Metallica is now two for two as the band released today “Screaming Suicide” the second song off their forthcoming 12-song album 72 Seasons due April 14.

Oh no, not another heavy metal suicide song! Actually not. “Screaming Suicide”  sounds a shade different than the weight riffs you might expect from  Metallica with that song title. Much more a hard or even modern rock song than fans might expect from the band, “Screaming Suicide” stretches five and half minutes and though not as quick paced as “Lux Æterna” the first song released off the album in November, “Screaming Suicide” uses the well-honed Metallica song writing formula that incorporates varying tempos and the ripping jam session midway through led by guitarist Kirk Hammett.

As for the content, singer James Hetfield says “’Screaming Suicide’ addresses the taboo word of suicide. The intention is to communicate about the darkness we feel inside. It’s ridiculous to think we should deny that we have these thoughts. At one point or another I believe most people have thought about it. To face it is to speak the unspoken. If it’s a human experience, we should be able to talk about it. You are not alone.”

To their credit, Metallica has never shied away from the subject of suicide, “Cyanide” and “Suicide & Redemption” both off 2007’s Death Magnetic as recent examples. But nothing more prominent as the prototypical – musically and lyrically – “Fade to Black”  off 1984’s Ride the Lightning.

Though the chorus sounds contrived, it doesn’t take long to enjoy “Screaming Suicide” and if you think the song might sink you in the miry clay like “Fade to Black” this track does quite the opposite. Listen below or, if grayed out, watch  “Screaming Suicide” on YouTube.