72 Seasons (2023): Metallica's twelfth studio record, decoded
Metallica's 2023 record, the strings, gauges, tunings, and modern Hetfield + Hammett rig spec. The first Metallica studio record since Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016). With citations.
Metallica · reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
72 Seasons (Metallica, 2023) is the band's twelfth studio record and the first since Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016). Hetfield tracked rhythm on his Ernie Ball Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011-.050), the signature set Ernie Ball developed with him in 2022 and released alongside the album cycle. Hammett tracked lead on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046). Trujillo's bass tracks ran D'Addario ProSteels Bass. Co-produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and Ulrich at HQ Studios in San Rafael. 12 tracks across 77 minutes, the longest Metallica record.
At a glance
Role
Active
Based
Affiliations
- Greg Fidelman, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich (producer)
The album
72 Seasons, released April 14, 2023 on Blackened Recordings (Metallica's own label since 2012), is the band's twelfth studio record and the first since Hardwired...To Self-Destruct (2016). 12 tracks across 77 minutes, the longest Metallica record. Co-produced by Greg Fidelman with Hetfield and Ulrich at HQ Studios in San Rafael, California. The album's title refers to the first 18 years of life (4 seasons × 18 = 72), the formative experiences Hetfield has discussed across the album's lyrical themes.
Who played on it
James Hetfield (rhythm guitar, vocals, songwriting, co-production), Kirk Hammett (lead guitar), Robert Trujillo (bass), Lars Ulrich (drums, co-production). The current Metallica lineup, in place since Trujillo's 2003 arrival, has been the longest-serving lineup in the band's history, surpassing the original 1986-2001 Hetfield/Hammett/Newsted/Ulrich lineup.
What they played
The big gear story on 72 Seasons is Hetfield's signature string. Ernie Ball Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011, .014, .018p, .028, .038, .050) launched in May 2022 specifically for the 72 Seasons record cycle. The .011 high E (one gauge heavier than his decades-long Regular Slinky .010-.046 spec) addresses a tuning-stability issue under his pick attack. Hetfield's framing at the launch: lighter strings go briefly sharp under the impact of his pick, then settle back, smearing recorded rhythm tracks and drifting live tuning. The .011 gauge resists that pitch transient.
Hammett continued on Ernie Ball Regular Slinky (.010-.046) on his ESP KH-2, since his lead-guitar role doesn't have the same pitch-drift issue. Trujillo on D'Addario ProSteels Bass (.045-.105). Mesa/Boogie tube amplification across the rhythm and lead tracks.
The cultural moment
72 Seasons reached #2 on the Billboard 200 in its debut week, kept off #1 by Morgan Wallen's One Thing at a Time. The single 'Lux Æterna' was the lead release in late November 2022, five months ahead of the album. Metallica's 2023-2024 M72 World Tour supported the record across two-night stadium engagements with no-repeat-song setlists between nights, a touring format that continued through the band's 2026 commitments.
If you want this rig
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011-.050)
Why this one: Hetfield's signature .011-.050 set, developed by Ernie Ball with Hetfield specifically for the 72 Seasons cycle and his pick-attack tuning-stability needs. The .011 high E + .050 low E configuration is one gauge heavier than his decades-long Regular Slinky default and addresses the pitch-drift issue under heavy attack.