I am befuddled with how so many are quick to cast aspersion upon 72 SEASONS. METALLICA are well-established musicians, who still create high-quality music, even if now these middle-aged geezers have found their niche. I understand how fans crave the 80's brand, and yearn for that vintage sound, but METALLICA are always reinventing themselves. You can truly count on them to perform their Classics Live, so why not give them the benefit of the doubt? Even, OVERKILL released SCORCHED on the same day, and they are no spring chickens either.

Fans may not always know what to expect when METALLICA write new material. Months ago, followers were teased with the very DIAMOND HEAD vibe of my favorite track: "LUX AEturna". And everyone was excited. In fact, this was James' initial choice for the album title. Unfortunately, he was outvoted by the other three. The selected bounty of harvest with 72 SEASONS, however, is some kind of monster with its whiplash riffs, searing solos, and no remorse battery. The blackened bite of "Shadows Follow", or the sorrowful "72 Seasons" and the pummeling "Too Far Gone?" are in the eye of the beholder, and they do not back down in their relentless pace or seek & destroy attitude.

"Screaming Suicide" evokes the paranoia of "Cyanide" and the eschatological "My Apocalypse" off the under-appreciated DEATH MAGENTIC. Meanwhile the opening bass line of "Sleepwalk My Life Away" invokes "For Whom The Bell Tolls" toil. Is it then a coincidence how "You Must Burn!" channels "Sad But True"? The track I shun the most is "Crown Of Barbed Wire", which is too entangled in repetition. It took me some time to appreciate "If Darkness Had A Son", until I realized it was a derivative of "Shortest Straw". This led me to the conclusion that 72 SEASONS is the perfect balance of THE BLACK ALBUM, and JUSTICE. The epic closer, "Inamorata" never feels long, and endures like an infectious groove. This song feels emotionally like a sequel to "My Friend Of Misery".

Fans complain about the length of the songs. Some do feel a bit tiresome, but the hooks and melancholy lyrics lure you into a frenzy, at the frayed ends of sanity. Perhaps STRANGER THINGS fans expected another MASTER OF PUPPETS? As a lifelong follower for forty years, I am excited to see what the sonic quartet manifest. Initially, I suffered through LOAD and RELOAD, only to later gain a fondness for both. Lucklessly, I still dislike ST. ANGER. There are 8 quality Videos now available, some animated, and the entire album is streaming on YouTube. On HULU you can even check out the METALLICA residency on JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, where the band literally learn to become puppet masters, and performed for four days.

I am forever grateful for their service to the Metal Milieu. I have played 72 SEASONS 30+ times, and I notice a new nuance every time with the structure and sound. This is a noble accomplishment, for which I am truly pleased.