If "Lux Æterna," the lead single off Metallica's upcoming new full-length, 72 Seasons, is an upbeat, uplifting anthem about finding "some sense of hope or light" in life, the album's second single treads much darker ground. "Screaming Suicide," which was released today (January 19th) along with a striking, black-and-white music video, tips its hand right with its title. Metallica have addressed the concept of taking one's own life multiple times over their career, from Ride the Lightning's "Fade to Black" to Death Magnetic's "Suicide & Redemption," and James Hetfield returns to the recurring theme here, taking on the word "suicide" itself.
"'Screaming Suicide' addresses the taboo word of suicide," Hetfield explained of the song's goal. "The intention is to communicate about the darkness we feel inside. It's ridiculous to think we should deny that we have these thoughts. At one point or another, I believe most people have thought about it. To face it is to speak the unspoken. If it's a human experience, we should be able to talk about it. You are not alone."
Read the lyrics, courtesy of Genius, below.
