If Darkness Had A Son Rank: 98/118 Score: 8/20 Composition: 2 Standard Metallica (Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Solo-Verse-Chorus). 4/4 all the way through, and although the tempo pushes and pulls slightly, it doesn't change in a structural sort of way. Memorability: 2 I wanted to boost the score for the repetition of "Temptation," but the chorus and riffs are honestly pretty forgettable. Every time I try to sing it in my head, I accidentally sing one of their older songs instead, so I'm going to keep it at a baseline of 2. Emotional Response: 1 Any time I call a song "subpar," that means it's...well, not as good as par (which is 2). I loved those half-time sections, but a 7-minute song should have more redeeming qualities than one short drum part 5 minutes in. I think it's just not for me, and that's okay. Instrumentation: 2 Similar to Memorability, a lot of this song is pretty forgettable. Every part on every instrument is pretty simplistic, to the point where the most interesting moment for me was the bass effect at the very end. Too bad it didn't go into a cool bass solo! Lyrics: 1 This one leaves so much left to be desired. There isn't any depth to these words. It's surface-level across the board, which is actually disappointing, given how great James usually is with words. If Darkness Had a Son (98) is just below Purify (95), Invisible Kid (96), and The Four Horsemen (97). It lands just above Motorbreath (99), Some Kind of Monster (100), and Poor Twisted Me (101).

@scarecrow1683

Жыл бұрын

The fact the The Four Horseman is at 97 shows how subjective Metallica songs are. Kudos for keeping it real tho. Personally, I don’t feel the lyrics are as flat as you say. Knowing what I know about James and his struggle, I had a very long in depth discussion about said lyrics with my 2 teenage daughters. I get it tho…subjective.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

Subjective for sure! You’ll see no arguments here-this series is biased as hell, which is why I always encourage people to play along with their own scores/systems. The Four Horsemen is interesting because the life version might have made my Top 20, but I feel the album version gets ruined by the weird Sweet Home Alabama section. From a different angle, though, a low score for a song from the first album means they’ve been getting better at songwriting ever since. I know I definitely think *I’m* better than my first couple songs, so I’ll call it growth. 😆

@fixxxer7030

Жыл бұрын

@@scarecrow1683 Why do people still feel the need to bring up that opinions are subjective? lol it's just so pointless. It's like saying "Well that's just your opinion man"... No shit. His rating is his rating. If you want to rate it higher then just rate it higher. This song is weak as fuck just like both the other ones. If I want to hear about James' struggles, I'll put Bleeding me or Fixxxer on. Fucking light years ahead of this shit.

@scarecrow1683

Жыл бұрын

@@fixxxer7030 Why do people feel the need to nitpick somone elses comment liek you are qualified to speak for me. You aren't. Does it empower you or make you feel better? I don't need guidance on how to respond or make a comment...and if I did, it certainly wouldn't be from you. I could literally call you out for doing the same thing...posting your opinion...albeit being hypocritical in the process as well. Why are you so triggered as to have the need to analyze my response? I love the song. So sorry you didn't. However, that's YOUR SUBJECTIVE OPINION. My whole point was that METALLICA FANS are wayyyy more subjective about their songs. Bunch of whiners. Just because you made a point to say that it was weak...doesn't mean its actually weak. I was commenting to Midnight Notion directly...not you.

@justinweeks7707

Жыл бұрын

Below purify 😭 is a disrespect

That riff and song stuck in my head straight away!!!

@igortokarski9517

Жыл бұрын

Same

This one's my favorite of the 3 released so far.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

Nice! Is each new single getting better, or have they been fluctuating for you?

@MrArashtafarian

Жыл бұрын

Same here. I loved Lux Aeterna and was iffy on Screaming S, which did grow on me but still the least favorite of the 3. I really want to do a Midnight Notion scoring scale of each Metallica song one day lol

@brianplaysgames7456

Жыл бұрын

@@MidnightNotion For me each song has been better than the last. I hope that trend continues.

