a friggin loop, and they are way too loud in the mix for me, and the solos are all random blues licks. It’s so sad and underwhelming. I usually like Lars drumming, but here it’s so stock that it’s distracting.
The top kick is too loud. All I hear is click click click
Awesome review man. Love your videos. Keep it up!
Sorry, but Death Magnetic was by far more dynamic, more interesting, more energetic, heavier, more diverse and was their best output since the Black album. Hardwired to Self-Destruct and 72 Seasons are both chores to get through. They meander, are monotonous, uninspired, bloated, dull, lacking energy, heaviness and a sense of urgency. I stuck by them religiously from 1988 until 2017 (I saw them live many times between 1989 and 2017), but did not enjoy anything they have done on their last 2 albums. They have fallen into a very formulaic and predictable way of writing their songs and sadly, they magic they once had, is not present anymore. If these last 2 albums were their starting point, they would never have become the monster they are today. All their contemporary bands release so much heavier, faster and better composed albums than them today. Sad but True.
Agree. Death Magnetic is a top tier album. Was an absolutely awesome tour as well.
No, I don't think so. Vs megadeth new album The Sick etc. Is far much better. The first 4 or 5 albums are much superior to 72 seasons.
Yeah, I feel the same. It’s a decent album. Some definite high points, some low points as well. Quite a few of the songs could’ve had some fat trimmed, Kirk’s solos and Lars’ drumming are generic. I like James’ vocals quite a bit, and there’s a lot of good riffs and grooves here. Some nice lyrics too, especially on tracks like Screaming Suicide. Inamorata in particular is a really good song for how long it is. I also enjoy the title track, Lux Æterna, You Must Burn!, Shadows Follow, and Chasing Light. I will say, it has been fun to watch the seemingly endless arguing between those who think this album is amazing and those who think this album is terrible. Good review as usual👍
I already know that their are gonna be a lot of people who hate it just because it’s a new album, but I loved it. It’s one of my favorites.
Great album. Hetfield sounds killer!
Maybe they feel sorry for age gap in releasing albums so they make songs longer xd
i havent listened to it in its entirety, aside from lux i cant recall what other songs I listened too, crown of barbed wire was one i think but i cant recall much of it. I really haven’t been big on their newer stuff as far back death magnetic and hardwired but both of those albums did have a few tracks i liked
I like the 80s stuff and i even enjoy tba, load, and reload but for some reason 72 seasons i havent been interested in diving deep into
Honestly I found 72 Seasons so bland and boring. The album doesn't go anywhere or do anything. Felt like stuff that was left off 'Hardwired...'
Inamorata being the bands longest song at 11 minutes I was hoping for something special, but it's not a patch on Spit Out The Bone.
Idk how how people liked hardwired more ? 72 seasons had way better tracks especially the 2nd half of the album hardwired was only good on the first half with the exception of spit out the bone
I don't understand why these guys have production questions. The Black Album through Loads sounded phenomenal(whatever you think of the songs).
How can they learn how to make a phenomenal sounding record, and then abandon it. StA was intentional.
Magnetic, which I loved, but I do understand the whole 'loudness wars' aspect of it. The Guitar Hero version had a much warmer feel.
And it's been a steady issue since.
Why? They have the means, experience as music fans and experience with their own creations, to know how to do this right.
Smh.
I definitely agree with your review more than with some others, it's a decent album. Could it be better? Yes. Is it a masterpiece? No. Is it awful and unlistenable? Hell no! Are there songs that I enjoyed? Yes, actually the majority of them. I'd give this album a solid B and place it slightly above "Hardwired" and slightly below "Death Magnetic" in their post-"St.Anger"-era.
I'd say Metallica are doing good for their age, and get overhated just for being Metallica. I was on their show in Munich lately, and it was great. Actually, when I get started, quite many other old bands which started in 70-s or 80-s are still doing good also: Iron Maiden post-reunion ("AMOLAD" and "Brave New World" are masterpieces, every other album was very good, "Frontier" had some great moments but too many filler songs), Blind Guardian (they have one of the most consistent discographies overall imo, no bad albums at all and their last album was just superb), Judas Priest's recent two albums were great (they've had some stinkers prior to them though), Helloween (I love their self-titled album after reunion with Kiske and Hansen, "Gambling with the devil" and "7 sinners", the rest were also good, only "My God-Given Right" was meh), Kreator (I didn't like their last one, but four albums prior to it were great), Overkill (an example of the band that doesn't reinvent a wheel and just stabily produces good material), even Megadeth (I enjoyed"Dystopia" and "Endgame").
