Metallica will take two concerts in Detroit to promote for “72 Seasons”, their 11th studio album
When a band has been rocking for over four decades, they’ve accumulated a vast catalog of songs, making it challenging to fit everything into a standard two-hour live show. However, Metallica, the masters of metal, have devised a clever solution. On their current M72 tour in support of their latest studio album, “72 Seasons,” the band is taking a unique approach by playing two concerts in each city with completely different setlists, ensuring that no song is repeated. They even invited different opening acts for each show, effectively running two separate tours simultaneously.
This strategy was evident during their recent weekend in St. Louis, where the Dome at America’s Center hosted their tour. Friday night’s show featured Mammoth WVH and the resurrected Pantera as the opening acts, while Ice Nine Kills and Five Finger Death Punch took the stage on Sunday.
It’s important to clarify that this review covers only the first of the two shows. Due to the overwhelming attendance, I could only attend the Friday night performance, missing out on Wolfgang Van Halen and his band, Mammoth WVH.
The evening began with a fierce, relentless performance by the revived Pantera, which recently reemerged following the tragic events of guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott’s murder in 2004 and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott’s passing in 2018. In 2022, surviving members Phil Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) announced the return of Pantera. To pay homage to the Abbott brothers, they enlisted the talents of Ozzy Osborne and Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante.
Pantera’s set kicked off explosively with “A New Level,” followed by “Mouth for War.” All the beloved Pantera classics made an appearance, including “Becoming” and “I’m Broken.” The performance featured a recorded version of “Cemetery Gates” accompanied by a tribute video honoring Dime and Vinnie.
Pantera closed their set with a powerful rendition of “Domination / Hollow” and the iconic “Cowboys From Hell.”
After building up anticipation with AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” and the well-known opening clip from “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly,” set to Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold,” Metallica took the stage with a bang. The show kicked off with a crowd-thrilling rendition of the Biblical Exodus, “Creeping Death.” There’s something extraordinary about tens of thousands of fans chanting “Die! Die! Die!” in unison.
In a 16-song set, Metallica skillfully blended their classic hits with newer tracks, reserving some familiar standards for the second show. Friday night featured songs from their latest record, including “Lux Æterna,” “Shadows Follow,” and “Too Far Gone?,” along with classics like “Seek & Destroy,” “Fade to Black,” and “Harvester of Sorrow.”
The crowd enthusiastically joined in for songs like “The Memory Remains,” “The Day That Never Comes,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Hardwired.” It was a musical journey spanning every era of Metallica, with the exception of “St. Anger,” an album the band seems to have put aside, but which I still appreciate.
As the echoes of “Seek & Destroy” reverberated through the stadium, traditionally the final song of many tours, Metallica had one more surprise in store for the Friday night crowd. They launched into “Master of Puppets,” a 1986 metal anthem that has enjoyed a resurgence thanks to its inclusion in Netflix’s “Stranger Things.” However, for diehard Metallica fans, this song has always been an integral part of the band’s legacy. It served as a perfect conclusion to an incredible evening.
Throughout their career, Metallica has experienced their fair share of ups and downs, but it appears they have found their groove, both within the band and among their fans. Twenty years ago, a documentary titled “Some Kind of Monster” chronicled the band’s struggles to continue existing. Now, two decades later, singer/guitarist James Hetfield, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett, drummer Lars Ulrich, and bassist Robert Trujillo are packing football stadiums for two nights in each city, delivering four hours of music and enjoying every moment of it.
The U.S. leg of the M72 tour has one more stop in Detroit on November 10 and 12 before the band takes a break and heads to Europe next year. Fans can stay updated on all upcoming events by visiting metallica.com.