Eye of The beholder came to mind for me straight away. Felt like I was the only one

I actually listen to the old "Temptation" demo from the documentary quite often, 'cause those lyrics feel very relatable and perfectly convey the feeling of frustration and disappointment with oneself when they give in to temptation. So I've been waiting for James to revisit that song in some shape or form, and now he finally DID, but... for some reason it just doesn't do as good of a job as its previous iteration. I know it's impossible, but I wish they just took that "Temptation" demo and made it into a full song instead of this...

@prhmusic

Жыл бұрын

I am happy that I am not the only one who tied that demo to these lyrics!

@dekapitatorr

Жыл бұрын

that song was piece of shit.

@Kondratbl

Жыл бұрын

@@dekapitatorr That's why it was a demo that didn't make it on the album, champ. If they actually worked out the kinks and polished it, it could've been decent at the very least, which was exactly my point.

@dekapitatorr

Жыл бұрын

@@Kondratbl you cant polish the turd champ. I love St. anger but that song was turd and it would ruined the album flow. speaking of polishing, the whole point of St. Anger was to no be polished. Temptation coca colaaa.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

Friendly reminder to keep it kind. It’s okay to have differing opinions about music, but it’s not okay to dismiss each other’s tastes.

I can't wait for the whole album to come out. We still have over a month which seems to be a really long time from Lux Eterna being released as a single to April when the full album releases. Is that a normal time span for every artist? Just wondering cuz the wait sux lol

@marcvoss

Жыл бұрын

For many artist its getting normal since rhe streaming age Back in the day most artist just released 1 song then shortly after the album and then over 1-2 years uo to 5 singles... These days many artist release 3,4 or more singles bevire the record itself hits and after that mayby 1 or 2 more

15:02 - Oh, the irony. This is my favorite song from _72 Seasons._ I figured out why. You were talking about how it had callbacks to '90s Metallica. That's my favorite era. Side note: it's the last song in the Medley.

Perfect!

3:56 - The intro riff being mostly above the 12th fret seems like a callback to "Frantic".

1:07 - _Justice_ and _LOAD_ did have a baby. It was named _Metallica,_ but everyone called it _The Black Album._

If Darkness Had a Son really reminded me of Now that we’re Dead from Hardwired, with the speed of the song and the riffs they used. 🤔 I think they’re attempting to imitate the styles of the previous albums on 72 Seasons.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

I think so too. It's cool to have so many callbacks to their career, but I'm worried that all the looking backward might be keeping them from moving forward. 🤷‍♂

My body my temple 😃

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

This temple it tilts Yeah this is the son that Darkness had

song grabs you slowly but it wont let you go kinda if darkness had an actual song

Metallica has done something with this song that none of the first 2 sings accomplished. It has reached the number one spot on billboards hot trending list. Lux Eterna hit number 6 and suicide hit 8. So that says to me about of people love this song like I do. And think about it. A group in their 60s making a number 1 trending song is crazy.

Here's my review on this song and their last 2 singles in general. As you said Metallica is trying to encapsulate the justice-reload era sound in these 3 singles, but, in my honest opinion, they might be trying a bit too hard because it feels like I've already heard these 3 songs before, yet I haven't. To me it sounds like Lux Æterna is song that would be a love child of Load/Reload & Hardwired. Screaming Suicide, same thing but, If Darkness Had A Son Sounds like Justice & Hardwired. Maybe its due to the production quality. Speaking of production the mix doesn't sound as huge as it was on Hardwired so I don't know what is going on with the bands current situation, but I pray it'll turn out great.

@igortokarski9517

Жыл бұрын

I agree

@beauburrell3318

10 ай бұрын

I am sure you two have done a 180 degree turn by now! Dont judge too quick, I have too many times on albums, then repetitive listens created a whole new perspective. 9.0 rating on the entire album.

My favourite single from 72 Seasons, along with Screaming Suicide

Your tag for this is "Eye of the Savage Fuel", but I was getting serious "Now That We're Dead" vibes. This sounds like a discarded track from HtSD.

Cool reaction been fan since 84 I like everything they have done. They're in 60 just happy that they still making new Music and I'm here to listen to it at 55 Hopefully in 6wks the 9other songs be heavier but like I said. It Metallica way

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

I’m really glad to hear that you’re sticking with them through thick and thin. That’s my kind of fan!

@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987

Жыл бұрын

@@MidnightNotion that the only way to be as Fan.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

Agreed! I like being analytical about WHY I like and dislike songs, but at the end of the day, they could fart into a microphone and I’d preorder the special edition. 😆

I do like the main riff, James's singing, "temptation", and even the solo. This sounds like James confronting who he once was, and combating the temptations of drink, fame, and power, which had turned him into a dark, violent, and complex person. That is good. However, first-listen, the song sounded to me like "I am darkness's son. Now father, leave me be! I am still in the bath!". I think this song is a bit shallow lyrically. From the title, I was expecting something more like a Load/Reload type of story. Like the story of a father with a dark past. He has recovered from drugs, alcohol, etc, and now has a supportive family around him, which is essentially his new focus, as they had pulled him from sinking further into his unhealthy habits. However, now, he is helplessly watching his son becoming detached, angry, and developing dark tendencies, almost like his father, threatening to relive his father's old, criminal life. He tries reasoning with him, all in vain. Eventually, the son commits something so atrocious, that his father laments "if darkness had a son, he was once my own". That would have been a much deeper story than just "I am darkness's son". Not quite as strong as the rest of the album, but they have written way worse. Like Slither. 10/20

If you want to react to a song you might not have heard of, I recommend the artist Aesthetic Perfection with their song Gods & Gold

11.5

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

🤣🤣🤣

1:03 Sooooo... if justice had a load?

Thanks. I've loved Metallica since puberty!!! You might ALSO be interested to react to The Warning, undoubtedly Metallica's best progeny in our times, THREE-SISTER band from Mexico. For starter "ENTER SANDMAN": kzread.info/dash/bejne/qJtt2LB-Z8rTYKw.html

I feel the same way about Screaming Suicide. More energy doesn't always mean better. It's too obvious Deep Purple, too obvious...Deep Purple with more distortion therefore too generic. This one is not a masterpiece, but for my taste is way more interesting. Gets better after a few more listens...which can actually be a good sign... you know? Unespected, not too obvious, not too predictable...Rocker/Metalheads need to listen more music overall...including World Music. Remote african stuff, from India, Portugal, Spain, Brasil, Peru... you would understand a lot better that interesting music doesn't always need 35.000 sections.

@MidnightNotion

11 ай бұрын

I agree about exploring other genres. Always found that to be an important way to stay musically inspired.

you can hear death magntics broken,beat,scared vibes and mix of hardwierd,now that we're dead,spit out the bone but somthing in this song is missing!! i enjoyed 2 other song more

All right, it isn´t that dynamic as the rest of the singles, but actually I´m not mad at you because you are kind explaining why it doesn´t fit with you, most of the people that criticize new Metallica are just dropping hate

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

I’ve always found it important to (at least try to) articulate WHY I like or dislike something. It’s not helpful to just throw hate. Glad you appreciate that too.

I've heard it half a dozen times now, and whilst it's got moments just isn't grabbing me yet. I found Kirks solo really disjointed with the groove underneath. I liked the outro a lot, the half time, the "whiny" stabs, and the little element of bass that comes through - I wish that was developed a bit more. Overall, it could do with a bit of a trimming though. L.A is still my favourite of the new ones, then S.S then this. I'm hoping for some more standouts on the album.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

This is Track 9 of 12, so hopefully this is more of a wind-down/filler track and the album ramps up right after this. We'll see!

Definitely the weakest of the three so far for me. It’s a shame because i thought it was gonna be really good based off how cool the intro was with the build, and guitar melody with the key they were playing in. But then it just stops building and just becomes bland. I don’t like the vocals in the verse either and main riff, verse, chorus are pretty bland. For more positives i would say it’s the best solo and solo section so far, the temptation part is heavy af, and I thought the end was cool, a bit outlaw torny. I would say this is a B- for me (B- is a fairly low score for a Metallica song for me) probably while Lux gets an A- and screaming suicide gets a B+. The first two grew on me a bit after first listen but I don’t see this one doing the same to be honest I think if I remade the song the first basic edit I would make is just change the temptation riff to the main riff, and then just use the higher lick from the main riff in the intro/ and maybe as a transition or something. Would make the song way less bland without all that shallow low E gallops + straight beat as the main riff.

