Metallica

72 Seasons is the 11th studio album by the American heavy metal band Metallica, released on April 14, 2023. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman, who also produced the band's previous album, Hardwired... to Self-Destruct.

The album's title and overall theme were conceived by frontman James Hetfield. He explained that "72 seasons" refers to the first 18 years of a person's life, and the central concept revolves around the influence of childhood experiences on adult identity. The album explores themes of childhood trauma and the ongoing process of either remaining a "prisoner of childhood" or breaking free from those "bondages".

The album's striking yellow and black artwork, inspired by the song "Lux Æterna" (Latin for "eternal light"), visually represents the concept of light contrasting with the darkness of burned objects related to childhood.