METALLICA have announced that they will release their new album, entitled “72 Seasons”, on April 14th, 2023 via the band’s own Blackened Recordings. In addition, the band unveiled an official music video for the first single, “Lux Æterna”. ΜETALLICA also announced a World Tour in support of the upcoming release. The tour includes two shows in each city visited, and the band promises completely different setlists and support lineups at each.
Says METALLICA: “Yes, you read that correctly… we have completed recording at HQ, and our 12th studio album is coming your way! It’s been six years since ‘Hardwired…To Self Destruct’, so we think it’s about time for some new music. With 12 tracks totaling over 77 minutes, ’72 Seasons’ hits all the places you can consume music on Friday, April 14th, 2023. Produced by Greg Fidelman, along with James and Lars, ’72 Seasons’ is available for pre-order now on CD, 2LP 140g black vinyl, two different colored vinyl variations, and digitally in the Met Store. Every pre-order will receive a digital instant grat track of the first song we are releasing, ‘Lux Æterna’, and you can check out the brand new video, one of the coolest we’ve ever made, on our YouTube channel. Directed by Tim Saccenti, we recently traveled to Los Angeles to capture our performance using some crazy cutting-edge technology.”
Speaking on the concept of the album title, Hetfield says: “72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told ‘who we are’ by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry.”
METALLICA comments on the tour: “Over the past few years, we have been so inspired by the dedication and family/community vibe of the fans who traveled to San Francisco for our recent weekend celebrations, first in 2019 with the two S&M2 shows, followed by last year’s 40th Anniversary shows. On top of that, we had a blast being a part of the 2021 Wimmer Festivals when we played two nights in one city, each with a totally different setlist. With all of that in mind, the M72 tour was born!
Starting in April of 2023, we’ll be visiting 22 different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each ‘No Repeat Weekend’ show a completely unique experience: Two totally different set lists with two different bands opening the show each night! Purchase a two-day ticket, and you won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning our 40+ years of being lucky enough to make music. Most of the shows (sorry, not all – we tried!) will be on Fridays and Sundays, so we’ll be sure to have lots of extracurricular events for you to hang with fellow METALLICA fans at before the shows kick-off and on the Saturday night in between.
Presented worldwide by Liquid Death and Blackened American Whiskey (in North America only), and brought to you by our friends at Live Nation, the M72 tour also launches a completely different look for us in stadiums – we’ll be in the round in the middle of the field. On top of that, the Snake Pit has been relocated to the center of the stage so that fans there will have a complete 360 view of the show. Each weekend offers a variety of Enhanced Experiences, ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit. The very popular “Black Laminate” is back, now known as the “I Disappear Ticket,” and is the ultimate pass for the fan who wants to run away with us for multiple weekends. Grab one of these and attend every show on your continent or in the world! For more information about Enhanced Experiences and I Disappear Tickets, visit wearesuper.co/metallica.
In keeping with the theme of two completely unique shows each weekend, we’re excited to share the stage with different bands each night, including some we have traveled with before and new friends who are joining us for the first time. Signing up for the entire adventure with us are FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ICE NINE KILLS and MAMMOTHWVH, and some of you will see PANTERA, ARCHITECTS, GRETA VAN FLEET, or VOPBEAT, depending on the shows you attend.
We cannot wait to embark on this new adventure, play some new music, and spend our weekends in ’23 and ’24 with YOU!”
“72 Seasons” track listing:
- 72 Seasons
- Shadows Follow
- Screaming Suicide
- Sleepwalk My Life Away
- You Must Burn!
- Lux Æterna
- Crown Of Barbed Wire
- Chasing Light
- If Darkness Had A Son
- Too Far Gone?
- Room Of Mirrors
- Inamorata
You can watch the offiical music vdeo for “Lux Æterna” below:
