ANALAYSIS/OPINION:
Say what you want about Metallica, but this is a band that puts on a show for all its fans, be they in the “Snakepit,” the area closest to the stage, or those in the 500-level cheap seats.
“We don’t care who you are, what your race or creed is. If you’re here, you’re family — you’re part of the Metallica family,” said lead singer James Hetfield Wednesday night at M&T Stadium in Baltimore.
Kicking off the first night of their Worldwired 2017 tour, the Bay Area rockers employed rolling lines of fire across the stage, explosions, fireworks and a catwalk that went far out into the crowd. Band members moved around freely to perform from anywhere in the house, providing the audience better views of each member throughout the set.
At one point late in the show, the entire band, including drummer Lars Ulrich playing a second full drum kit, congregated at the farthest point of the catwalk for “Fade to Black” and “Seek and Destroy.”
“This is a reproduction of our garage,” joked Mr. Hetfield. “Our garage with, like, a thousand people.
“We’re living our dream.”
To this end, and in true Metallica fashion, three gigantic floor toms flanked Mr. Ulrich as the band started “Now That We’re Dead,” from their latest record, “Hardwired… to Self-Destruct.” After a rousing drum solo from Mr. Ulrich, Mr. Hetfield, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo each took one of the floor toms and proceeded to produce drum beats in unison, and then in a melodic interlude with each other, and then along with Mr. Ulrich.
The result was a collective sound that was probably heard as far away as Cleveland.
“We’re always learning and trying to have some fun,” Mr. Hetfield said. “This isn’t a band about standing still.”
The intensity and power only ratcheted up. Each stage effect rose above the last, amping the audience energy ever higher, and inspiring the band to play even harder. “Now That We’re Dead” was followed by another cut from the new record, “Moth Into Flame,” bringing the guitarists out on the catwalks to shred together.
As the band hit the chorus, the enormous screens flashed fire 100 feet high, as a rolling wave of real fire tumbled across the stage and explosions shot into the sky.
Some bands use stage effects when they can’t bring the goods musically, but not Metallica. Messrs. Hammett and Trujillo proved this with an amazing display of musicianship on “Halo on Fire.” Standing at the far curve of the catwalk, Mr. Hammett kicked things off with the bridge of Jimi Hendrix’s “Third Stone from the Sun.” He was joined by Mr. Trujillo to trade off licks on “Bleeding Me,” then moved back to the stage to continue with “I Disappear.”
Anyone who ever thought that a bass guitar sound is boring has never heard Mr. Trujillo. In fact, in a lovely homage to Cliff Burton — Metallica’s original bassist, who died in a bus accident in 1986 — Mr. Trujillo was left alone to play “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)” as video of Burton played behind him. (Mr. Trujillo replaced Burton’s initial inheritor, Jason Newsted, in 2003.)
From there, the band made their past present. “Do you like your music heavy?” Mr. Hetfield asked. “Well, Metallica gives you heavy,” he said and launched into “Hit the Lights” from the band’s first album, 1983’s “Kill ’Em All.”
Lasers lit up the sky, and video of silhouetted soldiers going off to war played behind the band during the sorrowful and soulful “One,” and the entire stadium joined together to scream the lines “Obey your master/Your life burns faster” during “Master of Puppets,” which sounded like a moving cadre of tanks. Mr. Hetfield’s sinister laughing growl at the end of the tune is something every music fan needs to experience live at least once.
By the time Metallica wrapped things up with the three-song encore of “Battery,” “Nothing Else Matters” and “Enter Sandman,” they’d been playing nearly two hours. The first show of any band’s tour may display some kinks being worked out or just ramping things up, but not Metallica.
As Mr. Hetfield asked the crowd, “Are you still alive, Baltimore? How does it feel to be alive?” the audience, and the band, could only answer that it felt amazing.
For more photos from the event, go to Flickr.com/photos/betweenloveandlike/albums.
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