After a day’s break for some sightseeing following Friday nights fantastic perofrmance. As well as some hasty mortgage applications being made to cover our bills at the pop-up shop. We’ve returned, along with thousands of other Metallica fans, to London Stadium. Where, despite the blazing heat, we’re ready for round two of the bands no repeat weekend in the nation’s capital.
The sun is still high in the sky when the gates open and the number of different accents we overhear on our way in for another day of heavy metal madness is almost beyond count. Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Sweden… It’s as though London Stadium has its very own World Cup crowd today. Except they aren’t here to see who takes home the trophy. They’re here to see Hetfield & Co close out their globe spanning M72 World Tour.
Such is the might of the metal icons. That even during a weekend packed with Pride events, numerous other concerts, a Formula 1 race happening just up the road and of course, the aforementioned football tournament itself. Which has England poised to take on Mexico in the wee hours of the morning. The bands presence has still been felt throughout London this weekend. It’s been hard to turn a corner or jump on the tube without spotting a fellow metalhead sporting their Metallica t-shirt. They’ve made headlines for their Blood Drive initiative and charity donations. There have been movie marathons, tribute nights, Kirk himself took over the EartH Theatre in Hackney for an evening in conversation… It is difficult to think of another artist in the genre that has the same level of impact. Truly changing the landscape, wherever they may roam, so to speak.
Of course, all these side quests and their laudable charity work aside. The reason we’re all here, from across multiple continents. Is the mighty, Metallica (9) themselves. Despite still riding a high from watching Friday night’s show, the goosebumps that form as we take our places. While Ennio Morricones Ecstasy of Gold echoes around the stadium are still very real. Immediately, the crowd is absolutely buzzing with anticipation and none of us can wait to see what is essentially the second half of a mammoth four-hour show from the Bay Area veterans
We couldn’t ask for a more ferocious triple threat of openers either. The old school thrash metal fury of Whiplash, straight into the familiar stomp of For Whom the Bell Tolls. Topped off beautifully with a thunderous rendition of Ride the Lightning that has everyone in the terraces up and on their feet. Then, just when we think the audience couldn’t possibly get any louder, the band roll right into Memory Remains. Prompting a sing-a-long moment that can probably be heard across half of the nation’s capital.
The next highlight on a seemingly endless reel comes when James and Lars disappear from the stage, leaving Kirk and Rob to their nightly jam. Which they rather fittingly begin with Electric Funeral by Black Sabbath. Paying homage to the Prince of Darkness on the anniversary of Back to the Beginning, where a year ago today we watched the man himself take his final bow. Causing chants of “Ozzy, Ozzy, Ozzy” to erupt from every corner of the stadium and making one of the evening’s most emotional moments.
Another rotation of the drum-kit later, the whole band re-emerge and we’re firmly back in greatest hits territory once again with bangers like The Day That Never Comes and Wherever I May Roam truly putting our vocal chords to the test. Until the instrumental break of The Call of Ktulu gives us chance to breathe once again.
With their curfew approaching, Metallica really start swinging for the fences. It shows just how deep their back catalogue is and how many stones cold classics dwell within too. Because even having finished Friday night’s show with Master of Puppets and Seek and Destroy, two of their most well known finishers. There is still absolutely no stopping them as they pull hit after hit out of the bag.
After Whisky in the Jar makes a raucous and very welcome return to the set. Papa Het’s right hand hits us with the frantic intro to Blackened. Which hits like a speeding Mac truck with no brakes. Moth into Flame, one of their most popular singles of the last decade unfortunately falls victim to the only sound snafu of the weekend. With Jame’s mic dropping out midway through the verse, but with so many voices joining in right along with him it’s genuinely a blink and you’ll miss it moment.
The silence that follows is almost deafening… Then machine gun fire starts rattling through the PA, followed by a battery of flame canons that erupt from the stage right on cue. Then the opening arpeggio of One rings out hauntingly around London Stadium and those goosebumps we felt at the start of the night are right back with us. Granted, Metallica have been doing this for years. But even without the stuntmen and collapsing rigging of the Cunning Stunts era, it’s still a spellbinding spectacle.
We would say there’s only one song left to take us home, in truth, there are at least half a dozen that could bring tonight’s set to a suitably epic end. However, Enter Sandman is the obvious and perfect choice to bring the bands three year long M72 World Tour to a close. Our feet might be aching and we dread to think how many of the 80,000 people in here are verging on a case of heat stroke. But as soon as that unmistakable main riff kicks in and oversized beach balls rain down from the sound towers surrounding the stage all these things are forgotten. And for six glorious minutes we bask in one of the best performances and most electric atmospheres you’re ever likely to find at metal concert.
Say what you will about the ticket prices, the merch queues and the heat. Nobody does this quite like Metallica and it shows on every beaming face walking out of London Stadium. For two short hours, we have all been part of a much bigger family and for all our aches, pains and credit card bills, we already can’t wait for our next reunion!
