Metallica have shared a new version of the video for 72 Seasons featuring an interpretation in American Sign Language by Amber Galloway.
The 72 Seasons video was released this past Saturday to coincide with National ASL Day in the USA. The band has also confirmed that they will be uploading ASL interpretation videos for every track from their eleventh studio album 72 Seasons. All 12 interpretations to be available to fans by the 25th of April.
In a statement, the band offered their insight on the project and extended heartfelt thank you to Galloway for the interpretations.
"We were extremely lucky to connect with Amber Galloway of AG Productions, whom many of you may have seen signing at any number of music festivals around the US, including Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits. Her company specializes in the interpretation of concerts and music festivals and has been instrumental helping us to be the first rock artists to create ASL video versions of an entire album using Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing interpreters. DPAN, The Deaf Professional Arts Network, is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2006 by deaf musician Sean Forbes, and music producer Joel Martin to make music accessible for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. DPAN has produced two ASL music video DVD compilations, created a streaming platform, and produced several accessible music livestreams in partnership with Amber G Productions. DPAN has a committed team of deaf and signing video producers, videographers, editors, captioners and more who are dedicated to creating high quality American Sign Language and captioning access for all to enjoy.
It’s been an honor to work with Amber and DPAN teams, and we hope that our fans in the deaf and hard of hearing community enjoy experiencing the album through these videos!"
The band also shared an announcement video via their social networks featuring deaf fan Tom Osbourne who helped the band reveal the unprecedented news.
Osborne signed "It is my honor to announce on April 25th, Metallica will release all music videos from 72 Seasons in ASL, Metallica is the first major rock band to do this. To celebrate National ASL Day, Metallica partnered up with Amber G Productions and DPAN to release the official music video for "72 Seasons" in ASL."
The highly anticipated 72 Seasons release is the Bay Area thrash icons' first full-length offering since 2016's Hardwired... To Self Destruct. Produced by Greg Fidelman, the 12-track, 77-minute album is a concept record based on the impact of the first 18 years of life on the foundation of identity.
Frontman James Hetfield explains "72 seasons. The first 18 years of our lives that form our true or false selves. The concept that we were told 'who we are' by our parents. A possible pigeonholing around what kind of personality we are. I think the most interesting part of this is the continued study of those core beliefs and how it affects our perception of the world today. Much of our adult experience is a reenactment or reaction to these childhood experiences. Prisoners of childhood or breaking free of those bondages we carry."
The band has been hosting listening parties at cinemas across the globe in the last 24 hours, giving fans the opportunity to experience the record in full surround sound while viewing videos for every track.
The listening parties follow the release of four singles, Lux Aeterna, Screaming Suicide, If Darkness Had A Son and 72 Seasons in previewing the album, with each providing a glimpse at the explorative nature of 72 Seasons which sees the band embrace elements of their legendary '80s heyday filtered through the prism of their more modern offerings.
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