72 Seasons
by Metallica
  • Record Label: Rhino
  • Release Date: Apr 14, 2023
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 126 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 91 out of 126
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 126
  3. Negative: 17 out of 126
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  1. jmneeley06
    Apr 15, 2023
    10
    Great album! It’s raw, heavy and some of James’ best lyrics, vocals! People are looking for reasons to always being angry with this band!
  2. Fabian-Gonzalo
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    Metallica gives us a mix album of their entire career, trying to thrash again at its almost 60 years old, I have been listening the album the completely day, I must say that neither hardwired or magnetic left me the same feeling as this new album, amazing songs, metallica at its highest level since black album
  3. dare
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    i just don't get negative reviews, what do you expect another master of puppets. if you liked previous album...then this is their best since load
  4. bryan101384
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    I feel 100% confident about giving this album a 10 out of 10. The riffs are catchy from start to finish and this album has some of the best songs that Metallica has produced since the 80s and early 90s. Room of mirrors and too far gone are two of my personal favorites but I love every song on this album even the slower songs have some badass doomy riffs. There's so much to digest here forI feel 100% confident about giving this album a 10 out of 10. The riffs are catchy from start to finish and this album has some of the best songs that Metallica has produced since the 80s and early 90s. Room of mirrors and too far gone are two of my personal favorites but I love every song on this album even the slower songs have some badass doomy riffs. There's so much to digest here for people that think that the songs are too long I don't know how you could be a fan of Metallica's old music because all of the songs were long. I swear the majority of people that reviewed this album as far as critics go aren't Metallica fans at all. Not that they all gave it bad reviews it's that the content of the reviews is very misleading from what the album actually sounds like. Metallica has aged like a fine wine into 2023.… Expand
  5. JudasKiss12
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    The best Metallica album since Load (which was an underrated album with some masterpieces sprinkled throughout its track list). I was expecting excellent riffs and blistering solos, but I wasn't expecting James Hetfield to sound the best he has since Garage Inc. The guitar tones are sublime, and the mix is very well done - Lars doesn't overpower the vocals or guitars with his drumming, andThe best Metallica album since Load (which was an underrated album with some masterpieces sprinkled throughout its track list). I was expecting excellent riffs and blistering solos, but I wasn't expecting James Hetfield to sound the best he has since Garage Inc. The guitar tones are sublime, and the mix is very well done - Lars doesn't overpower the vocals or guitars with his drumming, and there are plenty of fat bass lines throughout the album. If Death Magnetic was a "return to form" and Hardwired was a continuation of that, then this is truly the Master of Puppets of modern Metallica - thrash metal perfected for the 21st century.… Expand
  6. Velgar
    Apr 17, 2023
    10
