It is true. Metallica were booed last night at their concert at Melbourne`s Rod Laver Arena but that was because fans did not want them to finish.
10 minutes after curfew after two songs from the encore, singer James Hetfield teased his loyal army of fans by threatening to put his guitar away and leave the stage. As he handed it to his guitar tech, the crowd booed. They did not want Metallica to leave, despite being past knock-off time at the venue. It was 11.10pm at this stage but the crowd demanded one more. 'Seek & Destroy' is a Metallica fan classic and now pretty much a signature farewell at their shows. It was also a highlight of the show.
It had been three months since Metallica were last on stage and six years since their last Australian tour.
The set opened with the two songs 'That Was Just Your Life' and 'The End Of The Line' from their most recent album 'Death Magnetic', a somewhat unusual way for Metallica to start a gig. It also created a different vibe to the Metallica shows I had seen before. In fact, they have upped the visuals over their previous shows with 'That Was Just Your Life' performed in darkness with a backdrop of a laser light show. For 'Fuel', out came the pyrotechnics.
Metallica are unquestionably the biggest metal band on planet and they know how to command an audience. They became the master of their puppets by giving the audience what they want and that seems to be the old stuff.
The first five albums ''Kill 'Em All', 'Ride The Lightning', 'Master Of Puppets', '… And Justice For All' and 'Metallica' accounted for 12 of 18 songs. The latest album 'Death Magnetic' was featured four times. 'Fuel' from the 1997 'ReLoad' has been added back to the set.
Metallica shows invariably ignore more recent records. Both 'Load' and 'St Anger' were not represented in this show. A cover of Diamond Head's 'Are You Evil?' was their scheduled cover song of the evening. James Hetfield introduced it as the part of the show where they pay tribute to the bands they grew up listening to. Metallica recorded the song for a 1984 single and also featured two Diamond Head covers on their 1998 covers record 'Garage Inc'.
Opening act The Sword from Austin, Texas are worth getting in early for. The Sword at times channelled Black Sabbath (or maybe it was Wolfmother). This is a band to watch.
Fear Factory had the slot immediately before Metallica. You could not ask for a better support act. Fear Factory knows Australia and Australia knows Fear Factory. Their break-up may have taken fans by surprise but when Dino Cazares and Burton C. Bell put their differences aside last year, it was just want the fans wanted.
Metallica's next Australian dates are:
Tonight, September 16, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
September 18, Sydney, Acer Arena
October 16, 18, 19, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre
October 22, 23, Perth, Burswood Dome
November 15, 16, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
November 18, 20, 21, Melbourne Rod Laver Arena
November 10, 11, 13, Sydney, Acer Arena
Setlist
That Was Just Your Life (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
The End Of The Line (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
For Whom The Bell Tolls (from Ride The Lightning, 1984)
Fuel (from ReLoad, 1997)
Fade To Black (from Ride The Lightning, 1984)
Broken, Beat and Scarred (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
No Remorse (from Kill 'Em All, 1983)
Sad But True (from Metallica, 1991)
Welcome Home (Sanitarium) (from Master of Puppets, 1986)
All Nightmare Long (from Death Magnetic, 2008)
One (from … And Justice For All, 1988)
Master Of Puppets (from Master of Puppets, 1986)
Blackened (from … And Justice For All, 1988)
Nothing Else Matters (from Metallica, 1991)
Enter Sandman (from Metallica, 1991)
Am I Evil? (Diamond Head cover)
Whiplash (from Kill 'Em All, 1983)
Seek & Destroy (from Kill 'Em All, 1983)
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