🏆 Best Single of 2022
Metallica - 'Lux Æterna'
In terms of best single release of 2022, this one came as a late contender. Metallica surprised the music world and almost broke the internet on the 28th November by dropping the track ‘Lux Æterna’ and teasing the release of their forthcoming new album '72 Seasons’, due out in April 2023. The album will be the follow up to 2016’s ‘Hardwired… To Self-Destruct’, and with an almost 7 year gap between new studio albums, you can be forgiven for the total surprise when Metallica do release new material. Gone are the days of churning out album after album in the heyday of the 1980s and 90s. Nowadays a band such as Metallica can tour their greatest hits and still earn a pretty penny without even thinking of entering a studio.
So how does the song compare to their classics? The answer is very well actually. After a brief fall from grace at the end of the 90s beginning of the 00s, with the release of ‘St. Anger’ (2003) and the infamous Lou Reed collaboration ‘Lulu’ (2011) many believed Metallica had lost the plot, let alone their ability to create a great thrash metal album. Death Magnetic (2008) faired a little better, and after an 8 year gap ‘Hardwired… To Self-Destruct’ (2016) was actually rather good. So the surprise announcement of ’72 Seasons’ once again comes with a degree of high expectation.
‘Lux Æterna’ bursts into an instant thrash guitar riff and that all so familiar speed metal drumming of Lars Ulrich, matched by the on point and still impressive vocals of James Hetfield. Sure the lyrics aren’t the most creative you’ll ever hear, with the repetition of the song title bellowed out over and over in the chorus, the structure is simple but that’s no disadvantage to the track’s instantly catchy vibe. Not all great songs have depth of lyrical genius, and despite hearing what some critics have stated, it really isn’t a reason not to like it. The track is compact, punchy and the musicianship is tight, it’s a welcome return to Metallica’s thrash metal roots, and in my opinion one of the best singles of 2022.
Why this track over other singles released? Well, like many music fans, hearing a new release from a major artist return to form is a special moment, especially one that has taken some heavy criticism in recent years. Music unites people, opinion divides, but as a rule most people I know have got behind this track and really believe that it’s one of their best in over 2 decades.
Will ’72 Seasons’ live up to the hype and popularity of the single? Well I guess we shall have to wait and see in April.
Album: 72 Seasons
Released: 14th April 2023
Label: Blackened Records
Website: https://www.metallica.com
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