    Wow! Metallica has done it again with 72 Seasons. This is a must-listen for any metal fan, or anyone who appreciates heavier music. The album is full of powerful riffs, epic solos, and catchy melodies that will stay in your head for days. The lyrics are also deep and meaningful. Metallica have proven that they are still the kings of metal for me. I just love the album, along with most ofWow! Metallica has done it again with 72 Seasons. This is a must-listen for any metal fan, or anyone who appreciates heavier music. The album is full of powerful riffs, epic solos, and catchy melodies that will stay in your head for days. The lyrics are also deep and meaningful. Metallica have proven that they are still the kings of metal for me. I just love the album, along with most of the previous ones.… Expand
  7. Mark1toz
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    Good one, nothing can beat their first 5 albums, but this one got something to be thankful.
  8. irv_
    Apr 24, 2023
    10
    This album is perfect! Every song has a riff that reminds you of Metallica's best times. James is singing like never before! Impressive the work of these guys at 60 years old! For more Metallica albums! Metallica is life!
  9. MajestikMelvill
    Apr 16, 2023
    10
    All I need to say is, I was sceptical for some reason going in, but its rare in 2023 that an album comes out where theres no skips on your third and fourth play. Its been out 3 days and its probably already my most played album on spotify this year. Metallica back on form.
  10. billyboggins
    May 21, 2023
    10
    honestly in the days to the albums release i was incredibly skeptical. i thought it would be like a copy of hardwired, but i was wrong. the vocals are amazing, lars really stepped up his drumming game, rob's bass was aggrssive and complemented the drumming nicely. and kirk took some of the best things about "portals" and put them in the form of harmonies and melodies. honestly im blownhonestly in the days to the albums release i was incredibly skeptical. i thought it would be like a copy of hardwired, but i was wrong. the vocals are amazing, lars really stepped up his drumming game, rob's bass was aggrssive and complemented the drumming nicely. and kirk took some of the best things about "portals" and put them in the form of harmonies and melodies. honestly im blown away by this album.… Expand
  11. darkenergy377
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    Words aren't enough to describe my satisfaction with this new album. Metallica has always been my favorite band and surely still will be along the years, no doubt about that. Thank you guys for sharing all the amazing songs and effort you put into this album, this is insanely a masterpiece!
  12. Bek2228
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    Finally, metallica makes a new albums after 7 years, and they still nailed it!
  13. EDUARDOMP2810
    Apr 14, 2023
    10
    Marvelous , muy buen álbum mucho mejor que htsd y que DM , una experiencia inolvidable
  14. Arik90
    Apr 15, 2023
    10
    It's rare to find a music band in this world that releases yet another album with almost all of the original band members in their fifth decade of activity. Metallica could have stopped creating new music in 1991 and avoided many negative comments from social media critics who claim everything they have done since the Black Album sucks because they had already reached the top of the musicIt's rare to find a music band in this world that releases yet another album with almost all of the original band members in their fifth decade of activity. Metallica could have stopped creating new music in 1991 and avoided many negative comments from social media critics who claim everything they have done since the Black Album sucks because they had already reached the top of the music world in their first decade of activity. However, Metallica never stops and never quits, as they said in their first album. They love being on stage, trying new experiences, and being creative and dynamic has kept them an extraordinary band and kept them alive, because they always take risks without fear of the consequences, and time has proven that they were right about some of the choices they have made.

