Review – “If Darkness Had a Son” is a classic Metallica fist-pumping powerhouse

I was reading a few weeks ago that Jason Newsted had said in a recent interview with Gator 98.7 FM (transcribed by Blabbermouth) that he was forming a “loud” new band, which got me excited because I have been waiting years for him to get back into heavy metal music again.

For those not familiar, Newsted was the bass player for Metallica who took over after the tragic death of Cliff Burton. Robert Trujillo then replaced Newsted in the early 2000s and has held the position since.

So, it is somewhat ironic, then when I listened to Metallica’s new song, “If Darkness Had a Son” I flashed back to those old Jason Newsted Metallica days. The opening sequence and riff from the new song immediately made me think back to the “…And Justice for All” album as this song sounds very reminiscent of “Eye of the Beholder,” which is a good thing.  It’s got that same “I’m gonna plow right through you” head-banging intensity that fits right in with Metallica’s past classic songs. 

Clocking in at just under seven minutes in length, this song grabs you from the beginning and keeps you hooked until the very end. As the …And Justice for All album got maligned for a lack of bass, the same cannot be said for Metallica’s new song as the mixing is extremely tight with the whole band contributing to the overall intensity of the song.

From that opening lick through the familiar wah, wah of Kirk Hammett’s masterful guitar solo, this song shows how a band is able to grow creatively through the years, yet still give its fans exactly what they are looking for.

A word of caution, this song is guaranteed to get your fist pumping and head bobbing along to its chugging, driving beat, so if you don’t want the people in that car next to you staring, then you better wait to listen to this one at home so you can properly ROCK OUT!

Spotlight Score: 9/10

“If Darkness Had a Son” is the latest single from Metallica’s must anticipated album 72 Seasons due out April 14.