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DARK SECRETS: 72 seasons - The Real Truth

“We know people want to hear the best-of... we don’t want to be a legacy band that just plays its greatest hits and then that’s it”: James Hetfield on why Metallica will always play new songs

James Hetfield on why Metallica will never be a 'legacy' band

MusicRadar

“I can’t stop being bewildered by all these people who say, ‘That guy sucks!’ I’ve got news for you – you don’t get to where you’re at if you suck! Okay?” Kirk Hammett on why bad solos are dying – and dealing with armchair guitar critics

Towards the end of 2023, we caught up with Metallica's affable lead guitarist to take stock of one of the greatest years in the Bay Area metal behemoth's history, and to talk guitars, songwriting and gear

Guitar World

“I don’t think bad guitar solos even exist anymore. Everyone is just so much better than they used to be”: Kirk Hammett doesn't pay attention to solo trolls – and thinks “bad” solos are a thing of the past

The Metallica guitarist's lead effort in Lux Æterna came under intense fire from online commenters upon its release, with some even recording their own 'improved' versions

Guitar World

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“In our band we don’t recognise the word ‘mistake’, because there are no mistakes”: watch Metallica play epic 72 Seasons closer Inamorata live for the very first time

Metallica’s 11-minute epic Inamorata got its live debut in Munich, Germany on the second night of their European tour

Metal Hammer

"Let's keep the youth making music and keeping the dream alive." Metallica win Best Metal Performance at the 2024 Grammys, as Paramore, Larkin Poe and Boygenius also pick up awards

It was a big night for rock at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles last night

Metal Hammer

"The most surreal moment of my life was when Neil Young pied me": Robert Trujillo on a year in the life of Metallica

With 72 Seasons Metallica delivered the metal album of 2023: Bassist Robert Trujillo reviews ’Tallica’s year for us

Metal Hammer

"We had a wicked circle-pit with Jason Momoa, Dave Grohl and Mike Clark": Rob Trujillo talks 72 Seasons, celebrity mosh pits and what comes next for Metallica

Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo reflects on all things 72 Seasons, from the enormous M72 tour to the lack of ballads and how soon the band will hit the studio

Metal Hammer

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James Hetfield on Metallica's new creative era: "I don't want to sit there and create the songs with Lars anymore – I want everyone to be a part of it and be in it"

The frontman is candid about the need for new approaches in an interview with Metallica's fanzine

MusicRadar

"If it gets mushy at all, he's out" – Metallica producer Greg Fidelman confirms James Hetfield used a very specific blend of four amps together in the studio for the 72 Seasons album

Best of 2023: "It gets pretty hairy" says the producer on the volume levels

MusicRadar

“We called that riff ‘The Batman Riff’”: Kirk Hammett admits Metallica lifted the Batman theme on 72 Seasons

Thought that riff in Shadows Follow sounded awfully similar to a certain classic superhero theme? Turns out Metallica knew exactly what they were doing

Guitar World

"I was just trying to channel Ozzy." Metallica's Rob Trujillo reveals the 72 Seasons song he'd take to a desert island

Rob Trujillo is particularly proud of one song on Metallica's latest studio album

Metal Hammer

“We didn’t have another band to point to and say, well, Sabbath is using it or the Scorpions are using it. James had the foresight to say, ‘Let’s try it. Maybe we’re the people to embrace it’”: James Hetfield’s tech shows you his 72 Seasons live rig

Chad Zaemisch has been the Metallica leader’s right-hand man for 20 years. He discusses the metal titans’ amp modeling sea change, why his boss “chickened out” with his new 72 Seasons ESP Vulture, and what happens when things go very, very wrong onstage…

Guitar World

"Why would this make a good set? Here are two reasons: Lego and Lars Ulrich." A Metallica Lego set has been entered into Lego's official ideas portal - and it needs your help to be brought to life

Want to be able to recreate Metallica's incredible 72 Seasons tour set? Here's how you can help make it happen

Metal Hammer

Metallica release new live footage of Harvester Of Sorrow from 72 Seasons tour

The pro-shot video was filmed in St Louis, Missouri, earlier this month

Metal Hammer

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MusicRadar

"If it gets mushy at all, he's out" – Metallica producer Greg Fidelman confirms James Hetfield used a very specific blend of four amps together in the studio for the 72 Seasons album

"It gets pretty hairy" says the producer on the volume levels

Metal Hammer

Robert Trujillo says Metallica haven't given up on slow songs: "At some point there will be a ballad"

Metallica haven't released a ballad since 2008's The Day That Never Comes, but bassist Robert Trujillo admits the slow songs will make a comeback... eventually

Metal Hammer

The story behind Metallica's 72 Seasons: "We love what we do, and we love each other"

Metallica have gone from being a cult metal band to a commercial juggernaut and a household name. But even with new album 72 Seasons storming charts worldwide they’re still figuring out what it's all about

Metal Hammer

Rob Trujillo would love Slayer to cover the title track from Metallica's 72 Seasons

Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo says he would "love it" if Slayer covered the title track from 72 Seasons "because some people say there’s a competition [between us]"

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MusicRadar

James Hetfield on Metallica's new creative era: "I don't want to sit there and create the songs with Lars anymore – I want everyone to be a part of it and be in it"

The frontman is candid about the need for new approaches in an interview with Metallica's fanzine

Guitar World

Metallica’s Kirk Hammett: “With 72 Seasons, I improvised 20, 30 solos, gave them all to Lars and Greg Fidelman, and went, ‘You guys edit them!’”

Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo draw back the curtain on the metal album of the year: the gear shakeups, the Angus Young and Ritchie Blackmore-inspired guitar approach, and the response to critics of Kirk’s improvisational soloing approach

Metal Hammer

Lars Ulrich: "Metallica is just as clusterf***ed as everything else"

Lars Ulrich and Rob Trujillo take us behind the scenes of Metallica's 72 Seasons - a dramatic record even by their standards

The Guardian - UK

Metallica: 72 Seasons review – solid rather than spectacular

James Hetfield’s adventurous lyrics aren’t matched by the tempo on a 77-minute album set to chug mode

Metal Hammer

Watch the official music videos for all 12 songs on Metallica's 72 Seasons album

Metallica have now released music videos for all 12 tracks on their new album 72 Seasons: watch them all here

Guitar World

Kirk Hammett reveals the truth about that burned guitar on Metallica’s 72 Seasons album cover

Is it a Fernandes Stratocaster copy? Well, not exactly

The Independent UK

Metallica, 72 Seasons review: A return to form that shows their old machine is still firing on all cylinders

Old and new fans alike will be headbanging happily throughout

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