72 Seasons

In an interview with Australian magazine The Music{{'}}s official podcast in March 2019, bassist Robert Trujillo said that Metallica had begun jamming on new material for its next studio album. "I'm excited about the next record because I believe it will also be a culmination of the two [previous] records and another journey. There's no shortage of original ideas, that's the beauty of being in this band." He estimated that the album would be released "a lot sooner than the previous two did... this time around I think we'll be able to jump on it a lot quicker and jump in the studio and start working. We've all vowed to get this one going sooner than later."{{cite news|title=Metallica's Next Album 'Will Come A Lot Sooner Than The Previous Two Did,' Says Robert Trujillo|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-next-album-will-come-a-lot-sooner-than-the-previous-two-did-says-robert-trujillo/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=March 14, 2019|accessdate=August 2, 2019|archive-date=March 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317041600/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-next-album-will-come-a-lot-sooner-than-the-previous-two-did-says-robert-trujillo|url-status=live}}

In an interview with Australian magazine Mixdown the following month, guitarist Kirk Hammett said that the band had tentative plans to enter the studio after the conclusion of its WorldWired Tour in support of Hardwired... to Self-Destruct. He stated, "We're in our third year since Hardwired. Maybe we can get a bit more focus and go into the studio a bit sooner."{{cite news|title=Kirk Hammett: 'I Have A Ton Of Material' For Metallica's Next Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kirk-hammett-i-have-a-ton-of-material-for-next-metallica-album/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 14, 2019|accessdate=August 2, 2019|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415032604/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/kirk-hammett-i-have-a-ton-of-material-for-next-metallica-album/|url-status=live}} Having not contributed any writing to Hardwired... to Self-Destruct after accidentally losing his phone containing riff ideas at Copenhagen Airport in 2014,{{cite web|title=Metallica's Kirk Hammett Says He Tracked His Missing iPhone To Copenhagen Airport|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-kirk-hammett-says-he-tracked-his-missing-iphone-to-copenhagen-airport/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=August 12, 2015|accessdate=August 2, 2019|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108110500/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallicas-kirk-hammett-says-he-tracked-his-missing-iphone-to-copenhagen-airport/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Kielty|first=Martin|title=Why Kirk Hammett didn't write much for new Metallica album|url=http://teamrock.com/news/2016-09-22/why-kirk-hammett-didn-t-write-much-for-new-metallica-album|website=TeamRock|date=September 23, 2016|accessdate=August 2, 2019|archive-date=August 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816180304/http://teamrock.com/news/2016-09-22/why-kirk-hammett-didn-t-write-much-for-new-metallica-album|url-status=live}} Hammett said regarding his ideas for the new album, "I have a ton of material. I've over-compensated, so I'm ready to go anytime."

