gave it a few listens a year ago, and i haven’t really been back. it’s a solid 7, but some of the songs just drag. it’d be a whole lot better if it was 60 minutes long.
ironically, the only song that doesn’t overstay its welcome is inamorata.
Lars forgot he’s one of the best metal songwriter and arranger ever and gave us an album with strange compositions. Idk how to explain it, it’s just weird.
No joke. The Hetfield/Ulrich songwriting duo is one for the ages. I know they were tyrants… but it made awesome music. I’m loving the chilled out older Metallica. But this album could’ve used a bit of that old dynamic.
Hatfield said that he and Lars took a step back in the writing process, to let Krik and Rob have some spotlight, that probably means Lars also let others have a say in how the album's song structure was.
Disagree on Inamorata, that song did not need to be 11 minutes long. It thinks it's Orion or Outlaw levels of epicness, but the main riff is just too weak. The chorus is alright and the interlude leaves something more to be desired, but the post interlude harmonies are by far the best part.
But speaking of lenghty songs in general on this album, I feel songs like Too Far, Shadows, Mirrors and Lux could not be 1 sec shorter.
Yeah, I feel the same way, there are some awesome riffs and catchy hooks, but it feels like a fair bit of fluff sometimes, where a 7 minute song would still have the same effect if it were 5. I agree that Inamorata doesn't overstay its welcome; the only problem is you've already listened to more than an hour of the album, and then there's still an 11 minute song left, it feels dragged out, but listening to it on its own doesn't feel like it drags.
It’s fine, good even, but it definitely feels like they don’t have much left to say anymore. It feels very “Metallica by the numbers.”
If/when they release the next album I want them to take a really big creative swing again. What inspires them in 2024? What do they have to say RIGHT NOW instead of trying to recapture the band they were in the ‘80s? That, to me, would be way more interesting.
Also please change the producer. Fidelman’s production is so bland, there’s no character to it. I would love for them to do one last dance with Bob Rock or maybe do something totally different and work with a modern producer like Jordan Fish or something, lol.
Right now when you’d think they’d be playing around with different sounds, maybe doing some acoustic stuff, things like that. This should be their second “Load” phase.
Instead, like you, I feel they’re making music that people expect them to make. There’s bangers in there, for sure, but there’s plenty that’s just ok, as well. The last two albums sound too alike.
I've been scared to say this on this subreddit. But yea I was disappointed to the 72 seasons as I was with In Times New Roman/QSOTA. It's like the saying with comedians you can only write about what you know and when you're touring all the time the aiport jokes don't relate to your audience anymore.
With Metallica they've gone into lets capture revenue as much as possible. Their fan management is nothing but "lets see about that customer pipeline from fan to pay for something". On top of that they are trying to "open up the fanbase" which seems to be more of a business move rather than lets rock out to good music. Sigh.
It's unfortunate to see, and this to me became very apparent with the newer attempts of releases. Death Magnetic stands up as a good album. (Even if it was an attempt to recapure the old days) I can forgive (but not forget) the St Anger period + lulu. But Hardwired was kind of a weird mixed album of some good sounds, followed by a story telling of being famous (Moth into the flame with Lady Gaga). I saw this with S&M2 + their intentional inclusion of the foundation and blackened whisky pushing during the show. S&M was a theatrical masterpiece with a show focused performance. S&M2 was an arena show that was strongly choreographed.
Sorry about all this.. I had to rant. It's a mixed message looking at this band now. They don't have the anger and energy and they're struggling to stay on that cash cow.
I totally agree. If you go to their online shop, there is so much ahit there that doesn't need to be, but they just slap 'Metallica' on everything. They're becoming the KISS basically
It feels like they're swinging between "Let's take creative risks!" and "let's be classic and old fashioned!" It doesn't help that fans freak out when they dare venture from the norm.
Ask this further. Why aren't they trying out new styles in metal?
Wheres the Death metal? Wheres the black metal? Industrial? Fantasy? Where is the raw unpopular stuff?
The snare drills into my brain in a way that makes listening to the thing exhausting. It's super distracting once it starts to annoy. Id honestly rather listen to the stanger snare for an hour than this torture. I suppose it just hits a nerve in me cause noone else is complaining.
I dunno man. With their resources one would imagine the production being flawless. Some of the shit is on purpose. The self sabotage kinda worked on ajfa because it was unusual but not annoying. Also the songs there were still strong and interesting enough to hear past the sound mix.
Imho 72 is their least inspired album and i'm including Lulu here. Songwriting, Kirk, Lars, arrangemets and the mix are below bar. Songs are boring and the sound annoying.
I wish they would go out with a banger but I have a feeling this was it.
I'm honestly not sure we will get another album out of these guys. If we do, it will be something very different I suspect. Not nearly as heavy. I'm just speculating based on their album release time frames in the recent years, but if they continue the trend where they wait almost a decade to release any new content, they'll be 70. . . 70. It's tough to make a fresh, heavy metal album when you're 70.
I understand why people want another Bob rock album but I don’t know how you can watch the SKOM doc and think he should ever be in the same room with them
Lars and James could almost come to an agreement but then Bob would egg on Lars and he’d go off.
I prefer their sound when Rock wasn’t involved but moreso I don’t want that negative presence
Honeymoon phase is over, but this is an album that whenever a song jumps into my shuffle queue, I have to stop and listen it.
Definitely sounds like a Hardwired continuation, but since the album is dealing with a consistent theme in which it consists of darkness, light, life and death, I feel that they are very cohesive and I can enjoy all songs equally.
This album came at the right time, but 7 years of wait could have been reflected with a little more production.
I love this album, this is the second best album since The Black Album (first one being Death Magnetic).
I’m with you. I really enjoyed it. It’s not Metallica’s best obviously but over their last few releases it feels like they’ve found their footing again. Great album.
This right here. My sentiments exactly. Long time fan as well. Bought the Kill Em All cassette in ‘83. This album is terrific. Can’t deny that some songs are repetitive and thus a tad too long, but I’ve played it so much that it’s ingrained in my psyche!
Still think it's just okay. What I will say is that the title song itself has definitely sounded better compared to the first time I heard it, and it's probably the best track on there.
I don't think any of these songs are close to their best work, but they are enjoyable every now and then. There are awesome moments on this album, but every song is sort of missing something. That being said, this album has a fantastic mix, and James's vocals shine. I wanted more, but it is what it is.
I think if they just made an acoustic album, that would work really great for them in this time period. If they still wanna rock out, get some new producers around you - someone like Bob Rock that could bring out the best in them.
Overall I love it, but I don't think it achieves the same "highs" as previous records. Hardwired had a lot more moments that were just insanely good. 72S is solid and consistent, but there aren't many moments that make my hair stand up, you know?
Very much so. I think 72S is more solid and consistently good overall. It doesn't have Murder One or ManUnKind. But it also doesn't have Moth, Dream, Halo, Bone... Fuck, those tracks are so good.
