Metallica is one of my favorite bands of all time. One of my first concerts was back in '09 with my dad when we saw them at the Target Center. And I was hooked.
I am obsessed with sustained success, because I think it's easy to make a splash. But to continue to make waves for years on end, that's difficult...especially in art. How many bands get a hit single and ride those coattails for 40+ years? In my personal opinion, I have always loved how Metallica has evolved their sound, aesthetic, and performance quality...most bands don't try to change (and I think that's lame.)
They put out a new album last year "72 Seasons" and the whole design aesthetic of the album/tour was pretty bold. They just posted an article detailing the thought process the designers put into everything, and it's such a great insight. The vibrant yellow and black colors are striking, and here's why:
"The first visual idea that came to me was when I heard the song “Lux Æterna,” and there was talk of it being the single. What does eternal light look like? I thought, “Well, it’s the brightest color you can possibly have, almost too bright to look at.” That doesn’t want to be white because white is kind of bland. But yellow… I just thought the eternal light is yellow. So, the yellow came directly from one song and its spirit of hope and optimism. But it’s not a happy, jolly, sing-along album. There’s also so much of the usual Metallica darkness, so I knew it had to be combined with something to convey that."
-David Turner
Later in the article they talk about the practical benefits of the theme colors
"There’s a reason we’re doing this, which is about the art, but there’s also a practical thing. We want people to know Metallica’s got a new album out, and if we can wave the flag in their face, they’ll notice. And when they notice, they’re more likely to listen...The simple yellow-black combination sets itself apart. So, when “Lux Æterna” debuted, and amongst a bunch of other songs in your Spotify stream or whatever, you saw a super simple graphic – a black M with the guy on a yellow background – it stuck out like a sore thumb. That was very deliberate."
-also David.
If you're curious about the whole thought process, check out the article below (there's some expletives because metal)
https://lnkd.in/g-pH7EzY
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3mo#stunning