In April 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, drummer Lars Ulrich said in an interview with Marc Benioff that Metallica could work on its next studio album while in quarantine.{{cite news|title=Metallica Could Make New Album In Quarantine, Says Lars Ulrich|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-could-make-new-album-in-quarantine-says-lars-ulrich/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 28, 2020|accessdate=July 4, 2020|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429145818/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-could-make-new-album-in-quarantine-says-lars-ulrich/|url-status=live}} Trujillo told The Vinyl Guide in June that the band was "excited about cultivating new ideas" for its new album. "We communicate every week, which is really great, so we have our connection intact [...] what we've started doing is basically just really concentrating on our home studios and being creative from our homes and navigating through ideas and building on new ideas. And that's where we're at right now". He also said that the band was working towards eventually entering a studio to record the album.{{cite news|title=Metallica Is 'Excited About Cultivating New Ideas' While In Quarantine, Says Robert Trujillo|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-is-excited-about-cultivating-new-ideas-while-in-quarantine-says-robert-trujillo/|work=Blabbermouth.net|date=June 30, 2020|accessdate=July 4, 2020|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702010900/https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/metallica-is-excited-about-cultivating-new-ideas-while-in-quarantine-says-robert-trujillo/|url-status=live}} In November, Ulrich said in an interview with Phoebe Bridgers for Rolling Stone that the band was "three, four weeks into some pretty serious writing"{{cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|title=Metallica's Lars Ulrich and Phoebe Bridgers: Musicians on Musicians|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lars-ulrich-phoebe-bridgers-musicians-on-musicians-1092219/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 20, 2020|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811185432/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lars-ulrich-phoebe-bridgers-musicians-on-musicians-1092219/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Ruskell|first=Nick|title=Metallica Are A Month Into Some "Pretty Serious Writing" For Their Next Album|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/metallica-are-a-month-into-some-pretty-serious-writing-for-their-next-album/|work=Kerrang!|date=November 23, 2020|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715031935/https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/metallica-are-a-month-into-some-pretty-serious-writing-for-their-next-album/|url-status=live}} and stated that "It's the heaviest thing, the coolest [...] but all kidding aside, if it wasn't because we thought that the best record was still ahead of us, then why keep doing it?"{{cite news|last=Scarlett|first=Elizabeth|title=Lars Ulrich: The next Metallica album will be the best one yet|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/lars-ulrich-the-next-metallica-album-will-be-the-best-one-yet|work=Classic Rock|date=December 30, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126035108/https://www.loudersound.com/news/lars-ulrich-the-next-metallica-album-will-be-the-best-one-yet|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Schaffner|first=Lauryn|title=Lars Ulrich: New Metallica Album Is the 'Heaviest Thing,' Best One Yet|url=https://loudwire.com/lars-ulrich-new-metallica-album-heaviest-best-one/|work=Loudwire|date=December 30, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=February 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214050729/https://loudwire.com/lars-ulrich-new-metallica-album-heaviest-best-one/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lochrie|first=Conor|title=Look out 2021, Lars Ulrich says Metallica's new album will be their best yet|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/lars-ulrich-says-new-metallica-album-will-be-their-best-yet/|work=Tone Deaf|date=December 31, 2020|access-date=February 7, 2021|archive-date=December 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231055723/https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/lars-ulrich-says-new-metallica-album-will-be-their-best-yet/|url-status=live}} He followed up in January 2021 by saying that progress on the album had been "glacial",{{cite web|last=Ling|first=Dave|title=40 years of friendship and one Zoom call: Lars Ulrich and Brian Tatler catch up|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/40-years-of-friendship-and-one-zoom-call-lars-ulrich-and-brian-tatler-catch-up|work=Classic Rock|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715031931/https://www.loudersound.com/features/40-years-of-friendship-and-one-zoom-call-lars-ulrich-and-brian-tatler-catch-up|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Emily|title=Lars Ulrich says Metallica are making "glacial" progress on their new album|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/lars-ulrich-metallica-are-making-glacial-progress-on-their-new-album/|work=Kerrang!|date=January 20, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715031937/https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/lars-ulrich-metallica-are-making-glacial-progress-on-their-new-album/|url-status=live}} while vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield said in March that "It's either touring or writing, so COVID chose for us [...] but, yeah, [we will release] a bunch of songs. We wrote quite a few songs."{{cite news|last=Erel|first=Eray|title=James Hetfield breaks silence on new Metallica album: "We wrote quite a few songs"|url=https://www.metalcastle.net/james-hetfield-breaks-silence-on-new-metallica-album-we-wrote-quite-a-few-songs/|work=Metal Castle|date=May 7, 2021|access-date=July 15, 2021|archive-date=July 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715031934/https://www.metalcastle.net/james-hetfield-breaks-silence-on-new-metallica-album-we-wrote-quite-a-few-songs/|url-status=live}}

The proper recording sessions for 72 Seasons took place at Metallica's HQ in San Rafael, California, from March 2021 to November 2022. Greg Fidelman produced the album, while Sara Lyn Killion and Jim Monti engineered.{{cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |title=Metallica All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |date=2023 |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-1-784-72893-9 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Metallica_All_the_Songs/gzh2zwEACAAJ?hl=en |page=480}} The band followed COVID-19 protocols while recording, wearing masks and standing far apart from one another in the studio, although they performed together to achieve a live sound. The songs were also composed more collaboratively, with each band member contributing.