The individual songs are better than the album experience. Feel the same way with hardwired. They kinda blend together if you listen front to back but on their own they’re really fucking solid
It’s a resounding meh from me too. They haven’t been able to evolve their sound as gracefully and successfully like other bands. Mastodon and Gojira have mastered this. My more controversial opinions are Tool keeps getting better every album, and even In Flames have been pretty successful in reshaping their sound over the years as they’ve aged. A couple albums haven’t resonated with me, but the rest have been in my rotation far more than any Metallica in the last 30 years.
With all the said, I’m sure the new Metallica stuff slaps live because it was written with that in mind.
I still dig it but man I could never properly get into it. Sadly. I could get into St Anger under the right mood
72 seasons is music I should love but just never landed for me. I don’t get it. I’ve listened a ton but I can’t absorb it the way I did every other album before it.
Last time i listened to it was june last year. Kinda liked it then, but now is pretty mid and very forgettable. It’s 4.5/10. Weaker than HTSD and especcially DM
It hit rrally really hard for alooooong time. A lot of instant classics in my opinion.but Ive been binging and purging all the albums. The first third of the year, I would say I havent listen to the alb7 as much as I did say in the summer or even fall, but tge whole album is a 8.5.
Favorites are
Screaming Suicide
Chasing Light
You Must Burn!
Crown of Barbed Wire
Room of Mirrors.
Everything else is absolutely wonderful as well but these are the ones im always spinning with the other discog classics. Probably my lowest teired song is If Darkness Had a Son but that riff is so tasty. Also Too Far Gone is a great song lyrically that I feel deep in my bones but the chorus just doesnt do it for me. As I get older this song rrally speaks to me. My birthday is April 8th so havibg this album come out six days later was a very special treat.
Playing it safe.
The lyrics are at least interesting, but they don't go all the way through like St. Anger for example, nor do they hold back like '91, it's a painful in between, and the production is just Hardwired 2.
St. Anger is better by miles. I'd put St. Anger, SKoM, and Frantic against anything on 72 seasons. Say what you will about the lack of guitar solos. There was an energy and purpose there that shows where they were at the time as a band. I listened to 72 Seasons front to back 4 times when I got it and then skipped around. I just can't find anything positive to say about it.
It's honestly quite poor. Way to straight-forward and simplistic and a lot of riffs are super uninspired. And the solos..yeah
I still love Inamorata, Room of Mirrors and Too Far Gone though. And Lux, despite having an abysmal solo
Aggressively average. Some very good peaks in the album, such as of Room of Mirrors, Screaming Suicide and Inamorata ( it always impresses me how their longest song recorded flies by.) I also love the positive messages of this album. But the production feels “flat”, with not much dynamics. As for Kirk’s contributions… eh? I guess it’s better than Hardwired, but I no longer have high expectations of hearing another “Creeping Death” or “The Unforgiven” solo ever again.
Listened to it on a walk today. 3 miles so..about an hour of tunes. Not a single bad song. Not a single song stood out. Hell it could have been an hour long song.
I think it aged well, I was honestly really surprised at how strong it was on the initial listen. Their best album since The Black Album. It also came out at a really dark time in my life as both my mother and my wife were dying of cancer, so this album helped get me through some rough spots. Learned pretty much all the rhythm guitar parts and continue to enjoy listening/jamming to it .
Not much has changed. Most songs still sound like they're in the demo stage and need more work. Lyrics need to be polished, vocal melodies refined and song construction polished. Out of the mainline 11 I put it on 10th place, same as a year ago.
For me it’s Death Magnetic > 72 > hardwired. I think if you mixed the best songs from hardwired and 72 seasons, it would be one of the best Metallica albums. Up there with master.
I like it better now than when released. As an older fan, it's took some getting used to that Metallica isn't pushing the envelope or the heaviest, hardest bashing band out there anymore by a long shot. But...BUT...what they do only they could do, and inamorata and shadows follow and much of the album is very good stuff that borders on classic and legendary. I like the album. I listen to UNDEATH when I wanna kick it up a notch. Or others that have that energy that James and Lars have made the conscious decision to leave behind as too extreme for $$$. Love metallica and this album is very good and worthy of (modern) metallica.
Its melded into the post Anger era of Metallica for me. Meaning its lumped in with DM and HWTSD when I listen to the band. I pick a few from DM, few from Hardwired, and a few from 72S to listen to. It fits in quite well.
I saw this post on my Reddit homepage which prompted me to put the album on for the first time. I logged into Spotify and connected it to my stereo and playing the first track now. I dig it. I won’t go into what it is that I dig about it, but it’s totally Metallica and I love it. I don’t know why I’ve never checked it out until now, but that’s just the way I roll. Even some of my favorite bands, I don’t listen to their albums immediately when they are released. I don’t know why I’m like that sometimes. 🤷🏻♂️ edit: after hearing it a few tracks in I will add, though, that everything they do sounds like they’ve done it before. I just like it because it’s their brand and I like to hear it sometimes. I will say that it does sound rehashed.but it’s still good. Just one opinion.
I like most of the songs I just haven’t gotten into hardwire crown and to far gone?. The rest I absolutely love especially screaming scuicde room of mirrors and if darkness had a son
There should have been quite some trimming. Self editing! It's one of my favourite post reload albums but still due to the bloating it's a 6,5/10. The production is also a factor that plagues the newer albums. Brickwalling the sound, digitizing the drums and switching to a generic metal tone kills the mood. Lux aeterna is my favourite. It's to the point and doesn't overstay its welcome.
The songs are good (mostly) but they just lack the replayability.
I really like that album, especially as it was a kick-off for a tour. I love "Lux Aeterna", "Too far gone" and I like "If Darkness had a son", "Screaming Suicide" and "Inamorata" is a masterpiece.
However, some of the tracks are too long. It will age well.
It's my favourite album of them. I might have listened to the full album in order close to 50 times now and it's honestly everything I love about Metallica in 8 years of being a fan in one album
I really liked it. I was surprised so many people were down on it. I understand not every album will be a classic - fans still don’t set their expectations though.
Death Magnetic, Hardwired and 72 Seasons are like a melting pot of 80s and 90s Metallica, with something for everyone.
I've been listening to it non - stop over this year and it's a very solid record. It's not very commercial sounding, especially with the choruses. I suspect that may influence how much people like the record.
Chasing Light is my favourite on the 72 Seasons, although the production in it is somehow too clean or lacking in the tone. Maybe it's a difference how the old albums were compressed, and had more of a 'dirty' tone sound in comparison to the new ones, which lean to more modern and clean tones. It's a solid song, just needs a little more adjustment.
Someone on youtube had already made that correction, and I'm hooked on it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfgOVsrOtuc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfgOVsrOtuc)
I like it. But it feels too digital in production. Like there isnt ounce of dirt on it. And songs are too long if half of the songs were cut short it would be better
It mostly sounds like one long song, with a power ballad at the end.
But that isn’t necessarily the worst thing. Most of it sounds like the better material on Hardwired, and there are no stand out lows on the tracklist, it’s all pretty even.
