Metallica can certainly remain a highly successful touring act if they never release another album, but frontman James Hetfield doesn’t want the band to rely solely on its past hits. That’s why it’s important to him that the legendary metal act continues to create new music.

Metallica have been playing most of their best-known songs on their ongoing “M72 World Tour,” for which they just announced a new 2025 North American leg (pick up tickets here). However, Hetfield and company have also been showcasing tunes from their acclaimed 2023 album, 72 Seasons.

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In a new appearance on The Metallica Report podcast (as transcribed by Blabbermouth), Hetfield noted, “I think that the confidence, the fact that the 72 Seasons album is well received and some of the songs that we’re playing live work and they kind of fit seamlessly in with all the catalog, all the albums we have. We’re not afraid of it, but we’re not overindulging in it as well. We know people wanna hear the ‘best of,’ and you’ve gotta challenge them to listen to some of the new stuff as well, ’cause we certainly don’t wanna be a legacy band that just plays their greatest hits and then that’s it.”

He added, “It’s all a part of it. I think the confidence of us and the stage, being on stage, knowing that, hey, all mistakes are a part of the show. That’s part of what we say before we go out: hey, all mistakes are free. And it’s not a mistake. Really, that word is kind of ridiculous in a way. It’s just a unique way of playing it that night. Everyone gets to enjoy whatever happens right then. And frankly, I think it’s a challenge.”

As mentioned, Metallica will embark on a 2025 leg of their “M72 World Tour” beginning in April. The outing will feature support from Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills.

Listen to James Hetfield on The Metallica Report podcast in the player below.

Photo Gallery – Metallica and support acts at MetLife Stadium August 4th and 6th, 2023: