Metallica’s ’72 Seasons’: A Strong Album Buried Inside a Long One

Metallica’s eleventh album, 72 Seasons, is a 77-minute statement of intent. It is the band attempting to reconcile its thrash-metal past with the muscular, mid-tempo groove it has favored for the last three decades. The record is not trying to reinvent the wheel; it is trying to prove the wheel still turns hard.

The title refers to the formative years of a human life, the period that shapes who you become. That theme—of formative trauma, anger, and the struggle to break free—runs through the whole record. It is a heavy concept, and for the most part, Metallica matches it with heavy music. This is not the experimental detour of St. Anger or the sprawling ambition of Load. It is a focused, deliberate return to the core of what this band does best.

The Opening Statement

The album opens with its title track, “72 Seasons” (7:39). It sets the template: a slow, crushing riff, a verse that simmers with menace, and a chorus that explodes into a climbing, anthemic hook. It is the sound of a band locking into a gear it knows well, and it works. The song is a mission statement, and it lands.

“Shadows Follow” (6:12) keeps the momentum. It is darker and more driving, built on a chugging rhythm that recalls the Death Magnetic era. The middle section, with its sudden tempo shift, is a highlight. Then “Screaming Suicide” (5:30) arrives. It is a blunt, direct rocker about the taboo of talking about self-harm. The message is clear, the riff is simple, and the chorus is built for a crowd to shout back. It is one of the most immediately memorable tracks here.

Sleepwalk and Burn

“Sleepwalk My Life Away” (6:56) is where the album starts to show its length. It is a slow, dirge-like piece that leans on a single, hypnotic riff. It has atmosphere, but it does not go anywhere new. It is competent, but it is the first track that feels like filler.

“You Must Burn!” (7:03) is the corrective. It is an aggressive, snarling number with a main riff that is pure venom. The vocal delivery is particularly sharp, with the band spitting the verses with a fury that belies its age. This is the kind of track that proves the band still has teeth.

Lux Æterna

“Lux Æterna” (3:26) is the outlier, and it is the best song on the album. At just over three minutes, it is a blast of pure, unadulterated speed metal. It is a tribute to the new wave of British heavy metal, with a galloping beat and a soaring, melodic solo. It is the shortest track here, and it is the most vital. It proves that when Metallica cuts the fat, it is untouchable.

“Crown of Barbed Wire” (5:49) is decent, with a menacing, lurching main riff, but it lacks a memorable chorus. “Chasing Light” (6:45) picks the pace back up with a frantic opening, but it settles into a mid-tempo groove that feels familiar. “If Darkness Had a Son” (6:36) is another slow burner, and it is the weakest of the bunch. The main riff is plodding, and the song overstays its welcome.

Too Far Gone?

“Too Far Gone?” (4:34) is a welcome shot of adrenaline. It is short, fast, and aggressive, with a punk-adjacent energy that cuts through the sludge. It is a reminder that the band can still be lean when it wants to be.

“Room of Mirrors” (5:34) is another standout. It builds from a tense, clean intro into a full-throttle thrash assault. The final minute is pure chaos, with a frantic solo that is among the best on the record. It is a track that rewards repeated listens.

Inamorata

The album closes with “Inamorata” (11:10). It is the longest track Metallica has ever recorded, and it is a patient, brooding epic. It builds slowly, layering riffs and vocals until it reaches a crushing climax. It is not for the impatient, but it is a fitting end to a record this long. It has a hypnotic, almost meditative quality that makes the runtime feel earned.

The Critical Response

Critics broadly praised 72 Seasons as one of Metallica’s stronger, more purposeful modern-era efforts. Metacritic aggregated a 76/100 score. The consensus holds that the record delivers strong material, though many felt its length was a drawback.

The Guardian wrote that the album “feels every bit of its 77 minutes because of a lack of variety.” That criticism is fair. The record does not vary its tempo enough across its twelve tracks, and the slower moments tend to blur together.

The Verdict

72 Seasons is a good album, but it is a great album that is too long. The strongest material here—”Lux Æterna,” “Room of Mirrors,” “You Must Burn!”—is as good as anything the band has done in decades.

The weaker tracks do not sink the record, but they do dilute it. The 77-minute runtime is a real problem. A leaner, shorter version of this album would be a modern classic. As it stands, it is a solid, often thrilling effort that requires patience.

• “Lux Æterna” (3:26) — the short, fast highlight
• “Room of Mirrors” (5:34) — the thrash standout
• “Inamorata” (11:10) — the ambitious closer

It is a strong record with a clear identity. It deserves credit for that.

72 Seasons · album review · metal · Metallica · thrash metal