Here’s my review of the new Metallica album.
Not bad, not great, just well…
“I caved. I'm listening to Metallica "72 Seasons," and critiquing it or skipping when something doesn't go fast enough in radio terms.
Sonically the album songs sound really well mixed, band sounds energized and happy to do their own thing (which sorry, no matter what you think about Metallica they can pretty much write their own checks/schedules and do whatever they want, even if/when it's not something I like.) There are Black Album stylistics to it (track 2 "Shadows Follow" is big Black Album vibes, think "The God That That Failed," etc.)
In a radio stand point you could play any Metallica song, even if it's just Lars crying or James farting for 2 minutes, as an event record. You could justify it like this...."HOLY FUCKING SHIT ITS METALLICA, LOOK I HAVE IT FIRST, LET ME JUST PLAY THE WHOLE ASSED ALBUM FOR YOU!"
However, when the novelty of a new Metallica record runs out, these songs are too long to replace Metallica classics in constant rotation. Any song over 6 minutes in Active Rock radio needs to be a straight up forest fire for that entire time or a real tried and true classic that listeners love to hear and won't change the station.
The best part about this album is it is clear that Metallica is having a really good fucking time and maybe they won't shit out another "St Anger," because that was a box of no.
May these dudes keep enjoying what they do for a living and continue not giving a single fuck what anyone thinks.
"72 Seasons" 7/10 in my opinion.”