That’s how it was with METALLICA

May 24, 2024, Munich: Olympic Stadium

The magic and attraction that the music of our heroes has on us cannot quite be put into words. If, however, the freight – which is now transported entirely by electric trucks Metallica-When 75,000 people squeeze into the venerable Olympic Stadium in Munich, defying wind, weather and even enormous beer prices, it becomes clear that there is more on offer here than just music. Metallica create head cinema and real cinema in equal measure. A sequence from Sergio Leone’s western masterpiece “Two Glorious Scoundrels” with the soundtrack “Ecstasy of Gold” was shown on one of the eight towers rising out of the crowd and equipped with screens. Metallica have been taking the stage to these sounds for several decades.

The four Californians also took you on a journey through a best-of of metal history this evening. As divided as opinions may be about the last albums, hardly any other band can boast such a large collection of hits and anthems as the thrash legends. By the time “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was played, it was clear to everyone what time it was. Interrupted only by brief declarations of love to the Munich audience, one metal salvo after another from over four decades of Metallica poured mercilessly onto the fans in the sold-out stadium. Everyone present was part of the Metallica family, as frontman and still the fastest rhythm guitar hand in the Wild West, James Hetfield, never tired of mentioning. The three songs played from the current album “72 Seasons” – “Lux Aeterna”, “Too Far Gone” and “Shadows Follow” – fitted in perfectly amongst classics such as “Fade to Black”, “Sad But True” or the immortal “Nothing Else Matters”, which still didn’t leave a dry eye in the house, even for the hardest of the hard.

It shouldn’t be the only reason for moist eyes. After a little more than half of the show, heavy rain set in, which also soaked the band completely. On their ring-shaped stage in the center of the stadium, they were completely exposed to the weather. But anyone who thinks that this would even begin to ruffle their feathers or put out the heavy metal fireworks is very much mistaken. Lead guitarist Kirk Hammett threw on a practical leather jacket that made him look even cooler. The dervish on the bass, Rob Trujillo, simply put on a cap to keep the precipitation out of his eyes so that he could continue to see what the nimble fingers were doing on the bass. Lars Ulrich allegedly took off his shirt for the first time since a show in New York in the nineties. The vow he made back then to never do that again was broken, as he later recounted. How Hetfield still managed to look tougher and cooler in a pragmatic rain jacket than other rockers who put a lot of time and energy into choosing their stage outfits will probably remain the sixty-year-old’s secret forever. The metal giants shredded tirelessly across their stage, even Lars Ulrich’s drums changed position several times.

After more than two hours, the concert came to an end with “Master of Puppets” and the black-clad mob was released into the night. All a good deal wetter, deader and hoarser, but all happy and animated and many of them ready to repeat the same thing two days later. Then with a completely new setlist and certainly no fewer classics.

Text: Michael Schille
Photos: Fred Gasch

Setlist:
“Whiplash” – “For Whom the Bell Tolls” – “Of Wolf and Man” – “The Memory Remains” – “Lux Aeterna” – “Too Far Gone” + Hofbräuhaus Jam – “Fade to Black” – “Shadows Follow” – “Orion” – “Nothing Else Matters” – “Sad But True” – “The Day That Never Comes” – “Hardwired” – “Fuel” – “Seek and Destroy” – “Master of Puppets”

Experience Metallica live:
May 29, 2024 IT Milan, I-Days
June 01, 2024 AT-Vienna, Racino Rocks
June 07, 2024 FI-Helsinki, Olympic Stadium
June 09, 2024 FI-Helsinki, Olympic Stadium
June 14, 2024 DK-Copenhagen, Parken Stadium
June 16, 2024 DK-Copenhagen, Parken Stadium
June 26, 2024 NO-Oslo, Tons of Rock
June 29, 2024 FR-Clisson, Hellfest
July 05, 2024 PL-Warsaw, PGE Narodowy
July 07, 2024 PL-Warsaw, PGE Narodowy
July 12, 2024 SP-Madrid, Estadio Cívitas
July 14, 2024 SP-Madrid, Estadio Cívitas

Have you got your ticket?

Enjoy Metallica in our “Dark Rock” playlist on Spotify: