"Their best album since...": Metallica fans review new album 72 Seasons

We asked rock and metal fans to share their views on the new Metallica album 72 Seasons - here's what they had to say

Metallica
(Image: © Press)

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Closing in on 40 years since their debut album KIll 'Em All, Metallica still stand proud as metal's biggest band in 2023, capable of generating interest and discussion in ways other bands could only dream of. From a four-night 'residency' on chat show Jimmy Kimmel to music videos for every song, Metallica certainly aren't doing things by halves with their new album 72 Seasons.

Gracing the cover of both this month's Metal Hammer and Classic Rock magazines, it's fair to say there's a lot to dig into with Metallica's 72 Seasons, 12 tracks amounting to just shy of 80 minutes of all-out thrashed-up heavy metal brilliance.

We've already cast our verdict on 72 Seasons (via Metal Hammer and Classic Rock respectively), but still couldn't resist asking - what do you, the music loving public think of the album? And answer you did, with hundreds of you taking to Twitter and Facebook to share your views on the latest Metallica effort. This is what you had to say...

MHR374 Metallica Cover

(Image credit: Future)

Classic Rock Magazine issue 313 front cover

(Image credit: Future)

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What we thought

"72 Seasons isn’t an easy listen; it demands work. Ballads are absent and even big melodies are scarce, though that ensures they’re all the more striking when they do arrive. Jamming the slow-burning, 11-minute Inamorata on the end of an album that’s already passed the 60-minute is the work of a band seeing how far they can push things. Quite far, it turns out – Inamorata is one of the best songs on the album (it also ends with a much-needed chink of light lyrically)." Dave Everley, Classic Rock

"This deep into a career, it’s hard to imagine many bands making their finest material. That Metallica have still found something new to say (if not play) deserves respect. They may not have delivered their very best, but they’ve given us the best we realistically could have hoped for." Stephen Hill, Metal Hammer


What you thought - the good:

"I love it!! Great to have new jams by these vets.. looking forward to seeing them on the road!" Tim McDermott, Facebook

"It's a brilliantly well balanced album. Mix is a bit meh with the guitar tone..but the songs themselves aren't lacking. Room of Mirrors and Inamorata have become my staple favourites" Kieron Phillips, Facebook

"I am not a big fan of Metallica by any means and i have not listened to any of their recent releases but after hearing Sleepwalk My Life Away I gave the 72 Seasons a listen and i absolutely loved it. Probably my favourite release so far this year. Loving the riffs and the general heaviness of the album." Simon McInnes, Facebook

"Every single track on here could be a single in its own right imo. Some took a bit of getting used to at first, but it’s a solid album - miles better than Hardwired, which I thought was a bit all over the place. Definitely the closest to resembling the 80s thrash sound. Inamorata is a masterpiece too. Love that the bass really stands out this time round." Kieron Byde, Facebook

" As a diehard Metallica fan since 1986 I feel it’s their best since the black album. This album I can’t stop listening to from start to finish. Honestly haven’t done that with their last 5 albums." Jeff Tocio, Facebook


What you thought - the bad:

"Sounds like it's still in the demo phases. The singles specifically but a few others are too long. Too much repetition. Not enough dynamics. It feels like it's the same the whole way through." Jacob Litchfield, Facebook


Your verdict

As you'd expect when it comes to metal's biggest band, everyone has an opinion on the new Metallica. While some decry the band as having lost their way since Master Of Puppets way back in 1986, the general consensus seems to be that with 72 Seasons Metallica are at least back on the right path and making music befitting their station. 

The lack of ballads doesn't appear to have hurt the band at all - in fact, the only common thread with criticism seems to be levelled more at the album's epic song lengths (all but one easily passing the 5 minute mark), with most fans on board with the riff-heavy approach the band have laid down on album #11. 

It might not be a genre-defining classic in the same way their 80s and even early 90s records was, but there is a genuine enthusiasm for the songs and their sound that surpasses anything they've done this side of the millennium. 72 Seasons isn't the best Metallica album - but its a damn fine effort from a band beloved the world over. 

Average reader score: 7.3/10

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Rich Hobson

Staff writer for Metal Hammer, Rich has never met a feature he didn't fancy, which is just as well when it comes to covering everything rock, punk and metal for both print and online, be it legendary events like Rock In Rio or Clash Of The Titans or seeking out exciting new bands like Nine Treasures, Jinjer and Sleep Token.