Which song was the lead single from Metallica's album 72 Seasons?

“Which song was the lead single from Metallica’s album 72 Seasons?” — The answer is “Lux Æterna.” Metallica surprise-released the song on November 28, 2022, the same day the band announced 72 Seasons, making it the album’s first public musical preview and lead single.

The compact track marked a deliberately energetic introduction to the record. James Hetfield described its sound as drawing on the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, while the Latin title means “eternal light.” The song’s lyrics focus on the connection between Metallica and its audience, and Tim Saccenti directed a performance-centered music video released alongside the single.

Several other songs from 72 Seasons became singles afterward, which can cause confusion. “Screaming Suicide” followed in January 2023, “If Darkness Had a Son” came later, and the title track was the fourth and final single. “Lux Æterna” is therefore the correct answer specifically for the lead single, not simply one of the album’s promoted songs. It also became a prominent live song during the band’s M72 World Tour.