So it's been a year and a half in kokdi's without having my unwanted review of Mets' latest effort, all covered in my - all time favourite - black and yellow; something like a personal nod to my wishful thinking of a mental allignement with my forever idols.
But before we move on, let me introduce you the first (out of 4) career spanning playlists that I'll put in various locations around the post (??) for you to explore more, because this is what 72Seasons is all about. A synopsis of a career that eventually conquered the world entire (and not just the metal one) and left you wanting for more So MetallicA gives us more to further explore; as a potential newbie this post could serve as a fine tutorial of things that were and shuold forever be; so here it is a Grand mashup that has something from everything!!
It's not that i want to make it personal; the album sure makes it so. The news of it's arrval found me on an all time low situation, having me thinking that something inspiring is about to happen; encouraging me thus to play with fire; not to get again burnt, but with an album SYNOPSIS of a 40 year spanning career.sitting at my lap on the end of a (seemingly still) 6 month recovery route.
The special when reviewing it was that I found myself adapting my personal lists, live appearances, making this post as potent as the mother of all Metallica posts, had been. So it's not about what I think about the album; it's what the album got me thinking about.
First of all it is the second, back - to - back release that had it's eponymous track, first; till Hardwired any eponymous track appeared second after a ferocious initial track (Ride 1st track Fight Fire, Master 1st track Battery, St. Anger 1st track Frantic). As happened in Hardwired, 72Seasons breaks out with it's eponymous track heading for an impressive and a Met - kinda- prog thrash anthem that we re used to, since the Ride The Lightning days. Less impressive than any eponymous track; but an instant classic, still. Personally I'd prefer kickstarting the album with LuxAeterna, moving on to the eponymous; And I'm just saying that simply because with this tracklisting, everything falls to place; tracklisting-wise.
It would be wise at this point to manifest what we mean when saying that everything Metallica - expected (even in the adolence years that gained them commercial success upon the brand name of the glorious first days when they banged the head that didn't bang) is both well met here as well and omnipresent throughout their career (with the exception of V, Load ReLoad trilogy; a quite lost decade indeed). And what we mean easily is explained to It's what we Do playlist that follows (a 22 track - career spannig best of trademark Metallica anthems)
Oh goody! This post is going for, what the Family thought when releasing 72Seasons; Be as inclusive and thourough as ever; Having a SYNOPSIS that makes the older satisfied and the younger eager to learn more. Strangers Things made it way easier to be heard in the youth of today in a manner no release of our times could. So I'm not so sure about 72Seasons influence on the 17 - years old of today; I can be certain about myself; I'm not able to foresee the tendencies in streaming; But I think that the Too Far Gone! second official video is so damn good for this job in so many ways than any audio stream can nowadays.
But, what do you mean that everything falls into space? We move ahead to album's second track (that in my mind could easily be the third) that has enormous self confidence opening up a tune and surgically dissecting it, the same time that audiences are indecisive on whether to be excited or patient for the moment where the audacity and elaborated collection of riffs evolve into a powerful memorable insignia: (Even) If I Run, Still My Shadows Follow...
Proceding to the end of A Side, a revisit on a lingering Metallica lyrically topic that addresses issues of self destruction; not likely to raise awareness to a sensitive matter, or move audiences the way fade to black did. Nevertheless the track has a positive message and possibly helps any seeking, troubled indivindual, to face his/her fears prompting people to seek professional assistance and aid, promoting a somewhat healthy expression of self destructive compulsions.
Sadly Side B Kicks off with the cyanide tradition. Meaning that every release after V had a somewhat indiffirent track that made you wondering WTF? It's like putting something just for tracklisting. Sadly the quite heavy track of 72Seasons is it's most indiffirent. In the unnecessary tradition of tracks like Dirty Window/Invisible Kid, Cyanide/Judas Kiss, Confusion/Revenge/savage, Sleepwalking track, has a somewhat prog - stoner mid section and a bass intro that manages little in an overall rating of the particular track. And while it was quite infuriating, when BeyondMagnetic was released not to be able to explain why Cyanide and Judas were selected for the album, over Hate Train and Shine, it is surely a credit for 72Seasons that Sleepwalking track is the only track that the album could manage without.