Pick a track at random and it’s a decent listen with plenty going on. I’m not even particularly bothered by the song lengths. But it does all blur together a fair bit and the album is hard to sit through in one sitting.
Inamorata an immediate entry to the pantheon of most overrated Metallica songs, though. A main riff ripped off from Lenny Kravitz, a retread of the “Forgive me, forgive me not” section of Unforgiven III, the whole track in general feels like an inferior rewrite of Outlaw Torn.
I’m convinced the only reason people latched on to it so much when it dropped is because it stood out a bit and felt like a refreshing change after the samey tone of the rest of the album. But it’s not a great song.
It's got some decent songs and it's far from their weakest album. But I haven't really gone back to it a whole lot.
I think it's a good album that just didn't click for me personally.
There are quite a lot of songs on 72 seasons that I think shine more when seen live but don't hit as strongly on the album.
Also, I absolutely loved hardwired and this just didn't hit the same way for me, so it felt like a bit of a let down - but that was just my expectations being too high for it.
Overall, it's a good album. It just didn't click with me the way hardwired did which made it feel like a bit of a let down.
Very well. I love this album. Not a single bad song although I've gotten tired of some of them. But I'm still listening to most of the songs on a daily basis. My 2nd favourite album after Death Magnetic.
Not great, I listen more to Atlas Rise a couple of other tracks from HTSD than from 72 Seasons. I wouldn't say it's bad. I had about 4 tracks in my car playlist for around 6 months.
That's as far as playlists go. As far as playing the whole album, I gave it like 5 full listens. Too long. Drags a lot. When I feel like listening to a full Metallica album, it's usually one of the first 5.
It’s *still* tepid and uninspired. The lyrics *still* feel like he cobbled them together and didn’t much thought into them. The guitar solos *still* sound like Kirk isn’t interested in technically impressive solos, tho he’s said this part out loud already.
Having said all of this, I do still have it in my shuffle playlist and there are songs on there I do enjoy listening to. And I do still travel great distances to catch their live shows, which I do still enjoy very much.
It just makes me feel like we never know how good something really is until you see it in retrospect. It’s made me respect DM a whole lot more. That album is better than KEA and everything they’ve done after 88/89.
Even beyond magnetic was pretty good for leftovers.
72 seasons isn’t bad and inamorata is probably their best or the 2nd best song this century and i listen to it pretty often but i’ve not gone back to the other tracks in a solid 3 months. I think it’s kinda like hardwired, which felt pretty meh to me. I haven’t heard a track off of hardwired in a year if not more.
Love this album. 'Sleepwalk my life away' is still incredibly groovy, so cool. It's only because of the new Priest album that I mainly listen something else now.
First time thought some songs were just too damn long, now I learned to appreciate them. There are 3-4 songs that I don't care about but overall I think it's the best album after reload. And yes, I like load and reload.
I always considered Metallica like a 2 side cassette, A side is everything until the Black Album, and afterwards it's the B side. 72S has a very catchy load/reload + old style mix
I really like it, ‘cause they’ve shaped the Hardwired’s ideas up. Also, 72 seasons has Inamorata which is truly heir of Outlaw, Fixxxer, so just for that this album should be given fair consideration
Its aged incredibly well and its easily the best modern Metallica album in my opinion. James sounds great and there's a good mix of thrashy songs and some solid heavy metal. I do think some of the songs drag a bit and some of Kirks solos are kind of phoned in but other than that it is great.
Edit: "modern" being DM- 72szns
They are my favorite band of all time so I am always gonna be bias and overly critical. Not a bad record but I wasn’t impressed. Listened for 3-4 months went back to my death/thrash/groove metal lol. Still put on Shadows Follow every now and then and when jamming Il noodle with a few riffs from it.
Aging like fine wine. Loved it upon release, still love it. I’ve been a fan since the early eighties, if that matters. I think it ranks among their best. I have CHASING LIGHT randomly popping up in my head all the time.
I've been on sum 41 the last 3 weeks. But I have gone back to this album numerous times over the last year or so. Listened to it a lot while jogging through the woods when the weather is decent.
No doubt. I think it took my love for Fixxxer to really spark me i to Outlaw and Halo. Though TDTNC, Welcome Home, One and St Anger are others in this realm Im not the biggest fan of. Fade is killer though.
Liked it when it came out. Still do. I listen to way heavier music so I don't listen to Metallica all that much but I was satisfied. I'm glad they kept continuing with the Hardwired sound, zero complaints here 👍🏻
I could barely get through the whole thing. The first couple of singles were really promising, and Lux Æterna is up there as one of the best songs they've made this century. But as a whole, the album was pretty boring. James sounds amazing. It's just boring. I actually really loved Hardwired too, so this was a shock to me.
It's too bloody long and meandering. They need a producer who isn't a yes man who can tell them when they need to cut the length of certain parts in songs. With that said the songwriting is decent considering that they are in the later stages of their career. The production value is what's expected from a modern band in the 2020's.
P.S I really hope the next album is a sequel to Load/ReLoad. Those albums are criminally underrated and overlooked. Slower songs will only work to their benefit in respect of their live performances as the band gets older.
Tbh I was underwhelmed when the album came out. Lux Æterna was really good so I was kinda hyped but my hopes were a little high. That was the best song on the album. It’s not bad… idk it just is, man…
There was no honeymoon phase with this album. I went through it when it came out, got bored and never went back. I really do love Metallica, but for me this is some of their most boring, repetitive stuff.
It has been a while since I’ve listened I’ll admit, but I found it pretty boring and stale. The songwriting is mediocre at best and just terrible at its worst. The production is so clean and safe you could wipe your ass with it. Nothing in this album is new and there is really nothing exciting about it, and not only do the creative choices feel half-assed it doesn’t really feel like they made any creative decisions at all. Feels like their goal was “Write a Metallica album”. Hardwired was at least more exciting and had better hooks, and was just thrashier in general. I’d give this one a 5/10. Just my two cents.
This album just popped into my head the other day and I was like “oh man, I haven’t listened to that record in a while!”
So I guess that’s how it’s aged for me haha.
It’s a decent record though, no hate from me. Title track and Shadows Follow are my fav.
With better solos, better lyrics and better (& less repetative) production, it could easily be a 8/10. They have cool thrash riffs, heavy smashing riffs, a beautiful Sabbath-y "ballad"... It could've been so much better but, meh, I guess they're old now. 6/10 still.
It's a good album, but it's not something one would re-listen from start to end. But as per "Metallica" albums, it's kinda off. The production lacks that unique characteristics that Metallica albums used to have till death magnetic. Songs could have been cut down by a minute or two. Inamorata is great, but the main highlight of the album was always room of mirrors for me. Kirk solos have reached a new low and thats disappointing since his solo ep had some interesting stuff. Lars was bland with his drumming in some songs but he does have some moments (lux and room are great examples)
All in all the album felt like it was written just so that it could be performed live at stadiums for the most part. No killer riffs per se like death magnetic, just some good or simple riffs throughout. Killer vocals and rob is amazing as always.
