Back in 2008, Metallica released their “return to form album, Death Magnetic. This album marked a return to their “thrashier” days as well as more epic notes. Across the ten songs and seventy five minutes, there’s always been one song that from day one, has had my attention. Ever since I heard Metallica’s “All Nightmare Long, I’ve been mildly obsessed with it. Even the music video, directed by, RoboShodo, is stellar.
“All Nightmare Long” is an absolute banger of a song as well as one of my all time favorite Metallica songs. There’s heavy intensity of this song feels like it could have come out on …And Justice For All. In a fun way too there’s a little bit of a Slayer homage to the intro part. James Hetfield sounds masterful on this song both lyrically and vocally. Lars and Robert really gel on this song too, as they hit endless thrash and groove. The real treat though is Kirk Hammett. There’s not one but TWO absolutely killer guitar solos on “All Nightmare Long.” Personally, I don’t know what one is best, though I tend to gravitate toward the second one. This is one of those songs too, that needs to be played live a lot more by Metallica.
If it’s been a minute since you’ve listened to Death Magnetic, you should fix that. It’s quite the album. Plus right smack dab in the middle is this absolute masterpiece of a Metallica song! Enjoy “All Nightmare Long.”
On April 14th, 2023, the 12th studio album by the one and only Metallica, “72 Seasons” arrives. This new 12-song outing was once again produced by Greg Fidelman along with James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. The first single “Lux Æterna” is out now! Speaking on the album, James Hetfield said “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.” The band also announced a full world tour with Pantera as part of the trek in the States!
Metallica- 72 Seasons Track Listing:
01 – “72 Seasons” 02 – “Shadows Follow” 03 – “Screaming Suicide” 04 – “Sleepwalk My Life Away” 05 – “You Must Burn!” 06 – “Lux Æterna” 07 – “Crown Of Barbed Wire” 08 – “Chasing Light” 09 – “If Darkness Had A Son” 10 – “Too Far Gone?” 11 – “Room Of Mirrors” 12 – “Inamorata”
Metallica- Lux Æterna:
Metallica Tour Dates:
04/27 Amsterdam, NET – Johan Cruuf Arena (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 04/29 Amsterdam, NET – Johan Cruuf Arena (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 05/17 Paris, FRA – Stade de France (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 05/19 Paris, FRA – Stade de France (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 05/26 Hamburg, GER – Volksparkstadion (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 05/28 Hamburg, GER – Volksparkstadion (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 06/16 Gothenburg, SWE – Ullevi Stadium (feat. Volbeat & Mammoth WVH) 06/18 Gothenburg, SWE – Ullevi Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/04 East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/06 East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/11 Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/13 Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/18 Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/20 Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/25 Los Angeles, CA – Sofi Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/27 Los Angeles, CA – Sofi Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 09/01 Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 09/03 Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 11/03 St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 11/05 St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 11/10 Detroit, MI – Ford Field (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 11/12 Detroit, MI – Ford Field (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 05/24 Munich, GER – Olympiastadion (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 05/26 Munich, GER – Olympiastadion (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 06/07 Helsinki, FIN – Helsinki Olympic Stadium (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 06/09 Helsinki, FIN – Helsinki Olympic Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 06/14 Copenhagen, DEN – Parken Stadium (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 06/16 Copenhagen, DEN – Parken Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 07/05 Warsaw, POL – PGE Narodowy (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 07/07 Warsaw, POL – PGE Narodowy (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 07/12 Madrid, SPA – Estadion Civitas Metrpolitano (feat. Architects & Mammoth WVH) 07/14 Madrid, SPA – Estadion Civitas Metrpolitano (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/02 Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/04 Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/09 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/11 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/16 Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/18 Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/23 Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 08/25 Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 08/30 Seattle, WA – Lumen Field (feat. Pantera & Mammoth WVH) 09/01 Seattle, WA – Lumen Field (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 09/20 Mexico City, MEX – Foro Sol (feat. Greta Van Fleet & Mammoth WVH) 09/22 Mexico City, MEX – Foro Sol (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills) 09/27 Mexico City, MEX – Foro Sol (feat. Greta Van Fleet & Mammoth WVH) 09/29 Mexico City, MEX – Foro Sol (feat. Five Finger Death Punch & Ice Nine Kills)
Sometimes it takes a death to put thing into perspective. It’s never easy to deal with, especially when it’s someone very close. When it was announced that Slipknot were in the studio recording a new album, it was met with great skepticism. Joey Jordison was booted from the band under still unknown circumstances. So what would it sound like? Early reports from the band equated it to a mix between Iowa and Volume 3. Personally I think it is more mix of the first album and Volume 3. There are plenty of tributes to the late Paul Gray on the album. “Skeptic” really shows this especially with lyrics like “the world will never see another crazy motherfucker like you/the world will never know another man as amazing as you,” this seems like touching ode to their fallen brother. Lead single “The Devil In I,” is full of melody and introspective lyrics. The entire album is full of lyrics that examine loss, selfishness, pain, and anger. There’s also the sullen ballad of “Goodbye.” “Killpop” on the other hand is a leap into uncharted territory.This song finds the band stepping outside their skin to focus a new wave/electro pop attempt. The course soon heads toward more traditional fare, thumping percussion and bristling riffs. There is the occasional classic rapid-fire vocal delivery of Corey Taylor and the sonic throwbacks featured in a track like “Custer.” This seems destined to be a live favorite due its anthemic usage of “cut me up” and “fuck me up.”
It’s not an album without faults. There are some inconsistent tracks. The band still has their predilection for melodic pursuits. But this is easily the groups most consistent album from start to finish. This is a welcome return to form for one of modern metal’s most revered (and despised) acts. One thing also that is a step in the right direction was the inclusion of Greg Fidelman to handle the production on the album and Joe Baressi to mix it, These two have brought the best of what Slipknot has to offer in 2014.
