James Hetfield of Metallica
Metallica's James Hetfield | Credit: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images

Metallica Release First Single From New Album, Announce Tour of Europe and North America

Metallica have announced a new album and an extensive tour of North America and Europe. The Bay Area metal band’s 11th album is titled 72 Seasons and is due for release on Friday, 14th April 2023. Metallica have announced a comprehensive 2023/24 tour in support of the upcoming release. The tour features two shows in every city, with the band promising unique setlists on each date.

Metallica have released ‘Lux Æterna’, their first new single in over six years. The first taste of the band’s upcoming album is accompanied by a film clip from director Tim Saccenti.

Metallica – ‘Lux Æterna’

In a press release, the band’s lead singer, James Hetfield, shared his inspiration for the album title. “72 Seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves,” Hetfield said.

He continued, “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.”

The full list of tour dates can be found here, and supports have already been announced, including UK metal band Architects and Texan thrashers Pantera. Also included are Greta Van Fleet whose Led Zeppelin-lite aesthetic has received both praise and derision72 Seasons is Metallica’s first new album since Hardwired… to Self-Destruct, which came out in November 2016.

Further Reading

Metallica And Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn Team Up For Backstage Jam

Kirk Hammett Says Metallica Warned The World About Streaming

Elton John Praises ‘Nothing Else Matters’, Brings James Hetfield To Tears

Must Read
X