On November 28, 2022, Hetfield commented on the meaning of the album's title:

{{blockquote|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 {{no wrap|carry.{{cite news|title=New Album...72 Seasons!|url=https://www.metallica.com/news/2022-11-28-new-album-72-seasons.html|website=metallica.com|date=November 28, 2022|access-date=November 29, 2022|archive-date=November 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128232321/https://metallica.com/news/2022-11-28-new-album-72-seasons.html|url-status=live}}}}}}

The artwork designer, David Turner, explained that there was some initial pushback on the title because it was not as "hard-hitting" as the band's other album titles, such as Hardwired... to Self-Destruct, Death Magnetic, Ride the Lightning, or Kill 'Em All. Nevertheless, Ulrich liked 72 Seasons for that reason, for being "so out of left field". Co-designer Jamie McCathie described the title as "non-metal", which he argued was what made it "intriguing", saying: "I felt the excitement of this name, which doesn't sound like your average Metallica album."

The expression Lux Æterna, meaning "eternal light" and the title of one of the album's songs, inspired the artwork for 72 Seasons.{{cite book |last=Clerc |first=Benoît |title=Metallica All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |date=2023 |publisher=Cassell |location=London |isbn=978-1-784-72893-9 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Metallica_All_the_Songs/gzh2zwEACAAJ?hl=en |page=492}} Designed by Turner and McCathie, the artwork features a distinct yellow and black color scheme.{{cite web |last=Chirazi |first=Steffan |title=The Aesthetics of 72 Seasons |url=https://www.metallica.com/so-what/2023-11-14-the-aesthetics-of-72-seasons.html?srsltid=AfmBOorSGYVrf3Z7ktmp2CSeIpt8f0XKZBgRmsRDceoVQ7gBfsB5HKYj |website=Metallica.com |access-date=June 23, 2025 |date=November 14, 2023}} Hetfield wanted the yellow to represent light and to directly contrast with the black of the burned objects, which included an infant crib, a switchblade, cigarettes, pill packets, and a destroyed guitar. Turner said these elements were included "with intention but left it open-ended enough that fans and members of the band could see it slightly differently". Hammett recalled that he felt "deeply, emotionally uncomfortable" when he saw the burnt crib, after which the other band members voiced their approvals. The objects were shot by photographer Stan Musilek and modeled by Mark Welsh in the former's San Francisco studio. The album's typography was designed by Ian Conklin, which Turner described as a "very chiseled, classic font that isn't trying to look metal".