    "72 Seasons" is a statement from Metallica as a band, which connects them together after James' rehab and during the pandemic. The song structures and time changes on this album remind us of their first four albums that met Load and Reload. However, unlike many Metallica songs, there is no clean guitar, except for a few seconds in "Inamorata" on this album. They didn't want to slow it down, and the fire that starts from the title track never stops, like "St. Anger" and "Kill 'Em All". They didn't try to make a record for someone else, rather than themselves, and they didn't follow a cheat sheet to "Please 'Em All". Instead, they tried to create something original that hadn't been done before, and I think they succeeded. Overall, every track has something to admire, and an old-school heavy metal fan won't be disappointed listening to this album.    … Expand
  15. turboboi
    Apr 16, 2023
    10
    This album is a perfect fusion of their 80s, and especially 90s sound, mixed well together, and sprinkled with a bit new metallica, and also some hardwired. However, I would say the soundscape is more consistent than Hardwire, and in my humble opinion; this is their greatest work since the black album. Never have I heard a metallica album where I instantly liked so many song, maybe thereThis album is a perfect fusion of their 80s, and especially 90s sound, mixed well together, and sprinkled with a bit new metallica, and also some hardwired. However, I would say the soundscape is more consistent than Hardwire, and in my humble opinion; this is their greatest work since the black album. Never have I heard a metallica album where I instantly liked so many song, maybe there fewer songs that really sticks out, compared to MOP, RTL, Black album, and Kill em all, but the overall quality is great. If you didn't like it the first time, listen to it a few more times.… Expand
  16. d001
    Apr 15, 2023
    10
    Metallicaaaaaaaaaaa. King! There is a lot of energy served in a different way!
  17. mdbandeira
    Apr 16, 2023
    10
    Excelente disco, MetallicA mostrando pq é a maior banda de metal do mundo. Volta às origens, com o pé no atual …
  18. luizgcorreia
    Apr 23, 2023
    10
    A great Metallica record! Not the most innovative, but there are some really strong riffs, the production is good and James' vocals and lyrics are fantastic! It's like a weird mix of Kill'em All and Load/Reload. Inamorata is my favorite track!
  19. hectorsft
    Apr 25, 2023
    10
    Excellent album. There are so many things to explore and riffs to analyze. Well done Metallica for this fantastic record.
  20. ferijs
    Apr 28, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. ..and finally metallica back to metallica style.... sense the cliff soul in this album… Expand
  21. almeidafreak
    May 11, 2023
    10
    Fantastic, dudes are almost 60 and rocking like this, gotta give them props.
  22. Loukall2007
    May 14, 2023
    10
    No bad song while not on the level of injustice for all i cant find any complaint
  23. pendrik
    May 14, 2023
    10
    An unbelievable album. After all this year, ageing didn't affect the band neither their impressive will to give, more and more. With the characteristic and unique tone of voice of Mr Heathfield "MetallicA' 72 Seasons" arises above and beyond any expectations. The "frantic" rhythms and the deep vocalisations didn't flinch, but what is to be noted are the thematics. What would happen, if weAn unbelievable album. After all this year, ageing didn't affect the band neither their impressive will to give, more and more. With the characteristic and unique tone of voice of Mr Heathfield "MetallicA' 72 Seasons" arises above and beyond any expectations. The "frantic" rhythms and the deep vocalisations didn't flinch, but what is to be noted are the thematics. What would happen, if we could have the chance to obtain instantly the wisdom of a 50 years old ourselves? This is why 72 Seasons is here: to bring us there, in the future, giving the chance to gaze everything differently. Same topics, from a new perspectives resembles different observers. From the bottom of my soul, thanks.
    You might have saved me from one of the most terrible years of my life. I'll never scream your name, I'll keep it inside.    … Expand
  24. Lialo1889
    Aug 17, 2023
    10
    Good very good in fact pretty nice may I say pretty okay very nice and warm like the hair of a 5 year old I love ice cream especially the one with the chocolate chips on top unfortunately I cannot go to ice cream store anymore because I’m a registred sex offender but I can still get my **** on the dark market you the stuff with brownie cookie dough all sort of extra on the side anywayGood very good in fact pretty nice may I say pretty okay very nice and warm like the hair of a 5 year old I love ice cream especially the one with the chocolate chips on top unfortunately I cannot go to ice cream store anymore because I’m a registred sex offender but I can still get my **** on the dark market you the stuff with brownie cookie dough all sort of extra on the side anyway pretty good album… Expand
  25. Guilhxxme
    Apr 14, 2023
    9
    The Metallica album is surprising, full of novelties, innovative effects and new ways of expressing themselves. One should not expect to hear things from the 80s again and compare it with Hardwired. One must see 72 Seasons as a new Metallica, from the 72 Seasons era. This album presents unique elements that no previous work of the band has achieved, while keeping the essence of Metallica.The Metallica album is surprising, full of novelties, innovative effects and new ways of expressing themselves. One should not expect to hear things from the 80s again and compare it with Hardwired. One must see 72 Seasons as a new Metallica, from the 72 Seasons era. This album presents unique elements that no previous work of the band has achieved, while keeping the essence of Metallica. However, to appreciate it properly, it is necessary to listen to it with good headphones.

