Metallica, Genting Arena, Birmingham - review and pictures

Currently touring the world in support of their 10th studio album Hardwired to Self Destruct, this tour is the band's first UK run since the World Magnetic tour six years ago - despite visits to our shores for festival headline slots at Glastonbury and Sonisphere.

From the moment the familiar sound of Ennio Morricone’s The Ecstasy of Gold rang out around a packed-out Genting Arena, the crowd leapt into action and remained on their feet for the entirety of the show.

And as the band walked proudly from the back of the arena to take their places on the stage in the middle of the arena, it was hard to comprehend that for the next two and a half hours you would be experiencing rock royalty.

But as soon as the first three songs of ‘Hardwired’, ‘Atlas Rise’ and ‘Seek & Destroy’ are played out, all your rock star dreams come true.

With a rare outing of The Shortest Straw as well as covers of Black Sabbath and Diamond Head songs, it’s clear that two Metallica shows are never the same and you’re a part of something unique and exciting.

The band also took the time to dedicate Moth Into Flame to the late Amy Winehouse, a track about the pitfalls of fame.

In terms of production, the show was built in the middle of the arena with a range of block screens moving around to create various visual landscapes including some fantastic sights during Welcome Home (Sanitarium) that gave the impression that people were genuinely trapped into the boxes. Now We’re Dead also saw the band each take to a drum solo in a ‘Stomp’ manner, a surprising choice from a band so usually stylish and ‘cool’.

James Hetfield’s vocals sounded as strong as ever with his ‘Are you alive Birmingham?’ chants getting the crowd pumped while the rest of the band demonstrated their master craft at their instruments. I was personally amazed at Lars Ulrich’s stamina throughout such a lengthy and up tempo set.

Once the last half hour reared its head, it’s clear why Metallica remain arguably the biggest rock band on the planet with Sad but True, One (featuring a power cut) and Master of Puppets bringing the show to a close before the band return for an encore of Spit Out The Bone, Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman.

An all inclusive and involved show, acting in the round allowed the entire arena to feel close to the show and it reflected in the passionate welcome the band received.

For the time that Metallica were on the stage, it was true that Nothing Else Matters.