{{main|M72 World Tour}}

On November 28, 2022, Metallica announced the album's title, release date, tracklist and a promotional tour of North America and Europe, featuring Pantera, Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills, Greta Van Fleet, Architects, Volbeat, and Mammoth WVH, titled the M72 World Tour. The band subsequently released the album's first single, "Lux Æterna", along with a music video.{{cite news|last=Monroe|first=Jazz|title=Metallica Announce Huge Tour and New Album 72 Seasons, Share Video for New Song: Watch|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/metallica-announce-huge-tour-and-new-album-72-seasons-share-video-for-new-song-watch/|work=Pitchfork|date=November 28, 2022|access-date=November 28, 2022|archive-date=November 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128155349/https://pitchfork.com/news/metallica-announce-huge-tour-and-new-album-72-seasons-share-video-for-new-song-watch/|url-status=live}} On January 19, 2023, Metallica released a new music video for "Screaming Suicide".{{cite news|last=Singer|first=Quentin|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/quentinsinger/2023/01/19/metallica-stealth-release-new-single--video-screaming-suicide/|title=Metallica Stealth Release New Single & Video, "Screaming Suicide"|magazine=Forbes|date=January 19, 2023|access-date=January 25, 2023|archive-date=January 25, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125151916/https://www.forbes.com/sites/quentinsinger/2023/01/19/metallica-stealth-release-new-single--video-screaming-suicide/|url-status=live}} After teasing a new song on TikTok over the last few days of February, Metallica released a new music video for "If Darkness Had a Son" on March 1.{{cite news|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-if-darkness-had-a-son-new-song-1234689011/|title=Metallica Drop New Seven-Minute Epic 'If Darkness Had a Son'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 1, 2023|access-date=March 24, 2023|archive-date=March 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330144141/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-if-darkness-had-a-son-new-song-1234689011/|url-status=live}} The next single, title track "72 Seasons", was released on March 30.{{cite news|last=Grow|first=Kory|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-72-seasons-song-1234706170/|title=Metallica Rage About the 'Wrath of Man' on '72 Seasons' Title Track|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 30, 2023|access-date=March 30, 2023|archive-date=March 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330142642/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-72-seasons-song-1234706170/|url-status=live}}

On April 10, to further promote the album, the band appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. They were interviewed by host Jimmy Kimmel and gave recorded live performances of 72 Seasons singles "Lux Æterna" and "If Darkness Had a Son", as well as the tracks "Master of Puppets" and "Holier Than Thou", which were each broadcast over the next few days.{{cite news|last=Zemler|first=Emily|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-master-of-puppets-kimmel-1234714227/|title=Watch Metallica Power Through 'Master of Puppets' on 'Kimmel'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418104613/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-master-of-puppets-kimmel-1234714227/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/metallica/2023/jimmy-kimmel-live-los-angeles-ca-43bb47ef.html|title=Metallica Setlist at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Los Angeles, CA, USA|magazine=Setlist.fm|date=April 10, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418224534/https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/metallica/2023/jimmy-kimmel-live-los-angeles-ca-43bb47ef.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-metallica-kicks-off-jimmy-kimmel-live-residency|title=Watch: METALLICA Kicks Off 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Residency|magazine=Blabbermouth.net|date=April 11, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416180959/https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-metallica-kicks-off-jimmy-kimmel-live-residency|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-metallica-play-thrashing-if-darkness-had-son-kimmel|title=See METALLICA play thrashing "If Darkness Had a Son" on 'Kimmel'|magazine=Revolver|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418224545/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-metallica-play-thrashing-if-darkness-had-son-kimmel|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Brandle|first=Lars|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/metallica-master-of-puppets-performance-kimmel-1235302184/|title=Metallica Rocks out With Full-Length 'Master of Puppets' Performance on 'Kimmel': Watch|magazine=Billboard|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418152937/https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/metallica-master-of-puppets-performance-kimmel-1235302184/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Enis|first=Eli|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-metallica-rip-through-holier-thou-kimmel|title=See METALLICA rip through "Holier Than Thou" on 'Kimmel'|magazine=Revolver|date=April 12, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416180407/https://www.revolvermag.com/music/see-metallica-rip-through-holier-thou-kimmel|url-status=live}} On April 12, Metallica sat for an extensive interview with Howard Stern on his Sirius XM satellite radio show. The band performed three songs during this appearance: Bob Seger's "Turn the Page", an acoustic rendition of their song "Blackened", and "Lux Æterna".{{cite news|last=Stern|first=Howard|url=https://www.howardstern.com/news/2023/04/12/metallica-talks-million-dollar-guitars-making-it-onto-mtv-and-how-opening-for-ozzy-osbourne-got-them-out-of-clubs-and-into-arenas/|title=Metallica Talks Million-Dollar Guitars, Making It Onto MTV, and How Opening for Ozzy Osbourne Got Them Out of Clubs and Into Arenas|magazine=Howard Stern|date=April 12, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 17, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417205243/https://www.howardstern.com/news/2023/04/12/metallica-talks-million-dollar-guitars-making-it-onto-mtv-and-how-opening-for-ozzy-osbourne-got-them-out-of-clubs-and-into-arenas/|url-status=live}} On April 14, the day of the album's release, the band announced a partnership with the online game platform Roblox to feature the new album's songs in several of its games, along with virtual items being released onto the platform.{{cite news|last=Savage|first=Shaun|url=https://tryhardguides.com/metallica-x-roblox-this-weekend-free-items-and-new-album-tracks/|title=Metallica x Roblox This Weekend: Free Items and New Album Tracks|magazine=Try Hard|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 15, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414231015/https://tryhardguides.com/metallica-x-roblox-this-weekend-free-items-and-new-album-tracks/|url-status=live}}

{{Music ratings

| ADM = 7.3/10{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13613/Metallica-72-Seasons.aspx|title=Metallica: 72 Seasons|magazine=AnyDecentMusic?|date=April 21, 2023|access-date=April 21, 2023|archive-date=April 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416140507/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13613/Metallica-72-Seasons.aspx|url-status=live}}

| MC = 77/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/72-seasons/metallica|title=72 Seasons by Metallica Reviews|magazine=Metacritic|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=May 21, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413001347/https://www.metacritic.com/music/72-seasons/metallica|url-status=live}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/72-seasons-mw0003880668|title=Metallica - 72 Seasons|magazine=AllMusic|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414141542/https://www.allmusic.com/album/72-seasons-mw0003880668|url-status=live}}

| rev2 = The Arts Desk

| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Carr|first=Tom|url=https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-metallica-72-seasons|title=Album: Metallica - 72 Seasons|magazine=The Arts Desk|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413071005/https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-metallica-72-seasons|url-status=live}}

| rev3 = Clash

| rev3score = 6/10{{cite news|last=Walker-Smart|first=Sam|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons/|title=Metallica - 72 Seasons {{!}} Reviews|magazine=Clash|date=April 12, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414114553/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons/|url-status=live}}

| rev4 = Classic Rock

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Everley|first=Dave|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-album-review|title=Metallica 72 Seasons review: 2023's most anticipated metal album is a ringing success|magazine=Classic Rock|date=April 6, 2023|access-date=April 5, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405154109/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-album-review|url-status=live}}

| rev5 = The Independent

| rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Helen|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-review-b2319024.html|title=Metallica, 72 Seasons review: A return to form that shows their old machine is still firing on all cylinders|magazine=The Independent|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 14, 2023|archive-date=April 14, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414182723/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-review-b2319024.html|url-status=live}}

| rev6 = Kerrang!

| rev6score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Ruskell|first=Nick|url=https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-metallica-james-hetfield-lars-ulrich-metal-thrash-72-seasons|title=Album review: Metallica – 72 Seasons|magazine=Kerrang!|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413202912/https://www.kerrang.com/album-review-metallica-james-hetfield-lars-ulrich-metal-thrash-72-seasons|url-status=live}}

| rev7 = Metal Hammer

| rev7score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Stephen|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-review|title=Metallica 72 Seasons review: rarely has James Hetfield laid himself so bare|magazine=Metal Hammer|date=April 6, 2023|access-date=April 3, 2023|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404043106/https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/metallica-72-seasons-review|url-status=live}}

| rev8 = NME

| rev8score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Perry|first=Kevin EG|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/metallica-72-seasons-review-3429742|title=Metallica – '72 Seasons' review: metal masters make a relentless return|magazine=NME|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413202910/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/metallica-72-seasons-review-3429742|url-status=live}}

| rev9 = Pitchfork

| rev9score = 6.4/10{{cite news|last=Cush|first=Andy|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/metallica-72-seasons/|title=Metallica - 72 Seasons|magazine=Pitchfork|date=April 13, 2023|access-date=April 13, 2023|archive-date=April 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413090848/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/metallica-72-seasons/|url-status=live}}

| rev10 = Rolling Stone

| rev10score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite news|last=Grow|first=Kory|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/metallica-72-seasons-1234708231/|title=Metallica Deliver Some of the Deepest, Hardest-Hitting Music of Their Career on '72 Seasons'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 6, 2023|access-date=April 4, 2023|archive-date=April 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404151127/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/metallica-72-seasons-1234708231/|url-status=live}}