I respect that they still play like this in their age, but I didnt very enjoy the full listen to this album, it was pretty repetitive and boring after while. The song that really stood out for me was Room of mirrors. This one, Lux Aeterna and partially If darkness had a son (it could be little faster and shorter tho) are the highlights of the entire album, but still far from Spit out the bone and Halo on fire that I like the most from Hardwired. Not many good hooks, not many cool moments, few really bad tracks that I reall struggle to listen to (You must burn is honestly one of the worst Metallica songs for me), lots of just 'meh' songs and sadly, probably the most unispiring drumming Ive ever heard on a metal album ever. Overall, I didnt expect too much, kinda got what I was prepared for. Not disappointed, its not horrible, but theres also not much to be positively surprised
Better than everything after The Black Album.
Death Magnetic is way way way more better than this shit album.
I feel like these last 3 albums from Metallica are like the New Super Mario Bros series!
I just watched another review that literally said almost the exact opposite of everything this review said, and I think that in a nutshell is what we can expect the reactions to the rest of Metallica's music post St. Anger and going forward until they die.
Ok, so production handled in separate reply, my thoughts on this. I've been a big Metallica fan for years. But a touch lesser in recent years more due to me discovering so much new stuff.
In Hardwired, the simplicity, sameness, 'stock' feel of the riffs in some of the hits(moth, atlas) didn't sit well with me. I loved the title track, Bone, Halo, and was bored to tears with a couple tunes.
This album, while kinda structured more like Justice overall, has sooooo many riffs that are either their own(hit the lights, shortest straw, no remorse) or are very stock.
So the album wasn't bad, but it kinda felt like they were very short on new, interesting riffs.
Lars and Kirk have punted. Lars publicly admitting his dumbed down approach, and Kirk 'winged' solos, usually swamped in the Wah, all but annoy me now.
This record has grown on me with each listen, liking many of the songs for the most part. But the riffs throughout had the originality of Star Wars Episode 7. And that bums me out.
Is it because James can't write anything more complex that Lars and Kirk can play to?
I see it similar. I think 3/5 is fair. My expectations weren't too high, the band has gotten into a kind of rut by now, so it fits. It's always going to be a bit difficult for old fans because we have our three in a row ('83-'86). I don't think we can be blamed for that. 😊
A good balanced and insightful review. Sounded like you wanted to give it a 3.5 but bowed to pressure! It's pretty difficult to rate albums without enough time to fully digest them but I'd say this is in the 3.5 - 4 range.
I don't like it. There, I said it.
Songwriting and lyrics have depth. However, as a Thrash guy - its too slow for me.
I had literally 0 expectations coming into the full listen after how much I hated Screaming Suicide and If Darkness Had almost 8 minutes of my life wasted away, but the fact it had some decently good moments like Crown of Barbed Wire, Inamorata and Too Far Gone is more than what I ever thought they'll achieve with this album. I'll probably come back to those songs occasionally but just like majority of Hardwired disc 2 theres nothing that makes me replay the rest
щото си тъпамнагл и са ебешвзадника
Thanks for not just going in blasting this album. At least you give a fresh perspective as others that have given commentary and are just speaking words of venom and hate. For me I really like this album and think that for the band's age and what they've been through they are right where they need to be. If every song was blazing fast Metallica would probably fizzle out in the end.
Please make a video about Iron maidens dodgy album art. Of all 20 albums or so. Only 6 has decent art. Sad that 72 seasons does not have Metallica in black on the yellow. It would stand out so good.
I gave it a light 3.5/5. I actually enjoyed the title track, Screaming Suicide, Lux Æterna and Inamorata quite a bit. Many of the tracks could be trimmed like a minute or two and If Darkness Had a Son and Shadows Follow should be removed imo
I feel the 4 singles they released were the weakest links but I still enjoyed them. But overall they're pushing their 60s and this is a cool album and I wasn't expecting something groundbreaking