Metallica concert review: Back-to-back shows melted faces at MetLife

5 many years into their illustrious profession, Metallica hasn’t misplaced a step.

The Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame group stopped by East Rutherford, NJ’s MetLife Stadium for a pair of live shows on Friday, Aug. 4 and Sunday, Aug. 6 as a part of their ‘M72 Tour.’

As you will have anticipated, they didn’t disappoint.

Ryan Murphy, the New York Put up’s resident Metallibanger, attended each reveals and mentioned the band “performed every part you’d need to hear with no repeats over the 2 nights.”

“Regardless that they’re selling their new file,” he continued, “they performed all of the fan favorites.”

For Murphy that included “Creeping Demise,” “Search and Destroy” and “Grasp of Puppets” on night time one.

Evening two’s standout tracks included “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “One” and “Enter Sandman,” which many New Yorkers could recall was Yankees nearer Mariano Rivera’s menacing entrance track over the course of his storied profession.

Two songs really stood out although. All Murphy might say about “Whiplash” and “Journey The Lightning” have been “wow.”

For these questioning concerning the present’s structure, Metallica carried out in a round stage on the 50-yard line with a Basic Admission crowd — often called The Snake Pit — within the center.

“This allowed the very energetic James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo to maneuver the drum set to the 4 corners of the stage,” Murphy shared. “Regardless of the place you have been, you bought a good view of the band.”

“For those who aren’t up shut,” Murphy famous that he “counted eight big pillars with cylindrically-shaped displays for extra viewing.”

The live performance expertise

Apart from the music, the 31-year-old Murphy famous that the gang was made up of individuals of their 50s.

“A ton of dads with their youngsters, myself included. Yeah, I went with my dad.”

Metallica could have taken their fanbase under consideration when plotting this multi-day residency tour.

“Each present has a relaxation day in between which is required,” Murphy mentioned. “The whole present plus their openers — Pantera (with Zakk Wylde!) and Mammoth WVH on night time one and 5 Finger Demise Punch and Ice 9 Kills on night time two is roughly 5 and a half hours.”

Because of this, Murphy had a neater time than normal moving into the present since most followers trickled in nearer to the night’s headliner.

Nonetheless, “the merch strains have been ridiculously lengthy. That being mentioned, the customized shirts that they had for every present have been cool.”

Wish to see what they performed reside?

Take a look at the set lists for each of Metallica’s Backyard State gigs at Set List FM.

Metallica 2023-24 tour schedule

The tour is way from over.

Metallica nonetheless has two-day stays lined up at venues all around the U.S. and Canada this yr and subsequent.

Wish to discover out in the event that they’re coming to a metropolis close to you?

Take a look at Metallica’s full 2023-24 tour calendar right here for a better look.

Energy Journey Competition

The heaviest competition of the yr is coming to Indio, CA this fall.

From Oct. 6-8, Metallica will be part of forces with AC/DC (performing reside for the primary time since 2016!), Judas Priest, Device, Weapons N’ Roses and Iron Maiden on the Empire Polo Grounds.

Want tickets for the three-day extravaganza?

You possibly can decide Energy Journey tickets up right here.

Metallica opening acts

Right here’s slightly background on every of Metallica’s opening acts for nights one and two of the M72 Tour.

Pantera are main headliners in their very own proper as properly. Fashioned in 1981, the group has bought roughly 20 million data worldwide and has acquired 4 Grammy nominations over the previous 4 many years. Only a few of their greatest hits embrace “Stroll,” “Cowboys From Hell,” and “Cemetery Gates.”

Mammoth WVH is Wolfgang Van Halen’s rock band. For these questioning, sure, Van Halen is the son of guitar legend Eddie Van Halen. In 2021, the group launched its first album, “Mammoth WVH.” Previous to this run, the group co-headlined a tour with Soiled Honey in early 2022.

5 Finger Demise Punch, initially from Las Vegas, slays. Energetic since 2005, the five-member outfit just lately toured with Megadeth, The Hu, and Hearth from the Gods. They’re not going wherever anytime quickly, both. Lead singer Ivan Moody just lately mentioned, “I can’t stop…I ain’t going wherever,” in an interview with Revolver.

Ice 9 Kills has launched six albums since their 2000 inception. Within the 22 years since they obtained their begin, the band has made a reputation for itself with their “horror-inspired lyrics.” Literature followers, in case you have been questioning, the reply is sure. The group’s title is a reference to Kurt Vonnegut’s seminal 1963 novel “Cat’s Cradle.”

Enormous exhausting rock excursions in 2023

Though no tour this yr will rock fairly as exhausting as Metallica’s, lots of the greatest names in steel can be on the highway these subsequent few months.

Listed below are simply 5 excursions that ought to flip the quantity up all the best way as much as 11 within the close to future.

• Rob Zombie with Alice Cooper

• Mötley Crüe & Def Leppard

• Avenged Sevenfold

• Disturbed

• Mudvayne

Wish to see who else is touring these subsequent few months? Take a look at our record of the 52 greatest live performance excursions in 2023 right here.