Metallica's New Album '72 Seasons' Title Explained by James Hetfield

For thrash metal fans, next spring can't come soon enough.

On Monday, Metallica announced that its upcoming album, 72 Seasons, is set to drop on April 14. The group's latest full-length studio effort will pummel listeners' eardrums "via the band's own Blackened Recordings," per a news release.

Front man James Hetfield explained the meaning behind the forthcoming LP's title in an emailed statement.

"[Seventy-two] seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves," Hetfield wrote. "The concept that we were told 'who we are' by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are."

The rocker added: "I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry."

Metallica also announced on Monday the premiere of 72 Seasons' first single, "Lux Æterna," along with its accompanying music video. Striking primary hues wash over the band as they perform with surgical precision in the Tim Saccenti-directed offering.

As the heavy metal veterans' first single in several years, "Lux Æterna" hyped up fans and fellow entertainers alike on social media.

"LOVE IT! @Metallica," professional wrestler Chris Jericho tweeted on Monday after a Twitter user asked his thoughts on the new cut.

"The Monday after Thanksgiving is usually the Mondayest Monday out of all the Mondays each year," radio personality Lou Brutus wrote in a tweet. "However, having new METALLICA this Monday makes it a helluva lot better than usual. @Metallica #Metallica #MondayThoughts."

Comedian and actor Brian Posehn also raved about the new track, tweeting: "I dig it. Fast and riffy. Playing it again. New Metallica is new Metallica."

Metallica's 72 Seasons comes six years after the band's last full-length studio album, 2016's Hardwired...to Self-Destruct.

The legendary headbangers have witnessed somewhat of a resurgence in recent months thanks to the appearance of their classic "Master of Puppets" on Stranger Things. This summer, young fans of the Netflix series helped deliver the 1986 single to a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart—for the first time ever.

Metallica also announced on Monday an extensive world tour that'll span 2023 and 2024. In each city, they'll play two shows with unique setlists and opening acts.

Newsweek reached out to representatives for Metallica for additional comment.

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