Here’s Why Metallica Named Their New Album ’72 Seasons’

2023-01-06

Metallica performing in Detroit, Michigan.

Metallica – Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

Here’s the story behind the title of Metallica’s new album, “72 Seasons”

Metallica are raring back with a new album, “72 Seasons,” and many fans are wondering where the band got that unique album title. As it turns out, Metallica frontman James Hetfield has the answer to that buring question.

Hetfield discussed the new record and moniker with Louisville radio station Alt 105.1 in a new interview. During the chat, he explained that, “’72 Seasons’ came out of a book I was reading about childhood, basically, and sorting out childhood as an adult. And ’72 seasons’ is basically the first 18 years of your life. How do you evolve and grow and mature and develop your own ideas and identity of self after those first 72 seasons?”

It’s interesting to think about 72 seasons equaling the first 18 years of one’s life, but it makes sense. Hetfield also added, “Some things are more difficult than others — you know, some things you can’t unsee and they’re with you for the rest of your life, and other things you’re able to rewind the tape and make a new tape in your life. So that’s the real interesting part for me, is how you’re able to address those situations as an adult and mature.”

Then, Hetfield got personal. He even spoke about the “darkness in his life” that he’s gone through, as well as the darkness “our career and things that have happened with us, but always having a sense of hope, always having the light that is in that darkness… Without darkness, there is no light, and being able to focus a little more on the light in life instead of all of the… how it used to be and how horrible it is.”

He concluded that it’s important to focus on the positive things happening in life, stating, “…everyone has some sense of hope or light in their life, and obviously, music is mine. And the song specifically talks about gathering of people at a concert and [being] able to see the joy and the life and the love that comes out of music and the family and the kinship in that, and just a sense of uplifting.”

“72 Seasons” will arrive April 14. The band will also take the record on the road for a major 2023 and 2024 world tour.

Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Metal, Music, Rock News

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