Kirk Hammett has revealed that Metallica paid tribute to a classic superhero property on the new album 72 Seasons by incorporating the instantly recognizable chromatic hook from the Adam West Batman show.
Metallica made their highly-anticipated return this year with 72 Seasons – a 12-track heavy metal masterpiece featuring numerous electric guitar highlights, including one of the most notable guitar riffs of 2023.
Aside from the inspirational riffs, spine-tingling guitar solos, and James Hetfield’s consistently impressive right-hand picking abilities, the expansive sonic opus was also notable for another reason, catering to a specific section of Metallica’s avid fan base.
Pop culture references are not uncommon in music, but 72 Seasons contained a big one on Shadows Follow: listen to the track and fast forward to the 4:29 mark. Do you recognize what you hear? If at first it slips past you, pay attention when the riff reappears a few seconds later.
Indeed, that chromatic melody bears a striking resemblance to the Batman theme. It’s like the classic Neal Hefti theme from Adam West’s ’60s Batman iteration.
You can practically sing “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na” along with it when Hammett unleashes the riff and it fits right in.
Upon the album’s release, this little surprise hidden within Shadows Follow piqued the curiosity of listeners all over the internet. “Anyone else here [sic] the 60s Batman theme song in Shadows Follow?” one fan asked on the Metallica Reddit forum.
The responses were clear: “Yes! I immediately heard it and it honestly took me out of the song for a second,” someone replied. “Man, I laughed my ass off at that part the first time I listened to the song,” wrote another. “Great track overall.”
The internet meme exploded when a TikTok fan overlaid images of Batman and the theme’s, erm, lyrics over one of Metallica’s live performances of Shadows Follow.
Well, the entire internet is about to feel very validated, as it turns out that the track indeed features a nod to West’s Batman theme – and it was seemingly included intentionally.
Speaking in the new issue of Total Guitar, Hammett even revealed that he and the band had a formal name for it: “The Batman Riff”.
When asked about all the elemental inspirations that contributed to 72 Seasons, and when it was suggested that Metallica was an indisputably rock ‘n’ roll band – despite the metal and thrash connotations – Hammett responded: “Thank you for recognizing that, because we are.”
And, when questioned about that moment in Shadows Follow,