}}

72 Seasons received generally positive reviews,{{cite news|last1=Acovino|first1=Vincent|last2=Chang|first2=Ailsa|author-link=Ailsa Chang|last3=Mehta|first3=Jonaki|title=Metallica's new album, '72 Seasons,' has met critical acclaim. What's their secret?|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1171703402/metallica-new-album-72-seasons-master-of-puppets|magazine=NPR|date=April 30, 2023|access-date=May 6, 2023|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916112723/https://www.npr.org/2023/04/30/1171703402/metallica-new-album-72-seasons-master-of-puppets|url-status=live}} with critics singling out Hetfield's lyricism for praise, though the album's length was criticized. On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 77 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". At AnyDecentMusic?, that collates critical reviews from more than 50 media sources, the album scored 7.3 points out of 10, based on 18 reviews.

In the first review published for 72 Seasons, Classic Rock gave the album a score of 4 out of 5, describing the music as "titanium-plated modern metal" and describing the lyrics as "tormented and bleak". This review summarized 72 Seasons overall as an "intense album, one that goes hard for virtually every second of its 77-minute running time", and also stated that even though "ballads are absent and even big melodies are scarce", the album "won't disappoint anyone but the most truculent fan". In The Daily Telegraph, Neil McCormick rated this album 4 out of 5 stars.{{cite news|last=McCormick|first=Neil|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/albums-of-the-week-metallica-natalie-merchant-gogo-penguin/|title=Metallica are on mighty form, Natalie Merchant wants to unite the world – the week's best albums|magazine=The Daily Telegraph|date=April 14, 2023|access-date=April 15, 2023|archive-date=April 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418180028/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/albums-of-the-week-metallica-natalie-merchant-gogo-penguin/|url-status=live}} Similarly positive sentiments are shared in a Rolling Stone review, which says that the album shows Metallica "[playing] with more purpose than in their speed-demon days" and features segments that "don't sound like anything the thrashers have recorded before". The review gives the album 4 stars out of 5, remarking that Hetfield "[breaks] the facade of brash metal rage as he searches for his own truth" with an "agony [that] sounds authentic".

A more mixed review from Metal Hammer stated that 72 Seasons is an album where Metallica comes across as "simply [an] agreeably solid metal band", but it is still "worth taking a moment [for]" on account of James Hetfield's "genuinely moving" lyrics in which he "[digs] deeper into his early trauma [than] ever before". Although remarking that the music of the album "[nails] massive, crunching, half-time stadium metal", the review points out that much of it "maintains a similar tone and pace throughout" and often "can't match [the] dynamic range" that Hetfield's lyrics display. The review concludes by stating "the fact that Metallica have still found something new to say (if not play) deserves respect", and is "the best we realistically could have hoped for".

72 Seasons debuted at number 2 on the US Billboard 200, selling 146,000 copies in the first week with 134,000 coming from pure album sales; this marked the band's twelfth album to chart in the top 10 and the first since ...And Justice for All not to debut at number 1 on the US Billboard 200, thus ending the band's streak of number one albums at six. It was kept off the top spot by Morgan Wallen's One Thing at a Time, which was completing seven weeks atop the chart.{{cite news|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|title=Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' Nabs Seventh Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/morgan-wallen-one-thing-at-a-time-number-one-seven-weeks-billboard-200-1235313290/|magazine=Billboard|date=April 23, 2023|access-date=April 23, 2023|archive-date=April 24, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424055318/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/morgan-wallen-one-thing-at-a-time-number-one-seven-weeks-billboard-200-1235313290/|url-status=live}}