Thankfully the Maiden-like You Must Burn! re assures us of the album's potential and orientation, being just delightful, while manages to include a memorable Metallica tune; lyrically speaking is about witches and witch hunting and feels like King Diamond, but surely isn't; it's original and lyrically themed compatible with the rest of the album that consists of soul searching and exorcising of any ill-intended instict we may carry unwillingly. Just to be sure though let me explain why both of these tracks are considered to be HEAVY in another playlist Kokdi compiled to demonstrate exactly this; the awesome power that Metallica could bring into a mid-tempo tune; Enjoy
1st Album ends with the track that is to me, a perfect opener. Nevertheless track-listing wise, serves as a finisher. Ok; did I mention that jaymez wanted Lux to name the album entire, saying everything needs to be said about that attempt to sound fast, yet not so furious (as Battery per example), but nevertheless memorable, crowd pleasing and better homagin Motorhead's Overkill than covering it (UNTRUE). Personally this track highlighted a bright time in my life. Through it's brightness I had the chance to connect to light itself, through a formerly unknown state to me of belonging and secured sense of desire and longing for tomorrow; with a long awaited companion true and fullfilling, to a point that still makes me wondering if I deserve the monment; the person that brought all virtue and left me with a reason why I should be living for; And all that forunate happened with Lux being it's primal soundtrack; you guessed it right if you might think that alongside Lux, Inamorata is standing the proudest amongst the 72Seasons track listing. Having said that I'll later cover the eponymous; because all trivia aside, it needs to be reviewed
2nd Album Side A kicks off with an underrated (as it seems) track nevertheless beeing more true to this confession-like lyrics orientation for this reease in particular; it serves both as a damned good heavy tune in the likes of Sad but True, being several tones more uplifted. It's like a burden and a joy at the same time. A heavy as fuck statement of regret in the style of
Papa Het
Chasing Light propably was the most puzzling track of the album. Repetition makes perfect some say but Chasing Light proves to be no underdog amongst mega therions. It is not quite striking at first, but whilst hearing it, sounds better every fucking time, still surprising, ever lasting phycho-therapeutic. Enter the son of darkness....Pretty difficult song to cope with, but having heard it right after chasing light, it strikes as something connective and inclusive being as audacious as some kind of monster were.
Till now the release is destined to prevail but not as triumphant as it does when hearing it's final side; The last side of the release is as intentional as it seems; seems that they piled the 3 more powerful songs and put it out there in the finish line, just to be as intriguing as Master or Justice were.Kicking off with the exemplary Too far gone (with a second video that blasted the song's potential audiovisually) remaining the track with the grittiest of attitudes and the most positive stubbornes, Suicidal's "U can't bring me down" alike; but with a MetalicA swagger over all. Room of Mirrors serves like a puzzling opener, full of riffs and psychoanalysis. Memorable and not tiresome, even when 10 out of 12 tracks are mentioning exactly that; it is about the judgement of others, many times this being lees annoying than self blame; it is kinda like the last supper before the Crucifixion; Alas this never comes. Instead we have the Met track with the longest duration overall.