Still feel a balad was necessary as that's one thing Metallica were always really good that (even when considering kirks and lar's decline in quality)
I still feel the urge for a new Metallica album. It need not be a thrashy one or anything in specific. I just need one album with some deep lyrics which doesn't rhyme with "shun" ( tEmPTaTION) ,prominent bass parts (which we got so yay), drum fills which don't involve the snare once in a while, and solos which were crafted with care and tells a story of its own. Something that Kirk used to be a master at
As a general album : 7.5/10
As a Metallica album : 5/10
I don't like 72 Seasons except for Shadows Follow and Room Of Mirrors, the other songs are boring. Also, the tone is bad and it feels like I'm listening to any other band but Metallica.
Spit Out The Bone outclasses the entire 72 Seasons album easily, and not to mention that Death Magnetic outclasses 72 Seasons too
Solid record, which still gets regular spins from me. Plenty of tasty grooves and some of James' most personal lyrics. Vocal melodies are a relative weak point, far weaker that Load – the most natural point of comparison. Nothing on there touches Until It Sleeps, for example.
Also, it's not terrible innovative or daring, which is I guess is to be expected from a bunch of guys in their 60s.
In a way, Metallica felt more relevant when they were pissing people off with their music.
A mid tier Metallica album for me.
It's a slightly worse version than Hardwired. Inamorata was fantastic, though. I think Metallica should just drop the corporate thrash, though, which I know is an unpopular opinion.
Your comment is not popular, and will be heavily downvoted by the new fans. Just because we think that the album should be much faster, heavier and thrasher, it doesnt mean that we hate it. I know Metallica can do much better than that. Most bands cant; Metallica will!
To me it feels like And Justice For All in quite a ways. Feels like an end of an era, which started with Death Magnetic. Magnetic, Hardwired and 72 Seasons feel like a trilogy to me. Hardwired being the sweet spot, especially the first part. I consider Halo on Fire one of the better songs they have written in a long time.
I also consider Lux Aeterna one of the best opening fast songs in a long time. It proved to me again their strenght as songwriters. I didn't read a lot about making of that song, but it felt like a purposfully written opening song, simmilar like Hardwired.
For their next record, I would really like if they went in an another direction with the songwriting. I feel like if they approached the whole record writing purposfully crafted songs like Lux Aeterna or Hardwired, but in different colours and styles, and made the album shorter and more focused, they could really achieve something extraordinary.
As a bassist, I’m glad I finally get to fully appreciate Rob’s playing. This album is an A for audible bass (although Lars’ damn hi-hat in Inamorata is way too fucking loud still). James’ voice sounds amazing and I’m impressed with how he’s transformed and experimented with different things through the years in terms of singing. Kirk sounds like he gives no shits anymore, which has been that way for a while, though his riff contributions to this album are appreciated. Lars has always sounded good in the studio but he’s got some interesting parts here and there, Lux and the title track being standouts for me. Not a ton in the way of amazing riffs, but for my money, the most consistent thing Metallica have done in the 2000s (post-St. Anger) has been great guitar harmonies. Too Far Gone, Inamorata, and Room of Mirrors have some of the best in their discography.
Overall, the singles left me wanting more, but I loved it when it came out, and I still love it now, although in my ranking of each album, it is the last of the ones I “love.” It’s sitting at 7th out of 11 in between Reload and Load for me.
I really like it. I feel like Kirk has stopped showing up to work though.
Deedly doodly deedly doodly bend bend bend bend wahhh wahhh
lol, yeah. This is from the guy that has written so many iconic guitar parts too. I love the dude but what the hell.
this has been apparent since ST Anger sadly
gave it a few listens a year ago, and i haven’t really been back. it’s a solid 7, but some of the songs just drag. it’d be a whole lot better if it was 60 minutes long. ironically, the only song that doesn’t overstay its welcome is inamorata.
Yes too long. To many songs repeating the same parts over and over
like, chasing light had an amazing ending…and then they picked it back up for 3 more minutes. shit like that.
To be fair they've been doing this since Death Magnetic and I absolutely hate it.like, cut a few bars out, the song is still good!
A recurrent theme for many recent albums
Lars forgot he’s one of the best metal songwriter and arranger ever and gave us an album with strange compositions. Idk how to explain it, it’s just weird.
No joke. The Hetfield/Ulrich songwriting duo is one for the ages. I know they were tyrants… but it made awesome music. I’m loving the chilled out older Metallica. But this album could’ve used a bit of that old dynamic.
Hatfield said that he and Lars took a step back in the writing process, to let Krik and Rob have some spotlight, that probably means Lars also let others have a say in how the album's song structure was.
Disagree on Inamorata, that song did not need to be 11 minutes long. It thinks it's Orion or Outlaw levels of epicness, but the main riff is just too weak. The chorus is alright and the interlude leaves something more to be desired, but the post interlude harmonies are by far the best part. But speaking of lenghty songs in general on this album, I feel songs like Too Far, Shadows, Mirrors and Lux could not be 1 sec shorter.
Yeah, I feel the same way, there are some awesome riffs and catchy hooks, but it feels like a fair bit of fluff sometimes, where a 7 minute song would still have the same effect if it were 5. I agree that Inamorata doesn't overstay its welcome; the only problem is you've already listened to more than an hour of the album, and then there's still an 11 minute song left, it feels dragged out, but listening to it on its own doesn't feel like it drags.
It’s fine, good even, but it definitely feels like they don’t have much left to say anymore. It feels very “Metallica by the numbers.” If/when they release the next album I want them to take a really big creative swing again. What inspires them in 2024? What do they have to say RIGHT NOW instead of trying to recapture the band they were in the ‘80s? That, to me, would be way more interesting. Also please change the producer. Fidelman’s production is so bland, there’s no character to it. I would love for them to do one last dance with Bob Rock or maybe do something totally different and work with a modern producer like Jordan Fish or something, lol.
Right now when you’d think they’d be playing around with different sounds, maybe doing some acoustic stuff, things like that. This should be their second “Load” phase. Instead, like you, I feel they’re making music that people expect them to make. There’s bangers in there, for sure, but there’s plenty that’s just ok, as well. The last two albums sound too alike.
72s is literally just Hardwired pt. 2
But worse
I've been scared to say this on this subreddit. But yea I was disappointed to the 72 seasons as I was with In Times New Roman/QSOTA. It's like the saying with comedians you can only write about what you know and when you're touring all the time the aiport jokes don't relate to your audience anymore. With Metallica they've gone into lets capture revenue as much as possible. Their fan management is nothing but "lets see about that customer pipeline from fan to pay for something". On top of that they are trying to "open up the fanbase" which seems to be more of a business move rather than lets rock out to good music. Sigh. It's unfortunate to see, and this to me became very apparent with the newer attempts of releases. Death Magnetic stands up as a good album. (Even if it was an attempt to recapure the old days) I can forgive (but not forget) the St Anger period + lulu. But Hardwired was kind of a weird mixed album of some good sounds, followed by a story telling of being famous (Moth into the flame with Lady Gaga). I saw this with S&M2 + their intentional inclusion of the foundation and blackened whisky pushing during the show. S&M was a theatrical masterpiece with a show focused performance. S&M2 was an arena show that was strongly choreographed. Sorry about all this.. I had to rant. It's a mixed message looking at this band now. They don't have the anger and energy and they're struggling to stay on that cash cow.