The album debuted at number one in 20 different countries including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

As of May 2024, the album has collated a total of 373,000 equivalent album units in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/metallica-screaming-suicide-number-1-mainstream-rock-airplay-chart-1235680445/|title=Metallica Achieves This Feat for the First Time on Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart|magazine=Billboard|last=Rutherford|first=Kevin|date=May 10, 2024|access-date=May 21, 2024|archive-date=May 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521124104/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/metallica-screaming-suicide-number-1-mainstream-rock-airplay-chart-1235680445/|url-status=live}}

{{Track listing

| headline = 72 Seasons track listing

| title1 = 72 Seasons

| writer1 = {{hlist|James Hetfield|Lars Ulrich|Kirk Hammett}}

| length1 = 7:39

| title2 = Shadows Follow

| writer2 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich}}

| length2 = 6:12

| title3 = Screaming Suicide

| writer3 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Robert Trujillo}}

| length3 = 5:30

| title4 = Sleepwalk My Life Away

| writer4 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Trujillo}}

| length4 = 6:56

| title5 = You Must Burn!

| writer5 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Trujillo}}

| length5 = 7:03

| title6 = Lux Æterna

| writer6 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich}}

| length6 = 3:22

| title7 = Crown of Barbed Wire

| writer7 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Hammett}}

| length7 = 5:49

| title8 = Chasing Light

| writer8 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Hammett}}

| length8 = 6:45

| title9 = If Darkness Had a Son

| writer9 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich|Hammett}}

| length9 = 6:36

| title10 = Too Far Gone?

| writer10 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich}}

| length10 = 4:34

| title11 = Room of Mirrors

| writer11 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich}}

| length11 = 5:34

| title12 = Inamorata

| writer12 = {{hlist|Hetfield|Ulrich}}

| length12 = 11:10

| total_length = 77:14

}}

Metallica

• James Hetfield – vocals, rhythm guitar, production
• Lars Ulrich – drums, production
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitar
• Robert Trujillo – bass, backing vocals on "You Must Burn!"{{cite news|last=Dunworth|first=Liberty|title=Bassist Robert Trujillo makes Metallica vocal debut on new album '72 Seasons'|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/bassist-robert-trujillo-makes-metallica-vocal-debut-on-new-album-72-seasons-3421701|work=NME|date=March 28, 2023|access-date=March 28, 2023|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405145051/https://www.nme.com/news/music/bassist-robert-trujillo-makes-metallica-vocal-debut-on-new-album-72-seasons-3421701|url-status=live}}

Production

• Greg Fidelman – production, mixing, recording
• Sara Lyn Killion – engineering
• Jim Monti – engineering
• Jason Gossman – additional engineering, digital editing
• Kent Matcke – assistant engineering
• Dan Monti – digital editing
• Bob Ludwig – mastering
• David Turner – cover art
• Lee Jeffries – band portrait photography{{cite web|access-date=2023-05-21|title=Metallica Discography: 72 Seasons|url=https://www.metallica.com/releases/albums/72-seasons-album.html|website=www.metallica.com|archive-date=September 16, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916112725/https://www.metallica.com/releases/albums/72-seasons-album.html|url-status=live}}

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for 72 Seasons}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Metallica|title=72 Seasons|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2023|access-date=October 24, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Metallica|title=72 Seasons|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2023|relmonth=4|certyear=2023|access-date=July 5, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Metallica|title=72 Seasons|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2023|access-date=August 2, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Metallica|title=72 Seasons|award=Silver|type=album|relyear=2023|certyear=2023|id=19432-2158-2|access-date=November 10, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.metallica.com/releases/albums/72-seasons-album.html 72 Seasons] on the official Metallica website

{{Metallica}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:72 Seasons}}

Category:2023 albums

Category:Metallica albums

Category:Albums produced by Greg Fidelman

Category:Self-released albums