Metallica have been a band for over 40 years, with a huge worldwide following and they need very little instruction. To date, they have amassed a staggering 125 million record sales around the world and can fill stadiums in most continents. Their latest release is from their 11th studio album, 72 seasons, and is already making a big impression. 

Put simply, the extension of the title that appears throughout the song clearly tells the story of what the rock superpower group’s latest song is about. ‘If Darkness Had a son, here I am’ would suggest that the main focus of the lyric is quite dark. The verses would back this up, with mentions of the Occult amongst other things. But this is Metallica and the image they have built over their exceptional career would suggest these lyrics are not too out of place with other songs in their back catalogue. 

What we want from a Metallica song is a powerful drum beat, an iconic guitar riff with passion in the vocal delivery, a metal undertone and exceptional guitar playing. All of these are well catered for in If Darkness had a son. The drums do their ferocious best in the verses and the snare is hit very very hard in the introduction section. Guitar wise the riff is very memorable and strategically placed to help the listener really hook into it. But, it’s the guitar solo that really stood out. It is varied, skilled and is nearly another song in itself. If you’re a Metallica fan you will love their new release. If you’re new to the band, then you have over 7 minutes here to appreciate fantastic songwriting and musicianship, even if it is not your normal genre of music, listen out for the craftsmanship on display.

Author: Phil Arnold

Phil Arnold is a musician, producer and music reviewer from Devon, in the South West of England. Whilst not writing music reviews, Phil also writes and records under the name of Ugbrooke.