Metallica kicked off their Australian tour at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena last night (Wed, 15/9) with a mixed set that at times showed the 15,000 strong crowd why they are the icons they are, and at times felt like they were a shadow of their former selves.
The slow opening with new tracks 'That Was Just Your Life' and 'The End Of The Line' wasn't the explosive start I was hoping for and the floating coffins and laser show seemed a bit tacky in comparison with 2004's plain stage and white light set, which left me feeling nervous and regretting not really paying that much attention to their latest album 'Death Magnetic', but in the end there was something for everyone.
An unexpected showing of 'Fuel' separated the young fans from the old, with thousands of younger fans for whom that would be their first memory, but fan favourites 'Master of Puppets' and a brutally fast version of 'Blackened' were what a majority of people there were itching to hear.
Diamond Head's 'Am I Evil?' took fans by surprise, with James Hetfield letting the crowd rip up the chorus while he stood there lapping up the thousands of voices singing back at him.
Metallica put on a great show, but something seemed to be lacking compared to their January 2004 show at the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. The crowd were into it, the band were into it and it was a great show, but it wasn't the iconic life-changing performance the band are capable of.
Perhaps I'm just upset because I didn't get to hear my favourite, 'Creeping Death'?
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)
The band's remaining dates are:
SEPTEMBER
16 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
18 - Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW
OCTOBER
16 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
18 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
19 - Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane, QLD
22 - Burswood Dome, Perth, WA
23 - Burswood Dome, Perth, WA
NOVEMBER
15 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA
16 - Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA
10 - Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW
11 - Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW
13 - Acer Arena, Sydney, NSW
18 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
20 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
21 - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, VIC
In other news, here is my interview with one-time Metallica member Dave Mustaine:
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