So how do we feel about the first new Metallica song in six years?
It has the very Tool-like title of “Lux Æterna” and will appear on an album entitled 72 Seasons in April. James Hetfield has this introduction.
“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.”
Okay, then. Let’s have a listen.
Same way we’ve felt about every Metallica song since they tried to sue Napster out of existence, despite owing their career to fans trading tapes of their music. (In case it’s not clear, We feel like they’re still despicable humans who’ll never get a cent of my money. And coming from a guy who STILL buys CDs or physical copies of albums, that’s not the whine of someone who “just wants music for free”)
It’s like Kill Em All meets Load.
Lots of NWOBHM influence.
I think it’s great. Looking forward to the Edmonton shows. In two years.
Speed rock at it’s best
It’s about as metal as I could expect from these aging rockers (not very). Don’t get me wrong, there are some great grooves, it’s a fun listen, but the grit isn’t there – it all feels a little too perfect and a little too polished. It’s probably why it will sell like crazy. “Oh, I’m totally into Metallica” – Every dad in existence. 7/10 Napsters.
It is their best song in many years.