Metallica: Tatane round trip

Back at the Stade de France, the Metallica behemoths offered two anthology evenings, with 32 different songs in a grandiose setting. Live report

Due to his stage reputation, Metallica stop at nothing to offer an ever more grandiose spectacle. This time, for their third and fourth appearances at the Stade de France, the four Americans are applying a new formula: the “no repeat weekend”. The two setlists are completely different, just like the first parts: Ice Nine Kills and Epica (replacing Five Finger Death Punch at short notice) open the ball on the first evening, while Mammoth WVH and Architects take care of the second.

A successful bet for the Four Horsemen, who model their concerts on a similar structure, with thunderous missiles to open (“For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Creeping Death”, not to mention them) and unstoppable classics to finish (“Seek & Destroy” and “Master of Puppets” on the first night, “One” and “Enter Sandman” on the second). Between the two, the group highlights its old songs, a fact which it has been accustomed to for many years, with the exception of Kill’em Allrepresented by a single piece during these two evenings. He doesn’t forget his new album, 72 Seasons of which three pieces are played each evening. We note with delight that “Lux Aeterna” and its reminiscences of “Hit The Lights” blend perfectly into the setting, just like “Screaming Suicide”, which hits the mark with the most fervent fans.

Ross Halfin

Of course, Metallica also has some nice surprises in store for fans, with the rare “I Disappear” on the first night, taken from the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack, or the festive cover of “Whiskey in the Jar” based on Thin Lizzy’s version, which had not been played in France since 1999. The instrumental card is also played, with the epic “Orion” and the more nuanced “The Call of Ktulu”, respectively taken from Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning.

Twice two hours of concert, presented in an atypical setting. If Metallica is now a regular customer at the Stade de France, he had never played on a central stage there. The latter, circular, is arranged to accommodate fans within it: the famous snakepit. The luckiest (and most fortunate) worshipers were therefore able to enjoy a breathtaking view of the four musicians.

Ross Halfin

They are also in good shape, with energetic titles performed with force, while infusing the right amount of emotion for the more nuanced ones like “The Unforgiven” or “Fade To Black”. The rare technical errors (a few rhythmic inaccuracies from Lars Ulrich or discreet loaves from Kirk Hammet) do not tarnish the picture. On the other hand, we regret a surprisingly quiet James Hetfield and too many pauses between pieces, which break the rhythm of two well-orchestrated shows. These shadows on the board do not, however, prevent the public from rejoicing like never before in front of a Metallica always so generous on stage, with Robert Trujillo always mobile. A successful double blow, which leaves you dreaming when you imagine the surprises that the metal bosses have in store for the future.

Setlists:

May 17: