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We analyse Lux Æterna - Metallica's NEW single!
50 Plays2 years ago
Metallica are back! With a new single, a new album announcement and a world tour, they present to the world: Lux Æterna! Daria and Laz analyse and dig into the new Metallica single.
You can also watch us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7mfJVCp_TzbPNZNMMemJuw
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Transcript
Introduction to Metallica's New Release
00:00:10
Speaker
Hello and welcome back to Minds of Metal. My name is Daria. And I'm Laz. And today we are analysing, well, I can't say the famous Lux Eterna, because honestly, I feel like every metal fan in the world has heard it by now. Yes, this is the new single Lux Eterna by Metallica, which they released last week, wasn't it? In conjunction with the announcement of their new album, 72 Seasons, and a huge world tour to go along with that. So yeah, shall we go into it and see what we can deduce from the song?
Lux Aeterna's Nostalgic Sound
00:00:42
Speaker
So the first thing that we both noticed when we listened to this song was how much it reminded both of us of the Kill'em All album from 1983, which was Metallica's first album. And that was famous, that album, for sort of introducing and innovating speed metal. And this track just goes straight in, you know, really reminds me of it. Actually, the main riff of Lux Eterna, I just completely hear in it, hit the lights. So go and check that song out from Kill'em All.
00:01:06
Speaker
And you know, it's simplicity, musically, that is so attractive to me because we've got this repetitive guitar part, you know, guitar riffs, they just keep kind of going on and on and on. And you know what? I thought that would annoy me, like the fact that it's so simple, but it really doesn't and I really love it. And the more I listen to it, the more I just want to, you know, sing along and I really enjoy
Simple Structure vs. Recent Complexity
00:01:31
Speaker
it.
00:01:31
Speaker
What we've been used to with recent Metallica is songs lasting six, seven, eight, nine minutes long, where they go from riff to riff. And songwriting wise, it's really well done. It's fantastic the transitions and the changes they make.
00:01:44
Speaker
So it was quite a shock to hear a song that was like three and a half minutes long, with only like three different riffs in it. But I think it was a breath of fresh air. And actually, I think if I'm being honest, I'll say that I didn't like, not like the song, I didn't love the song when I first heard it. But the more and more I've listened to it, the more I've enjoyed it. And I do wonder if the rest of the album is going to be like this, kind of back to the back to the start, the Kill and All speed metal vibe.
00:02:08
Speaker
And you know, when I first heard it, I didn't love it either. And you know why? Because of how simple it was and how much it was like, kill them all for me. And I was like, okay, well, that's not trying too hard, is it? But then I, you know, kept listening and it just kept like, gelling for me. And yeah, I really love it. And you know that, like, even simplistic songwriting, you know, stuff like, full speed on nothing, full speed on nothing. And that's it. That's the pre-chorus. Yeah, the melody. Yeah, the melody is really easy.
00:02:38
Speaker
You mean everything? Yeah, the whole crew is so short, so simple.
Praise for Instrumentation and Vocals
00:02:44
Speaker
Another thing I really enjoyed about this was the performance and execution by the members of Metallica. I thought Lars' drumming throughout was really, really good. He does this drum fill into the first verse, which was executed perfectly. And then his double bass drumming in the verses I thought was really kind of reminiscent of like Motorhead. I thought it really gave the song a nice vibe.
00:03:02
Speaker
Yeah, you know, because Lars doesn't have this great reputation, does he? And you saying that, well, actually, I really enjoyed his drumming on this track. It's quite something. And I don't know how other metal fans feel about it, actually, but I will tell you this. I have seen some stuff on the Internet where guitarists are not very happy with Kirk's solo.
00:03:26
Speaker
I don't know why. It's a perfect speed metal solo. It's like, you know, give the mice fast run and then his little descending minor chords with the war pedal as well. It's like everything. I'm a talent fan who loves Kirk. So there's good one. And it's like a perfect speed metal solo. Like, what more do you want? You know, what much you want, guys? Let us know in the comments.
00:03:51
Speaker
So as a singer, I of course listen to the vocals very closely. And I think James Headfield is one of those singers who has aged very well. You know, he's singing, I actually think got better and better and better with each album they released. And if we're comparing his singing on Lexa Turner with Kill them all album,
00:04:11
Speaker
I can say that, you know, now it's much more melodic while still having that punchy phrasing and kind of this rawness to it. He hasn't lost that at all. But Killamal is much more shouty. Killamal is much more conversational, you know.
00:04:27
Speaker
So yeah, that's what I can say about him. Yeah, I agree with you. I think this vocal performance is much closer to Kill Em All than the last two albums. I think the last two albums that he's been very singy and he hasn't really had this kind of scream slash shout that he does, whereas we hear it here in the chorus. It almost is a scream and a shout, isn't it? And that really does remind me of Kill Em All.
00:04:47
Speaker
And you're absolutely right, you know, his vocals are way more refined and perfected and melodic now, but the aggression he's going for really, you can tell he's going for killer, I think. Yeah, and it matches it, doesn't it? Like, I literally went and listened to Kill Em All, and then to like, turn, I was like, yeah. I can hear what this is all about, but we can also hear that, you know, that melodic soul phrasing, and his technique is so much better. Yeah. And it's, yeah, really, really good.
Anticipation for the New Album
00:05:18
Speaker
And going back to the simplicity of it, it's actually probably good to say that structure-wise it's really simple as well. You've got verse, pre-chorus, chorus, verse, pre-chorus, chorus, solo. Back to the main riff.
00:05:32
Speaker
That was chorus, oh true, right? It's like very, very easy. It's like we said earlier, you know, Metallica's songs of the last few albums have been so long going from here to there and riff and solo, three solos back here. And this was a breath of fresh air just to have the short, as you said, straight forward, easy structure, and it's easy for the listener as well.
00:05:54
Speaker
So to summarise, I think this song is really good, it's really enjoyable, and the more I've listened to it, the more I've enjoyed it. Is it anywhere near my Metallica favourite songs? Probably not, but I think it's a nice sign of what's to come. And for me, the proof of this is in the pudding. Full speed or nothing, the lyrics from the pre-chorus. Does that tell us that this next album is going to be full speed or nothing? Because I hope so, because if we get a Killamore-style album 40 years later,
00:06:18
Speaker
I think that'll be an incredible thing for Metallica fans.
Metallica's Evolution and Experience
00:06:21
Speaker
Yeah, I really enjoyed the song. I think it promises good things for the album, the production's great, the songwriting's great, the musicianship's great, and I really can't wait. What do you think? Yeah, you know, I wasn't sure if I would be happy.
00:06:34
Speaker
hearing another sort of Kill'em All-ish album 40 years later. But you know, after listening to Lexi Turner so many times, trust me, so many times over the last few days, I actually think I would because they have changed. You know, they're different musicians now. They're different people now. You know, it's been 40 years. It's a long time. And actually, yeah, why not?
00:06:55
Speaker
And they've learned that for a band to be 40 years old and to have made that much stuff, you must have learned so much through each process, through each album you do, just taking little parts from what you know, the experiences you've had. And to do an album 40 years later that's going to be in the same vein as the first album, but with all of those learnings and experiences, I think we can get a real nice surprise here.
00:07:16
Speaker
But you know what? We might be completely wrong here also, and it's just a guess, isn't it? Love to Turn It might be the shortest song, and every other song will be like eight minutes again, but this is what we're hoping for. And there must be a reason why they've chosen to release that song, like the shortest one.
Audience Engagement and Future Expectations
00:07:32
Speaker
I don't know, but yeah.
00:07:33
Speaker
Anyway, let us know what you think of the song in the comments. Do you like Lars' drumming? Do you like Kirk's solo? Do you think this is a sign of a Kill'em All plus 40 to come next year? So let us know what you think. And please don't forget to like our video, subscribe to our channel and share it amongst metal fans. We'll be very grateful if you do so. And have a lovely day. Have a metal day. We'll see you soon.