Metallica – The Lords of Summer

I have never hidden the fact that the recent Metallica output leaves me cold.  From the total non-entity that is Death Magnetic back to St. Anger and lets not even talk about Lulu, the band that played as big a part as any in getting me into heavy music have continually disappointed when it comes to studio releases.  So why then do I instantly get super excited when I hear that there’s a new Metallica song out in the world?  Why do I keep going back for more pain?  Why do I let myself be continually hurt by a band I truly love.

So it’s called “The Lords of Summer” and the band have stated it might not actually appear on any future Metallica release.  Well let’s bloody well hope so because if, as Lars has said, this is “fairly representative of where our creative headspace is at right now” we can expect another very dull Metallica album, because sadly this song is nothing to write home about.

Gone are the days when Hetfield came roaring out of your stereo and while Hemmett can still play, this sounds like a band bereft of new ideas.  I challenge anyone to tell me that if they were in a Metallica mood they would genuinely choose to put this song on over anything in their back catalogue?  Because I damn well wouldn’t.

Now I should be clear, I don’t expect Metallica to reinvent the world with every album, that would be stupid.  What I do expect them to do is release songs that make me love Metallica again.  Songs that vibrate with that energy and excitement we all know this band is capable of.  Not songs that flop out like a damp squid and roll around a bit before going off to the corner to die.

It would be stupid to assume too much at this stage.  Metallica are still a long way off from releasing an album and I think, and really hope, they are capable of releasing a good one.  But if this is what they are planning on peddling when they do get it out, I fear they are going to be stomping all over my heart yet again.