Gotta disagree on this one. The lyrics I thought were really great for this one. Each song I think has gotten better than the previous one of the 3 they have released so far. Brings a lot of emotion about temptation, the kind of inner demons we have.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

I think the primary issue I have is that it’s too on-the-nose. In creative writing, we often talk about “show, don’t tell,” and this song is almost entirely telling with very little show. Specifically, the chorus, which is the focal point of the song, and should be the highlight. “If darkness had a son, here I am” is a great line, but “temptation is his father” makes it so confusing. If James is Darkness’ son, is temptation James’ father? I thought Darkness was his father. Or is Darkness his mother? Is Temptation Darkness’ father (i.e., James’ grandfather)? The point of view is all goofed up. It’s not staying on topic. It’s shifting focus in an awkward way that sounds less like an artistic choice and more like a writer filling in the blank spaces with the first thing that came to mind. What if the chorus focused on Darkness’ son? Who is he? What is he doing? What is he avoiding? What’s his goal? Off the top of my head, here’s an idea: If Darkness had a son, here I am Evading sin and sorrow If Darkness had a son, here I am Reaching for tomorrow Temptation leave me be! A subtle change to show that the singer is born of Darkness and Temptation, but actively resisting them both. It’s not so redundant with its use of temptation, and it’s showing struggle rather than just listing the family tree. There are billions of other ways to write it. I just feel like this song took the easiest way. Might be impressive to a new songwriter, but 40 years into their career, they should be better by now.

wait... I'm new here.... do you not like AJFA?????

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

Welcome to the channel! I hope you'll check out the entire playlist. My stance on Justice is complicated, but the short version is that playing fast doesn't impress me nearly as much as a catchy melody or an insightful lyric. Justice is the record where James, Lars, and Kirk were mourning Cliff (and hazing Jason), so there's a lot of brute force energy (machismo?) in the playing, but many of the compositions feel too clunky for me. Obvious highlights include One, Harvester, the title track, and Blackened, but the rest of the record doesn't compare to the rest of their catalogue. One big thing people miss with my Metallica series is that they have SO MANY GOOD SONGS. Ranking them means you have to pick some over others. Lots of people got mad at me for putting Eye of the Beholder at the bottom of my list, but I made a criteria on what works for me, and that song didn't meet it. The way I see it, they just have that many better songs. 😊

The more the sigles come out, the more I'm afraid I won't like this album. Like at all, and it's sad.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

😢 I’m sure there will be bright spots, but yeah, not a fan of the downward trend. Only a few more weeks before we know for sure.

I agree. This is as uninspired and Metallica gets. Also, it’s too long and needs editing.

One (if not) the worst songs Metallica has ever made. Low level, flat song.

I agree, this song is just boring and forgettable. No one will remember this after 4-5 years.

@egcozinon

Жыл бұрын

Fans will remember for sure!!

@Patrik0911

Жыл бұрын

@@egcozinon I am a fan myself, love almost every album, except for Anger and Lulu, but I think these are one a therapy and other an experimental album. I like Lux a little bit, but the other two songs are just too long, boring and repetitive hard rock songs, at least to me. And screaming s is just weird, the lyrics don't fit the music. If the song was for example about riding a motorcycle, the music would be perfect for that, but not for something as horrible as s**cide.

There are some really good elements here - the riffs sound cool, James' vocal delivery is absolutely great and pretty unique compared to previous songs, the chorus is really great and catchy - but it just doesn't quite come together. It's too simplistic and repetitive and _FUCK_ that is one weak, underwhelming solo from Kirk. This song could've massively benefited from some faster sections in between the verses, a soft, melodic breakdown and a solo that wasn't just generic blues scale, wah-laden blabbering as Kirk has become so unfortunately attached to. I like the tone and style and the individual good elements I mentioned earlier more than anything from Lux or Scream, but Lux is probably a more complete song overall. Lux definitely reaches for less than this one, but achieves more.

It's Confusion from Hardwired.

@MidnightNotion

Жыл бұрын

It really is!

@prhmusic

Жыл бұрын

I can agree with that - I like Confusion so I am OK with that!

@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987

Жыл бұрын

​@@prhmusic yes me to Confusion is awesome 👍👍 7