Lux Æterna - First Metallica Song in 6 Years

The day has finally come, folks. After 6 years, a global pandemic, and an epic plug into the Netflix phenomenon, Stranger Things, Metallica is back with probably the most exciting news to close out 2022. Metallica announced a brand new song, album, and world tour on Monday. The new album is called 72 Seasons and will be released through Blackened Records on April 14th, 2023. This will be the metal gods' eleventh studio album.

With a world tour kicking off in the spring of 2023 and stretching into the summer of 2024, Metallica has created much buzz over the last 48 hours. The biggest question is what their latest single, Lux Æterna sounded like. Over the last few decades, Metallica has been at the blunt of criticism since their Black album crossover into the mainstream, commercial success.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u-7rWKnVVo

Lux Æterna starts out with guitar riffs that bring longtime Metallica fans back to the Kill Em' All days. Lars' drum pattern is much more boisterous and fast, proving to the longtime naysayers that he still has the chops he has had since 1984. This track is one of the shortest Metallica songs to be a single, coming in at 3:26. Given that this is the sixth song in the track list, perhaps it's a transition to something else longer.

Upon first listening, I was hooked. I am a lifelong Metallica fan. Metallica was woven into my childhood and probably would be one of my all-time favorite bands to date. I feel like this track has the nostalgia of their past work, but it's more refined and aged well. Kinda like a barrel of Blackened whiskey. ;) (Was that trying too much for a pun?)

I think this was a slap on the ass for fans. It gave them a taste of what's to come in the coming months and officially on release day.

The M72 World Tour kicks off on April 27th in Amsterdam. Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, and Presale was available for Legacy and Fifth Member fan clubs earlier this week.

The tour is another unique aspect of this launch. Tickets are 2-day tickets. Metallica will play two nights, with two different setlists and two different opening acts each night. No setlist will be the same. A small batch of single-day tickets will be released after the new year, but I have to say, the 2-day tickets are worth the money. I was able to score (2) 2-day tickets for the MetLife Stadium dates in the lower bowl, the first section of rows for 295 each. 295 to go to 2 Metallica shows is an amazing value. I have to note that they do have quite a lineup for opening acts. Phil Anselmo's Pantera reunion is on the bill, as well as Wolfgang Van Halen's Mammoth, Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills in the US, and Architects, Greta Van Fleet, and Volbeat around the world.

So far, I think this is a solid effort by Metallica. I'm excited to see what else is released from 72 Seasons.

Lexx Rating 8/10

https://metallica.com/news/2022-11-28-m72-world-tour.html