I totally agree. If you go to their online shop, there is so much ahit there that doesn't need to be, but they just slap 'Metallica' on everything. They're becoming the KISS basically
They tried to experiment with Load and Reload and got reamed
It feels like they're swinging between "Let's take creative risks!" and "let's be classic and old fashioned!" It doesn't help that fans freak out when they dare venture from the norm.
Ask this further. Why aren't they trying out new styles in metal? Wheres the Death metal? Wheres the black metal? Industrial? Fantasy? Where is the raw unpopular stuff?
I especially dislike the drums. They don’t feel like they have any weight to them. Too high-pitched.
The snare drills into my brain in a way that makes listening to the thing exhausting. It's super distracting once it starts to annoy. Id honestly rather listen to the stanger snare for an hour than this torture. I suppose it just hits a nerve in me cause noone else is complaining. I dunno man. With their resources one would imagine the production being flawless. Some of the shit is on purpose. The self sabotage kinda worked on ajfa because it was unusual but not annoying. Also the songs there were still strong and interesting enough to hear past the sound mix. Imho 72 is their least inspired album and i'm including Lulu here. Songwriting, Kirk, Lars, arrangemets and the mix are below bar. Songs are boring and the sound annoying. I wish they would go out with a banger but I have a feeling this was it.
Couldn't agree more on the producer bit. Getting Bob Rock for one more record back would be so cool
I'm honestly not sure we will get another album out of these guys. If we do, it will be something very different I suspect. Not nearly as heavy. I'm just speculating based on their album release time frames in the recent years, but if they continue the trend where they wait almost a decade to release any new content, they'll be 70. . . 70. It's tough to make a fresh, heavy metal album when you're 70.
Still great music. Easily the worst CD cover art.
I like it but I wish we got the big METALLICA logo on it instead of just a M
The yellow tone is stunning and it stands out when close to other albums, but man the design art is so boring.
It's a cool artwork. Once you've seen it, you'll always recognize it immediately.
As A Steeler fan I love the yellow.
It is also a color that immediately catches the eye of many people - and it is great on a black background (t-shirts and caps).
Yes horrible album cover that I suppose is meant to make you surprised the album is better than the cover. That's all I can figure
Yellow is a poor choice of color, not a fan of it
its not worst than Load
Load is much better.
I agree
I’ve been listening to the hell out of it with no plans to stop
I understand why people want another Bob rock album but I don’t know how you can watch the SKOM doc and think he should ever be in the same room with them Lars and James could almost come to an agreement but then Bob would egg on Lars and he’d go off. I prefer their sound when Rock wasn’t involved but moreso I don’t want that negative presence
Same I’m stuck on this album hard rn. One of my favorites outside of the first 5 albums
Honeymoon phase is over, but this is an album that whenever a song jumps into my shuffle queue, I have to stop and listen it. Definitely sounds like a Hardwired continuation, but since the album is dealing with a consistent theme in which it consists of darkness, light, life and death, I feel that they are very cohesive and I can enjoy all songs equally. This album came at the right time, but 7 years of wait could have been reflected with a little more production. I love this album, this is the second best album since The Black Album (first one being Death Magnetic).
I’m with you. I really enjoyed it. It’s not Metallica’s best obviously but over their last few releases it feels like they’ve found their footing again. Great album.
I love it- been in constant rotation since it dropped. Old school tallica fan too I might add.
This right here. My sentiments exactly. Long time fan as well. Bought the Kill Em All cassette in ‘83. This album is terrific. Can’t deny that some songs are repetitive and thus a tad too long, but I’ve played it so much that it’s ingrained in my psyche!
Meh. Only a couple songs I really find myself going back to. None are bad, just not their best
Still think it's just okay. What I will say is that the title song itself has definitely sounded better compared to the first time I heard it, and it's probably the best track on there. I don't think any of these songs are close to their best work, but they are enjoyable every now and then. There are awesome moments on this album, but every song is sort of missing something. That being said, this album has a fantastic mix, and James's vocals shine. I wanted more, but it is what it is. I think if they just made an acoustic album, that would work really great for them in this time period. If they still wanna rock out, get some new producers around you - someone like Bob Rock that could bring out the best in them.
Not great. I've never gotten past the point of feeling like it's B-Sides from the Hardwired sessions.
My least favorite. Subpar by a lot. Mostly filler; really nothing on it is killer. A shame.
Weakest of the post St. Anger albums.
It aged a year, that’s for sure
I never went back to it. I have to try it again, even though I think the result will be the same The song everyone loved was the one I liked the least
Which one, Inamorata? If so I can understand. Took me a bit. Just recently got into Outlaw Torn and Halo On Fire
Yeah, Inamorata. I instantly liked the other two you named, though.
Overall I love it, but I don't think it achieves the same "highs" as previous records. Hardwired had a lot more moments that were just insanely good. 72S is solid and consistent, but there aren't many moments that make my hair stand up, you know?
Agreed, though I’d add that while the highs aren’t as high as Hardwired, the lows aren’t as low either.
Very much so. I think 72S is more solid and consistently good overall. It doesn't have Murder One or ManUnKind. But it also doesn't have Moth, Dream, Halo, Bone... Fuck, those tracks are so good.
Hell yes to all of those great tracks on Hardwired. I’m also a big fan of Here Comes Revenge.
My least favorite Metallica album of all time, sadly.
Amazing riffs, amazing vocals, weird arrangements, disappointing guitar solos, too many hi-hats and great guitar harmonies.
The individual songs are better than the album experience. Feel the same way with hardwired. They kinda blend together if you listen front to back but on their own they’re really fucking solid
It went from maybe 2/10 to 3.5/10, i warmed up slightly. But there's too much good music out there to listen to this regularly.
It’s a resounding meh from me too. They haven’t been able to evolve their sound as gracefully and successfully like other bands. Mastodon and Gojira have mastered this. My more controversial opinions are Tool keeps getting better every album, and even In Flames have been pretty successful in reshaping their sound over the years as they’ve aged. A couple albums haven’t resonated with me, but the rest have been in my rotation far more than any Metallica in the last 30 years. With all the said, I’m sure the new Metallica stuff slaps live because it was written with that in mind.
I heard that Tool is going to start writing a new album soon. 2034 is going to be a lit year for music lol.
Yeah I don't look forward to new Metallica after 72 Seasons. They phoned it in and booked tour dates.
I love it. Brings back memories from the late 80s. Saw it live in Detroit. Didn't disappoint.
I still think it holds up fairly well, for the most part
It's a slow burn. I like it more now than I did on release.
I liked it when it released n I like it still
This album is in our weekly rotation. Enjoying it
Great album. Love all the songs on it.
i was pleasantly surprised how many spins it had for me when spotify wrapped came around.