Inamorata is not a Damage Inc. or Dyer's eve finisher; but is quite unique. It is a revisit to what Load and Relaod meant to do for MetallicA; having Orion moments over epic mid tempo anthems; being prog without being speedy. Jaymez opened up the live video premiere of Inamorata apologisisng that there are no errors in trying; and this try surpasses Thorn Within, or Bleeding me with distinctive ease. It is moving, it is heavy as fuck, it explodes into million pieces of MetallicA witchery over their audiences. Plus to me it clearly showed that the person one would suppose to live for, is right around the corner. One has to stop paying attention to Misery and start noticing what's next to him/her, with an easy - come co-incidence, but with a promise that this would not be as easily gone regardless the co-incidence. So this is for you Areti Kastriti
2 final Notes before wrapping this unwaned opinion up; It is the only release that Larz hits it right, a.k.a. normal drumming, a.k.a "I;m trying not to call it regular". We have to accept the fact that no MetallicA release had the same production and engineered sound values as it's previous one. With the mild exception of Load-Reload (that should be perceived as one release) no other MetallicA album sounded the same. Having said that, it is also true that at least as Hardwired goes no Ulrich drumming was considered "NORMAL" but had unexpected fills or a diffrent tempo than the rest of the orchestra did, meaning that song, composing - wise, would surely pose as a serious issue that no one could eventually notice, whilst hearing the album. But one could suppose the effort anyone in the family should demonstrate when copying with LarzDrums. Thank God larz was quite a perfectionist himself so establishing a rather unique and jazzy (to me) at times, drumming helped the band form their trademark sound omnipresent in live performances that didn't have the same production velaues with a studio recording; nevertheless it was constantly there, disregarding to whatever discomfort other bandmates may had during recording sessions. Who forgets the snare of St. Anger? The flat sound with multifills of justice Until 72Seasons that is...Some might say that Larz just listened and finally provided a "solid beat" for an album entire (and not for just one track); others might say that he grew tired of being "original" and tried "normal" for a change. Still, anyone can recognize Larz drumming when hearing it even if it's more solid than original. We have to recognise though that only Larz could be normal and original at the same time; since 72Seasons drumming was a brand new thing for him (it was only @Kill Em All, that we heard fast but -sorry Larz- normal drumming)
And secondarily unlike MetallicA itself this is not a Metal Up your Ass Thrash album the way Death Magnetic or even St. Anger was. The thrashiest moment is the eponymous track. It is not a Spit Out the Bone kinda Thrash; It is not like Hardwired, or All nightmare Long, or My World, kind of Thrash; But still, is the thrashiest of all the album highlighting thus, their origins and honouring the genre that spawned them; even though it is an exorcisim to the wrath of man, that lives in us all and even, if we just say no, all of our shadows still would follow. To better illustrate the METAL UP YOUR ASS referrence kokdi presents to you he final part (which surely is the toughest) of the Best of Playlist, entitled the same way
so finishing reviewing 72Seasons, our enthousiasm manages to rank it even higher than it's predacesor. and having said that, let's rank every MetallicA release to date (quoting whenever posssible)
Kill Em All 9/10 Best debut album of Big 4. Ferocious and Raw but not quite there yet; having no trouble placing it as one of the best debut albums ever
Ride The Lightning 10/10 Instant Classic; having a lot of trouble arguing that this isn't their best album to date
Maater Of Puppets 10/10 Confident and trendsetting as fuck. Reigning supreme on the scene; everyone is admitting Master to be their best album to date; having a lot trouble arguing against that
..And Justice for All 9/10 Shocked by loss and awed by what might have been if.... Kings of Bay Area Thrash Metal. No Bass, strange sound, but having no particular trouble there
V, a.k.a. MetallicA 8/10 Heavy Thrash goes mainstream. Even though it is undeniably vindicated as a heavy metal masterpiece, sadly V ushered a new self destructive era; having a lot of trouble denying this was not a sell-out to their hardcore fans.
LiveShit: Binge & Purge 10/10 Stunning collection of live appearances. Who is troubled??
Load 6/10 WTF???!!!!; having a lot of trouble supporting this release as a MetallicA one
Reload 6/10 seriously now; WTF???!!!!!; still having all the trouble in the world attempting to argue with the above
Garage Days 7/10 Astonishing Mercyful medley
S&M 8/10 Best live performances of Master and One ever
St. Anger 7.5/10 Ranking low just for the snare and no solos; having a lot of trouble saying that this album was not a rather welcomed but shy, return to roots
DeathMagnetic 8/10 Rick Rubin's guideline to re - establish & reconnect to their true identity; having a lot of trouble arguing that despite it's notorious production value, DM is their first awesome MetallicA album in 20 years
LULU ??/10 What if Lou Reed had MetallicA for session musicians?? Who the fuck cares; oh and every appalling monstrosity is not really art eh?Having a lot of trouble listening to the entire Lulu release....
Hardwired to Self Destruct 8.5/10 A Best Of material in all new compositions; having no trouble imposing it as best of the new era
S&M2 7.5/10 A sequel in the abcense of Kamen, offering a brand new All within my hands version
72Seasons 8.8/10 A genuine 40 year career synopsis; Have no trouble once again admitting everything about the maturity of this awesome back to back studio album.
That's all folks!! Happy to talk about anything MetallicA wise We'll wrap this up with a last gift, courtesy of the family
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