72 Seasons

"Metallica's "72 Seasons" delves into the crucial formative years of our lives when the die is cast to determine who we become as adults. The song highlights how childhood traumas or negative experiences shape our adult selves. The lyrics use powerful imagery to convey the detrimental impact of past experiences on our present, particularly those who have been affected by violence.

Wrath of man Violence, inheritance Wrath of man Thrive upon, feeding on Seventy-two seasons gone Metallica's James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett wrote "72 Seasons." James Hetfield has displayed a violent temper when performing. In 1986, he punched Lars Ulrich in the stomach after a disagreement about what song to play during an encore. He has also been known to break guitars and other equipment on stage. Hetfield has attributed his mannerisms to a challenging upbringing. His parents were very strict, adhering to their Christian Science beliefs. At 13, his father left without explanation, leaving his mother to break the news at church camp. His mother got cancer but refused medical treatment, a practice in line with their faith. She passed away when James was 16 years old in February 1980. Metallica's 1991 track "The God That Failed" is about the struggle between faith and reality and how Hetfield felt betrayed by the Christian Science beliefs of his mother.

"72 Seasons" is the title track of Metallica's 12th studio album. Produced by Greg Fidelman with James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, the album is over 77 minutes long and was released on the band's own Blackened Recordings label. Fidelman also co-produced their 2011 album Lulu (a collaboration with Lou Reed), 2016's Hardwired... to Self-Destruct and their 2020 live record, S&M2.