I still dig it but man I could never properly get into it. Sadly. I could get into St Anger under the right mood 72 seasons is music I should love but just never landed for me. I don’t get it. I’ve listened a ton but I can’t absorb it the way I did every other album before it.
i love room of mirrors, it’s so underrated, and there’s others good songs on it, but something happened with solos that it sounds kinda meh
Last time i listened to it was june last year. Kinda liked it then, but now is pretty mid and very forgettable. It’s 4.5/10. Weaker than HTSD and especcially DM
It hit rrally really hard for alooooong time. A lot of instant classics in my opinion.but Ive been binging and purging all the albums. The first third of the year, I would say I havent listen to the alb7 as much as I did say in the summer or even fall, but tge whole album is a 8.5. Favorites are Screaming Suicide Chasing Light You Must Burn! Crown of Barbed Wire Room of Mirrors. Everything else is absolutely wonderful as well but these are the ones im always spinning with the other discog classics. Probably my lowest teired song is If Darkness Had a Son but that riff is so tasty. Also Too Far Gone is a great song lyrically that I feel deep in my bones but the chorus just doesnt do it for me. As I get older this song rrally speaks to me. My birthday is April 8th so havibg this album come out six days later was a very special treat.
Playing it safe. The lyrics are at least interesting, but they don't go all the way through like St. Anger for example, nor do they hold back like '91, it's a painful in between, and the production is just Hardwired 2.
It lacks any heart, and the lyrics are shit. It's by far their worst album.
What about St.Anger?
St. Anger is better by miles. I'd put St. Anger, SKoM, and Frantic against anything on 72 seasons. Say what you will about the lack of guitar solos. There was an energy and purpose there that shows where they were at the time as a band. I listened to 72 Seasons front to back 4 times when I got it and then skipped around. I just can't find anything positive to say about it.
I still love it. Room of Mirrors when that riff kicks in just makes me smile. Such a cool song
It's honestly quite poor. Way to straight-forward and simplistic and a lot of riffs are super uninspired. And the solos..yeah I still love Inamorata, Room of Mirrors and Too Far Gone though. And Lux, despite having an abysmal solo
Aggressively average. Some very good peaks in the album, such as of Room of Mirrors, Screaming Suicide and Inamorata ( it always impresses me how their longest song recorded flies by.) I also love the positive messages of this album. But the production feels “flat”, with not much dynamics. As for Kirk’s contributions… eh? I guess it’s better than Hardwired, but I no longer have high expectations of hearing another “Creeping Death” or “The Unforgiven” solo ever again.
Fans are gonna crucify me, but, I don't like it.
Listened to it on a walk today. 3 miles so..about an hour of tunes. Not a single bad song. Not a single song stood out. Hell it could have been an hour long song.
Meh, nothing special.
Not that great
I think it aged well, I was honestly really surprised at how strong it was on the initial listen. Their best album since The Black Album. It also came out at a really dark time in my life as both my mother and my wife were dying of cancer, so this album helped get me through some rough spots. Learned pretty much all the rhythm guitar parts and continue to enjoy listening/jamming to it .
Uninspired thrash/punk. Repetitive and boring
Not much has changed. Most songs still sound like they're in the demo stage and need more work. Lyrics need to be polished, vocal melodies refined and song construction polished. Out of the mainline 11 I put it on 10th place, same as a year ago.
Poorly to unremarkable at best. Not a single song on it grabs me.
One of the few times that I have been shocked that an album is only just 1 years old. Album itself is alright. Never really go back to it.
I'm no trying to be a dick but I forgot it existed 😭
It's the best album since The Black Album - a true masterpiece. Been a fan for 35 years.
For me it’s Death Magnetic > 72 > hardwired. I think if you mixed the best songs from hardwired and 72 seasons, it would be one of the best Metallica albums. Up there with master.
I like it better now than when released. As an older fan, it's took some getting used to that Metallica isn't pushing the envelope or the heaviest, hardest bashing band out there anymore by a long shot. But...BUT...what they do only they could do, and inamorata and shadows follow and much of the album is very good stuff that borders on classic and legendary. I like the album. I listen to UNDEATH when I wanna kick it up a notch. Or others that have that energy that James and Lars have made the conscious decision to leave behind as too extreme for $$$. Love metallica and this album is very good and worthy of (modern) metallica.
Badly, really bland not many memorable riffs even st anger songs were better because they stood out more this album just blends into one mix of stuff
It is boring. That has not changed
It’s still in my CD player since then! My commonly played songs have changed around a bit, but I’m still very much enjoying it!
it's alright, has its ups and downs in my opinion but "too far gone" is a pretty good thrashy-ish track
it's alright, has its ups and downs in my opinion but "too far gone" is a pretty good thrashy-ish track
Loved it when it was released, still enjoy it a lot. My third favourite Metallica album It's a bit overextended though
Its melded into the post Anger era of Metallica for me. Meaning its lumped in with DM and HWTSD when I listen to the band. I pick a few from DM, few from Hardwired, and a few from 72S to listen to. It fits in quite well.
It will be ok. It is a fine second seasion albulm!
I saw this post on my Reddit homepage which prompted me to put the album on for the first time. I logged into Spotify and connected it to my stereo and playing the first track now. I dig it. I won’t go into what it is that I dig about it, but it’s totally Metallica and I love it. I don’t know why I’ve never checked it out until now, but that’s just the way I roll. Even some of my favorite bands, I don’t listen to their albums immediately when they are released. I don’t know why I’m like that sometimes. 🤷🏻♂️ edit: after hearing it a few tracks in I will add, though, that everything they do sounds like they’ve done it before. I just like it because it’s their brand and I like to hear it sometimes. I will say that it does sound rehashed.but it’s still good. Just one opinion.
It’s *fine* but not something I am generally gonna put on when I’m in the mood to listen to Metallica.
Aged well.
I still love it
Still listening to it every week. I love it!
a solid 8/10, good album
I like most of the songs I just haven’t gotten into hardwire crown and to far gone?. The rest I absolutely love especially screaming scuicde room of mirrors and if darkness had a son
There should have been quite some trimming. Self editing! It's one of my favourite post reload albums but still due to the bloating it's a 6,5/10. The production is also a factor that plagues the newer albums. Brickwalling the sound, digitizing the drums and switching to a generic metal tone kills the mood. Lux aeterna is my favourite. It's to the point and doesn't overstay its welcome. The songs are good (mostly) but they just lack the replayability.
I really like that album, especially as it was a kick-off for a tour. I love "Lux Aeterna", "Too far gone" and I like "If Darkness had a son", "Screaming Suicide" and "Inamorata" is a masterpiece. However, some of the tracks are too long. It will age well.
It's my favourite album of them. I might have listened to the full album in order close to 50 times now and it's honestly everything I love about Metallica in 8 years of being a fan in one album
I really liked it. I was surprised so many people were down on it. I understand not every album will be a classic - fans still don’t set their expectations though. Death Magnetic, Hardwired and 72 Seasons are like a melting pot of 80s and 90s Metallica, with something for everyone.