    I can't wait to see them at the Grammy next year. It's interesting to note that, thanks to their performance at the Grammy, Lady Gaga fans got to know Metallica songs, like Halo On Fire haha!

    And what about the song YOU MUST BURN! Exclamation point! It has an incredible intro and it seems like someone is coming to destroy everything. This song would be great in a movie. I still listen to the new songs trying to guess what will be Lars' next drum beats sequence on the snare, which is nostalgic for those who notice these things. Who is singing in the interlude of You Must Burn!? This is very good.

    Unfortunately, at the album preview, I agreed with the bad reviews due to the poor distribution of the music in the room, which did not allow hearing all the details as it should. It was only possible to appreciate it with better quality using headphones. However, I am already seeing Lars making a lot of timing mistakes in Lux Æterna in this new tour hahhhahah!

    The negative point of this album was the lack of slower songs, like in Halo On Fire on the last Hardwired. The album is quite intense, without many pauses. Metallica became huge by releasing slower songs between one part and another of the album, as well as in the middle of the songs. This is how you create the desire to listen to the entire album several times, due to these variations in rhythm. A great example is "Room of Mirrors?" It would be incredible as a ballad. The solo in this song would fit perfectly with a softer song.

    But overall, the Metallica guys made a great effort for the result of this album. It was possible to hear well and not ironically the best songs of the album were those that when you read the name you already think you're talking about the devil, and that's not a negative point.

    Inamorata was a great choice to end the album. All fans mentioned this song a lot, which brings a slower part and in the end has a cute farewell from the album.    … Expand
  26. JackKrauser
    Apr 14, 2023
    9
    Metallica once again painstakingly released an excellent album. Especially on this album, they got a very nice sound. It's like a blending of the Black album and subsequent albums.
  27. Ulrich4
    Apr 14, 2023
    9
    41 years after they're still raging. Music as life itself is the evolution of our feelings. Seeing these guys still on the top and great shape knocking at their "60 door" it's a pleasure and a luck. Don't get wasted in miserable amarcord-memoires. Just enjoy this very good album.
  28. Xavier31
    Apr 15, 2023
    9
    "72 Seasons" is a great album, with almost no low points, there is no bad song here. The initial feeling when listening to this album is that it is a very mature work, where it seems that each member of the band had their importance, which in itself, for me, already makes this album more interesting than its predecessor, "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct," from 2016, a work in which the"72 Seasons" is a great album, with almost no low points, there is no bad song here. The initial feeling when listening to this album is that it is a very mature work, where it seems that each member of the band had their importance, which in itself, for me, already makes this album more interesting than its predecessor, "Hardwired... to Self-Destruct," from 2016, a work in which the creative power of the album seems to have been almost entirely on frontman James Hetfield.

    "72 Seasons" in turn conveys much less of this feeling, with the members being on top from beginning to end. But still, for me, the Metallica member who was the least impressive was Kirk Hammett, who sometimes resorts to using techniques that already sound very repetitive in solos in the band's more recent songs.

    In any case, there are great solos here, and overall a great work by the band as a whole. The obvious highlight goes to James, who shines a LOT on vocals (one of his best vocal works, if not his best), with extremely heavy and great riffs. It is impressive that after all these years, he can still bring creative things. In addition, the lyrics of this album are much more penetrating than the majority of the band's albums.

    My highlight goes to the song "Inamorata," which, for me, although it is too early to say due to the hype, is one of the best songs technically speaking by the band.

    But it doesn't stop there, because out of 12 songs, for me, this record only has two slightly more forgettable songs, which are "Sleepwalk My Life Away" and "Crown of Barbed Wire," all the rest are good, with some standing out and being more prominent.

    "72 Seasons" is a great album, with excellent and heavy riffs, and the band members shining throughout most of the record, with a lot of creativity from Mr. Hetfield. Rating 8.5."    … Expand
  29. Nnuuxx
    Apr 14, 2023
    9
    After more than 40 years they are still going strong. On first listen, it's a lot to take in, but after the "car test" and a workout at the gym, many of the tracks start to grow on me. In particular, I find that "72 Seasons", "You Must Burn!", "Lux Æterna", and "Room of Mirrors" are instant classics and standout tracks on the album.

    I can't wait to experience some of the songs live, so    After more than 40 years they are still going strong. On first listen, it's a lot to take in, but after the "car test" and a workout at the gym, many of the tracks start to grow on me. In particular, I find that "72 Seasons", "You Must Burn!", "Lux Æterna", and "Room of Mirrors" are instant classics and standout tracks on the album.

    I can't wait to experience some of the songs live, so exciting!    … Expand
  30. Gbesp
    Apr 14, 2023
    9
    72 seasons is a great álbum, too far gone its my favorite Song . it's worth listening
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Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Mojo
    May 16, 2023
    80
    Lux Æterna [is] a prime example of 72 Seasons' astonishing vigour. ... Metallica are worthy again. [Jul 2023, p.82]
  2. The Wire
    May 9, 2023
    80
    Virtuosity quickly shades into something inhuman, as every plectrum and drumstick lands inevitably – and thrillingly – on target. [Jun 2023, p.54]
  3. The Observer (UK)
    Apr 24, 2023
    60
    For all Hetfield’s soul-baring, however, as a whole 72 Seasons seems to mark the end of their late-career renaissance and is ultimately far more solid than spectacular.
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