METALLICA/PANTERA – M72 TOUR – METLIFE STADIUM

By Joe Perusse

Metallica roared into Metlife Stadium to kick off the North American leg of their M72 tour. The tour has 2 nights in each city with 2 different set lists and 2 different opening acts each night. Friday night was supported by Mammoth WVH and Pantera. Sunday the crowd got to see Ice Nine Kills and Five Finger Death Punch.

Mammoth WVH took the stage promptly at 6 and a good portion of the crowd had filed in to see the first act of the weekend. The band led off with “Mammoth” and “Mr. Ed”, a tribute to Eddie Van Halen which featured Wolfgang Van Halen ( Vocals/Lead Guitar) using the tapping method his father made famous. The next 2 songs “Like a Pastime” and I’m Alright” were off the bands new album Mammoth 2 which was released on the day of the show.

“You’re to Blame” and another off the new record, “Another Celebration at the End of the World” led into the final song of their set “Don’t Back Down”. Frank Sidoris (Rhythm Guitar), Jon Jourdan (Rhythm Guitar), Ronnie Ficarro (Bass Guitar) and Garrett Whitlock (Drums) fill out the lineup. A great set that had the crowd ready to go.

Pantera was up next and the crowd had been waiting for this for years. If there was 80,000 people for Metallica, 75,000 were in their seats amped up for Pantera. The band is touring for the first time in 20 years with Zack Wylde ( Lead Guitar) and Charlie Benante (Drums) filling in for the dearly departed Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul respectfully. Dime bag and Vinnie were well represented as the bass drums had their photos on them,

Wylde’s vest had one on each side and the screen displayed their silhouettes as the band took the stage to a roaring crowd with “ A New Level”, “Mouth for War” and Strength Beyond Strength”. Phil Anselmo (Vocals) was parading all around the circular stage barefoot and loving the energy. The band ripped into “Becoming” and the mosh pits were in full force and stayed that way the rest of the night.

The first pyro appeared during “I’m Broken” and the during a drum kit switch to the other side of the stage a video tribute to Dimebag and Vinnie played on the big screen accompanied by an audio of “Cemetery Gates”. “5 Minutes Alone” and “This Love” led into “Fucking Hostile” which brought out more pyro and Anselmo stated he couldn’t believe the song was 25 years old. “Walk” was next and had the crowd singing along. “Domination/Hollow” featured great licks by both Wylde and Rex Brown (Bass). “Cowboys From Hell” closed the set. It was a fantastic return by Pantera.

Night one of Metallica started off strong with “Creeping Death” and “Harvester of Sorrow”. Lead singer James Hetfield (Rhythm Guitar) asked if the crowd was ready for faster and after a resounding yes came “Holier Than Thou” with Kirk Hammett (Lead Guitar) showing how fast his fingers could work the 6 string. Hetfield stated they were there to kick ass, the crowd erupted and “King Nothing” blasted away.

After a drum move, to the next corner of the stadium, came 2 songs off the new album, the title track “72 Seasons” and “If Darkness Had a Son”. Robert Trujillo (Bass) and Hammett then played a little doodle they said they made just for the show called “ Rose Avenue”. “Fade to Black” lit up the stadium with the phones. Hetfield commented how much he still loves that song. Another off the new album, “Shadows Fall” had its live debut and then the drums moved again. “Orion” and “Nothing Else Matters” followed and Hetfield was impressed with the good singing from the crowd.

“Sad But True” and “The Day That Never Comes” preceded the final drum move of the night. The whole stadium now had a chance to see Lars Ulrich (Drums) a little closer. “Battery” had the circle pits even more active including one appearing inside the snake pit, the donut whole area inside the circular stage. Metallica’s first display of pyro appeared for “Fuel”. The M72 beach balls fell from the speaker towers for “Seek & Destroy” and it seemed like the crowd took joy in trying to hit Ulrich with them, eventually knocking over a cymbal. “Master of Puppets” closed the show sending the Metallica faithful off into the night looking forward to Sunday nights show.

Ice Nine Kills led off Sunday evening with “SAVAGES” and had 2 guys running all over the stage with their chainsaws. “Rainy Day” followed and “Hip to Be Scared” had Spencer Charnas (Vocals) chopping off a head with an axe and kicking it around the stage. For “Ex-Mortis” Charnas grabbed a chainsaw to kill a zombie. “Welcome to Hororwood” and “Wurst Vacation” were next.

Charnas grabbed a knife for “The Shower Scene” but due to the circular stage was unable to pull off the killing behind the curtain that is a lot easier to do visually when can only see from one side. The set closed with “Stabbing in the Dark”. Patrick Galante (Drums), Ricky Armellino (Rhythm Guitar), Joe Occhiuti (Bass) and Dan Sugarman (Lead Guitar) fill out the lineup.

Five Finger Death Punch came out to a recording of “I Love You (Barney Theme Song) which contrasted highly with Ivan Moody (Vocals) brass knuckle hand held mic. “Lift Me Up” and “Trouble” started the live show and Moody dished his hoody, tossing it into the crowd. “Wash It All Away” had the crowd clapping along and was followed by the hello’s to the crowd.

“Jekll and Hyde” brought out the first circle pit of the night, a lot tamer night so far than Friday. After Moody stated they were going punk rock for the show, no lights, no pyro. “Inside Out”, “Bad Company”, and “IOU” were next. Moody told the crowd Metallica was what made him listen to metal and the sang “Wrong Side of Heaven”. The Jets/ Giants fan question actually has a larger portion of Jets fans in Metlife this night.

A couple more pits opened up during “Burn MF”. “Welcome to the Circus”and “Under and Over It” followed. Moody handed out baseball bats to a couple young fans after telling the crowd he was 5 and a half years sober and that anything is possible. “The Bleeding” finished up the set. Zoltan Bathory (Rhythm Guitar), Chris Kael (Bass), Charlie Engen (Drums), and Andy James (Lead Guitar) round out the band.

The crowd was now filing in for the Mighty Metallica. In a technicality there was a repeat tonight as Metallica entered after their usual recordings of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top(If You Wanna Rock ’n’ Roll” and Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold”. “Whiplash” led off night 2 followed by “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. Hammett’s fingers were flying on “Ride the Lightning” and the video camera featured him on the big screen for most of the song. Hetfield stated the band was feeling extra good tonight.

“The Memory Remains” had the whole crowd clapping along. A drum move preceded “Lux AEterna” and the live debut of “Too Far Gone”. “Welcome Home (Sanitarium)” had Hetfield asking if the crowd really liked it. He said after all these years he still wonders if people like the songs. Hammett and Trujillo played tonights doodle which they called “Murf Da Surf”. Hetfield and Ulrich returned for “You Must Burn” and then the drums moved for tonight’s instrumental “The Call of Ktulu”.

The phone lights were out for “The Unforgiven” and the circle pits were really amped up during “Wherever I May Roam” as security even had to appear inside the snake pit to try and contain that one.The first pyro appeared for “Moth Into Flame” and the drums moved for the final time. The circle pits were getting bigger and bigger for “Blackened” increasing in both size and number of pits going. Tonight the M72 balls dropped during “Whiskey in the Jar”. Tonight someone was placed in front of Ulrich’s drum kit to protect the anticipated assault on him. More pyro and fireworks accompanied “One” and the weekend ended with “Enter Sandman”.

For me a great 2 nights of music from one of my favorite bands. If you can get to one of the M72 shows the next 2 years I highly recommend it.

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