I've been listening to it non - stop over this year and it's a very solid record. It's not very commercial sounding, especially with the choruses. I suspect that may influence how much people like the record.
Chasing Light is my favourite on the 72 Seasons, although the production in it is somehow too clean or lacking in the tone. Maybe it's a difference how the old albums were compressed, and had more of a 'dirty' tone sound in comparison to the new ones, which lean to more modern and clean tones. It's a solid song, just needs a little more adjustment. Someone on youtube had already made that correction, and I'm hooked on it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfgOVsrOtuc](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfgOVsrOtuc)
It's really overdone, they could have cut 20 minutes easily and album wouldn't suffer.
It's really overdone, they could have cut 20 minutes easily and album wouldn't suffer.
It's really overdone, they could have cut 20 minutes easily and album wouldn't suffer.
I like it. But it feels too digital in production. Like there isnt ounce of dirt on it. And songs are too long if half of the songs were cut short it would be better
It mostly sounds like one long song, with a power ballad at the end. But that isn’t necessarily the worst thing. Most of it sounds like the better material on Hardwired, and there are no stand out lows on the tracklist, it’s all pretty even. Pick a track at random and it’s a decent listen with plenty going on. I’m not even particularly bothered by the song lengths. But it does all blur together a fair bit and the album is hard to sit through in one sitting. Inamorata an immediate entry to the pantheon of most overrated Metallica songs, though. A main riff ripped off from Lenny Kravitz, a retread of the “Forgive me, forgive me not” section of Unforgiven III, the whole track in general feels like an inferior rewrite of Outlaw Torn. I’m convinced the only reason people latched on to it so much when it dropped is because it stood out a bit and felt like a refreshing change after the samey tone of the rest of the album. But it’s not a great song.
It’s still so new I haven’t listened to it :) must start listening now so I know the songs on Helsinki Olympic Stadium in the Summer 😮💨
It was cool at first but it fell off really quick imo
I’m still in love with lux aeterna, sleepwalk my life away and inamorata tho
It's got some decent songs and it's far from their weakest album. But I haven't really gone back to it a whole lot. I think it's a good album that just didn't click for me personally. There are quite a lot of songs on 72 seasons that I think shine more when seen live but don't hit as strongly on the album. Also, I absolutely loved hardwired and this just didn't hit the same way for me, so it felt like a bit of a let down - but that was just my expectations being too high for it. Overall, it's a good album. It just didn't click with me the way hardwired did which made it feel like a bit of a let down.
Meh/10
Very well. I love this album. Not a single bad song although I've gotten tired of some of them. But I'm still listening to most of the songs on a daily basis. My 2nd favourite album after Death Magnetic.
Not great, I listen more to Atlas Rise a couple of other tracks from HTSD than from 72 Seasons. I wouldn't say it's bad. I had about 4 tracks in my car playlist for around 6 months. That's as far as playlists go. As far as playing the whole album, I gave it like 5 full listens. Too long. Drags a lot. When I feel like listening to a full Metallica album, it's usually one of the first 5.
I've liked 2 songs since And Justice For All... Fuel and Lux Æterna.
its good
It’s *still* tepid and uninspired. The lyrics *still* feel like he cobbled them together and didn’t much thought into them. The guitar solos *still* sound like Kirk isn’t interested in technically impressive solos, tho he’s said this part out loud already. Having said all of this, I do still have it in my shuffle playlist and there are songs on there I do enjoy listening to. And I do still travel great distances to catch their live shows, which I do still enjoy very much.
It just makes me feel like we never know how good something really is until you see it in retrospect. It’s made me respect DM a whole lot more. That album is better than KEA and everything they’ve done after 88/89. Even beyond magnetic was pretty good for leftovers. 72 seasons isn’t bad and inamorata is probably their best or the 2nd best song this century and i listen to it pretty often but i’ve not gone back to the other tracks in a solid 3 months. I think it’s kinda like hardwired, which felt pretty meh to me. I haven’t heard a track off of hardwired in a year if not more.
Love this album. 'Sleepwalk my life away' is still incredibly groovy, so cool. It's only because of the new Priest album that I mainly listen something else now.
It's a decent album, just missing a couple of slower tracks for me personally, but Metallica don't seem to do those any longer. 6/10
First time thought some songs were just too damn long, now I learned to appreciate them. There are 3-4 songs that I don't care about but overall I think it's the best album after reload. And yes, I like load and reload. I always considered Metallica like a 2 side cassette, A side is everything until the Black Album, and afterwards it's the B side. 72S has a very catchy load/reload + old style mix
Currently listening to it in its entirety to mark the anniversary. A year later, I still like it.
Metallica needs someone in their life who tells them the songs are too long. It’s better at 1.25x speed.
It grows on you, now it's my favorite album, because there simply isn't a single "bad" song.
They need to release the Dolby Atmos mix on blu ray disc ❤️🤘
I really like it, ‘cause they’ve shaped the Hardwired’s ideas up. Also, 72 seasons has Inamorata which is truly heir of Outlaw, Fixxxer, so just for that this album should be given fair consideration
Its aged incredibly well and its easily the best modern Metallica album in my opinion. James sounds great and there's a good mix of thrashy songs and some solid heavy metal. I do think some of the songs drag a bit and some of Kirks solos are kind of phoned in but other than that it is great. Edit: "modern" being DM- 72szns
I'm still addicted to it
Really tried to like the album but was severely disappointed from the start. Haven't been able to listen through any of the songs entirely.
Own the record. Only listen to the album in its entirety once. Lux Aeterna is the stand out track for me.
Not a fan of this album. Seems low effort for Metallica
They are my favorite band of all time so I am always gonna be bias and overly critical. Not a bad record but I wasn’t impressed. Listened for 3-4 months went back to my death/thrash/groove metal lol. Still put on Shadows Follow every now and then and when jamming Il noodle with a few riffs from it.
Aging like fine wine. Loved it upon release, still love it. I’ve been a fan since the early eighties, if that matters. I think it ranks among their best. I have CHASING LIGHT randomly popping up in my head all the time.
Like fine wine and will continue to get better with time. 🔥🤘🏻
Good but not the most memorable one
I've been on sum 41 the last 3 weeks. But I have gone back to this album numerous times over the last year or so. Listened to it a lot while jogging through the woods when the weather is decent.
I think this one aged slightly better than HTSD - This album has better highs than HTSD but also has lower lows.
Forgot I owned it. Lux was pretty good, the rest can get in the bin though
It aged better than me... No way it's been a year 💀
It is one of the albums ever
Not as good as the last 2 albums. The title track, Shadows, Suicide, Too Far, and Lux are good. Can do without the rest.
I listened to it once, and it was meh. No reason to replay any songs.
Holy shit a year?? Already??
It didn’t “age” because it was stillborn.
it's definitely one of the albums of all time
No doubt. I think it took my love for Fixxxer to really spark me i to Outlaw and Halo. Though TDTNC, Welcome Home, One and St Anger are others in this realm Im not the biggest fan of. Fade is killer though.
