The 11-minute monstrosity closes out the band’s latest album ’72 Seasons’
On May 26, Metallica performed at Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany as part of their ongoing M72 World Tour. The second show of a two-night stand featured hits like “Creeping Death,” “Hit the Lights,” and “Enter Sandman,” as well as some deeper cuts like “Fight Fire with Fire,” their cover of Budgie’s “Breadfan,” and the never-studio-recorded “No Leaf Clover.” The band also played the longest song in their catalog for the very first time ever. Check out the band’s official live video for the 72 Seasons track “Inamorata” below.
During the first night in Munich, Metallica battled through heavy rain to pull off the entire show. Despite the bad weather, they bruised through a 16-song set that included “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Sad but True,” and “Master of Puppets.” They also played the Black Album deep cut “Of Wolf and Man” for the first time since 2018.
Metallica’s current run across Europe wraps up on July 14 at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain. After a short break, the band picks back up in North America starting on August 2 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The second North America leg includes performances in Chicago, Minneapolis, Edmonton, Seattle, and Mexico City.
After reissuing a few albums from their catalog back in 2021, Metallica confirmed a “Phase 2” release of their colored vinyl reissue project. Starting back on April 2, the heavy metal icons are releasing four more albums on limited edition 140-gram colored vinyl.
“You may remember a series of colored vinyl releases in the United States through a collaboration with Walmart back in 2021,” Metallica said. “And if you’ve been keeping up with Metallica.com, you probably saw our first five of those albums made available outside of the US last October. We’re excited to have four more of these limited releases available outside the US beginning next month! One by one, Garage, Inc., St. Anger, Death Magnetic, and Hardwired…To Self-Destruct will roll out through July.”
The new phase began with the re-release of 1998’s Garage, Inc on Fade to Blue vinyl. The GRAMMY® Award-winning St. Anger (2003) followed on May 3 on Some Kind of Orange vinyl. The band’s “return to form” records round out the reissues with 2009’s Death Magnetic, which was released today, June 7, on Magnetic Silver vinyl. The last release in the series will be 2016’s Hardwired… To Self-Destruct on July 5 on Flame Orange vinyl.
Check out all the upcoming reissues below.
While the series will begin to hit shelves in April, be sure to check stores in your region for available pre-orders.
Initially, Metallica released their first five studio albums – Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice For All, and Metallica [The Black Album]. Now, the rest of their catalog is finally getting the colored vinyl treatment. The group’s latest release, 72 Seasons, was released last year on several vinyl variants including yellow marble, smoked marble, purple, and more.
Recently, Metallica have used their status as one of the most dominant music acts on the planet to take ultimate control of their career. Since 2012, the band has curated their own festival, released their own whiskey, and acquired their master recordings to start their own label, Blackened Recordings. Now, Metallica have their own way to release those recordings.
In 2022, Metallica sold over 900,000 pieces of vinyl. The staggering sales left the band wondering how they could take their vinyl output to next level, given the fact that supply chain issues have hindered artists with production and shipping issues. So, in 2023, the band purchased a majority stake in Furnace Record Pressing, a 70,000-square-foot facility in Alexandria, Virginia. The plant, which Metallica had been working with since 2008, churns out over 25,000 vinyl records a day.
“[Furnace’s] indie spirit, the passion they have for their craft – culturally we’re kindred souls,” Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich said in a statement at the time.
Along with concert posters, vinyl records are among the most sought-after collectibles in music. In 2022, vinyl outsold CDs for the first time since 1987, according to the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). In fact, over the last 16 consecutive years, vinyl albums have increased in sales every year. Now, after the initial digital boom of MP3 players and iPods, and then streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, and more, it’s clear that fans still want something tangible.
“Metallica over-indexes dramatically with physical product,” Marc Reiter, who plays in integral role in running the band’s label, Blackened Recordings, told Billboard. “The fans enjoy owning the physical product.”
Metallica’s eleventh studio album 72 Seasons arrived last April via the band’s own label, Blackened Recordings. Produced by Greg Fidelman with frontman James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, 72 Seasons is Metallica’s first full length collection of new material since 2016’s Hardwired…To Self-Destruct. The 12-track album clocks in at just over 77 minutes. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock and Top Hard Rock Albums Charts. It also topped the UK Albums and UK Rock & Metal Albums charts, and went No. 1 in several other countries around the world. It was released in formats including 2LP 140-gram black vinyl and limited edition variants, CD and digital download.