S Poddar
James Hetfield, vocalist for legendary metal band Metallica, has had one thing in mind: that Metallica would never become “a legacy band,” one of those acts that rests on their own time in history and stops trying to evolve musically. With a catalog of legendary tracks that could fill stadiums for decades to come, Hetfield is adamant against the idea of letting Metallica be one of those bands, resting on its laurels rather than pushing themselves to stay engaged.
They are persisting in the commitment to new sounds. For their latest album, released a year ago, they are now touring all over the world, 72 Seasons. Already, several of the album’s cuts have become adopted by the public, almost all of which they have played and are entrenched within setlists. This speaks directly to the fact that the metal legends continue to be relevant to their audience, taking on new material within open arms the same.
The future direction of the band is summarized by Hetfield in an episode of the Metallica Report podcast, speaking about how the new album fits with the larger project of their discography. The fact that the 72 Seasons album is well received, and some of the songs that we’re playing live work and they kind of fit seamlessly in with all the catalog, all the albums we have ,” Hetfield explained. It’s not just a rear view mirror for them by their frontman but it’s also a challenge to challenge listeners into more engaging newly composed songs by adding some extra spice through which they are being challenged and ignited further and realize what real music is.
“We know people want to hear the best of, and you’ve got to challenge them to listen to some of the new stuff as well,” Hetfield said. And while conceding that fans adore the oldies, he’s confident the band’s continued creative endeavors strengthen the Metallica experience at large. “We certainly don’t want to be a legacy band that just plays its greatest hits and then that’s it.”
This philosophy of continually pushing forward has characterized Metallica throughout almost four decades. With an already established reputation, they have always been compelled by the desire to create, innovate, and surprise their listeners with new offers. What keeps such a respected band moving forward and putting out new music is something that sets them apart from many bands that tend to rely heavily on nostalgia once reaching such success.
The same thought process is also reflected by their touring: Metallica doesn’t much bank on past glories; they are instead incorporating their latest work to blend old with new for an explosive concert. Therefore, Metallica has proved that they do not just remain a band of yesteryear but more than that-today force for the music world.
That’s a testament to their enduring power: the band still is able to bring in enormous crowds with new material. Fans keep coming, attentive and eager to hear the classics and the newest tracks. As Hetfield describes it, new tunes off 72 Seasons “flow very seamlessly” alongside their older work, making the supposition that Metallica is slowing down creatively quite unbelievable.
Indeed, the band has just announced a second leg of their North American tour, set for 2025. Those treks dates will include Metallica headlining some of the world’s biggest festivals – Sick New World and Sonic Temple, to name a couple – and playing some of their own headlining shows across the continent. The 21-date run begins in April and runs through June, and includes a phenomenal mix of supporting acts in the likes of Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills.
The North American leg of this tour is set to begin, continuing the momentum of their M72 world tour, which started in 2023 following 72 Seasons. The energy and passion they bring to each performance, plus new and classic songs, ensure Metallica remains a band fans-new and old-can rally behind. Their ability to stay relevant, decades after the first time they took the world by storm, is a testament that they are still a vital force in the world of metal.
It’s quite unlikely that any other band would settle into the rhythm of revisiting the hits and just living off the nostalgia of their early success, but Metallica shows no signs of slowing down. With each new production and every sold-out arena across the globe, it is further proof that their creative flame is certainly far from being blown out. The promise by Hetfield is more than just words on paper but the testament to the group’s continued steadfastness in their craft and for their fans.