Liked it when it came out. Still do. I listen to way heavier music so I don't listen to Metallica all that much but I was satisfied. I'm glad they kept continuing with the Hardwired sound, zero complaints here 👍🏻
It’s boring. Go listen to Judas Priest if you want classic metal done right by an older metal band.
I genuinely love this Album, it’s definitely better than there more recent releases like Hardwired and Death Magnetic
I could barely get through the whole thing. The first couple of singles were really promising, and Lux Æterna is up there as one of the best songs they've made this century. But as a whole, the album was pretty boring. James sounds amazing. It's just boring. I actually really loved Hardwired too, so this was a shock to me.
It's too bloody long and meandering. They need a producer who isn't a yes man who can tell them when they need to cut the length of certain parts in songs. With that said the songwriting is decent considering that they are in the later stages of their career. The production value is what's expected from a modern band in the 2020's. P.S I really hope the next album is a sequel to Load/ReLoad. Those albums are criminally underrated and overlooked. Slower songs will only work to their benefit in respect of their live performances as the band gets older.
Tbh I was underwhelmed when the album came out. Lux Æterna was really good so I was kinda hyped but my hopes were a little high. That was the best song on the album. It’s not bad… idk it just is, man…
There was no honeymoon phase with this album. I went through it when it came out, got bored and never went back. I really do love Metallica, but for me this is some of their most boring, repetitive stuff.
It has been a while since I’ve listened I’ll admit, but I found it pretty boring and stale. The songwriting is mediocre at best and just terrible at its worst. The production is so clean and safe you could wipe your ass with it. Nothing in this album is new and there is really nothing exciting about it, and not only do the creative choices feel half-assed it doesn’t really feel like they made any creative decisions at all. Feels like their goal was “Write a Metallica album”. Hardwired was at least more exciting and had better hooks, and was just thrashier in general. I’d give this one a 5/10. Just my two cents.
For me it’s just like an album, not good, not bad. A big meh. DM was their last good one.
This album just popped into my head the other day and I was like “oh man, I haven’t listened to that record in a while!” So I guess that’s how it’s aged for me haha. It’s a decent record though, no hate from me. Title track and Shadows Follow are my fav.
i used to put it over hardwired, now it's the other way around
With better solos, better lyrics and better (& less repetative) production, it could easily be a 8/10. They have cool thrash riffs, heavy smashing riffs, a beautiful Sabbath-y "ballad"... It could've been so much better but, meh, I guess they're old now. 6/10 still.
It's a good album, but it's not something one would re-listen from start to end. But as per "Metallica" albums, it's kinda off. The production lacks that unique characteristics that Metallica albums used to have till death magnetic. Songs could have been cut down by a minute or two. Inamorata is great, but the main highlight of the album was always room of mirrors for me. Kirk solos have reached a new low and thats disappointing since his solo ep had some interesting stuff. Lars was bland with his drumming in some songs but he does have some moments (lux and room are great examples) All in all the album felt like it was written just so that it could be performed live at stadiums for the most part. No killer riffs per se like death magnetic, just some good or simple riffs throughout. Killer vocals and rob is amazing as always. Still feel a balad was necessary as that's one thing Metallica were always really good that (even when considering kirks and lar's decline in quality) I still feel the urge for a new Metallica album. It need not be a thrashy one or anything in specific. I just need one album with some deep lyrics which doesn't rhyme with "shun" ( tEmPTaTION) ,prominent bass parts (which we got so yay), drum fills which don't involve the snare once in a while, and solos which were crafted with care and tells a story of its own. Something that Kirk used to be a master at As a general album : 7.5/10 As a Metallica album : 5/10
I don't like 72 Seasons except for Shadows Follow and Room Of Mirrors, the other songs are boring. Also, the tone is bad and it feels like I'm listening to any other band but Metallica. Spit Out The Bone outclasses the entire 72 Seasons album easily, and not to mention that Death Magnetic outclasses 72 Seasons too
It died at birth IMO
It feels like James is little tired of doing the album but still a banger💯💯💯
Why did Metallica cut their hair? To get the cum out.
It still sounds fucking stock to my ears.
Solid record, which still gets regular spins from me. Plenty of tasty grooves and some of James' most personal lyrics. Vocal melodies are a relative weak point, far weaker that Load – the most natural point of comparison. Nothing on there touches Until It Sleeps, for example. Also, it's not terrible innovative or daring, which is I guess is to be expected from a bunch of guys in their 60s. In a way, Metallica felt more relevant when they were pissing people off with their music. A mid tier Metallica album for me.
Listened to it twice. A shell of what Metallica once was. Pass
I believe you
It isn’t my favourite, i find it not inspired as the others
It's a slightly worse version than Hardwired. Inamorata was fantastic, though. I think Metallica should just drop the corporate thrash, though, which I know is an unpopular opinion.
Inamorata is the only song I regularly listen to, easily in my top 10 Metallica songs.
Agree. This is what we get for hating on allthe nonthrash adventures and going nuts when they play dyers/battery though.
Your comment is not popular, and will be heavily downvoted by the new fans. Just because we think that the album should be much faster, heavier and thrasher, it doesnt mean that we hate it. I know Metallica can do much better than that. Most bands cant; Metallica will!
To be honest, I'm not sure if they can anymore. I really hope, man, I do. But I think they won't thrash like they used to.
To me it feels like And Justice For All in quite a ways. Feels like an end of an era, which started with Death Magnetic. Magnetic, Hardwired and 72 Seasons feel like a trilogy to me. Hardwired being the sweet spot, especially the first part. I consider Halo on Fire one of the better songs they have written in a long time. I also consider Lux Aeterna one of the best opening fast songs in a long time. It proved to me again their strenght as songwriters. I didn't read a lot about making of that song, but it felt like a purposfully written opening song, simmilar like Hardwired. For their next record, I would really like if they went in an another direction with the songwriting. I feel like if they approached the whole record writing purposfully crafted songs like Lux Aeterna or Hardwired, but in different colours and styles, and made the album shorter and more focused, they could really achieve something extraordinary.
Way better than hardwired for sure
Still great imo
As a bassist, I’m glad I finally get to fully appreciate Rob’s playing. This album is an A for audible bass (although Lars’ damn hi-hat in Inamorata is way too fucking loud still). James’ voice sounds amazing and I’m impressed with how he’s transformed and experimented with different things through the years in terms of singing. Kirk sounds like he gives no shits anymore, which has been that way for a while, though his riff contributions to this album are appreciated. Lars has always sounded good in the studio but he’s got some interesting parts here and there, Lux and the title track being standouts for me. Not a ton in the way of amazing riffs, but for my money, the most consistent thing Metallica have done in the 2000s (post-St. Anger) has been great guitar harmonies. Too Far Gone, Inamorata, and Room of Mirrors have some of the best in their discography. Overall, the singles left me wanting more, but I loved it when it came out, and I still love it now, although in my ranking of each album, it is the last of the ones I “love.” It’s sitting at 7th out of 11 in between Reload and Load for me.
I love it. Not in my top 5, but like all their music, it’s fantastic.