The famous heavy metal band, Metallica, performed at Northwest Stadium last month. Did the concert live up to fans’ expectations?
by Boris Nusinzon
Editor in Chief
Metallica has seen an exceptionally successful career—from their first five albums that are undisputed metal classics to their latest award-winning album, “72 Seasons,” the band has a knack for longevity. Unlike many of their peers, the band was able to break into the popular music scene with their self-titled record in 1991–-which has now sold over 20 million copies in the United States, according to Loudwire. The band has frequently been criticized for their albums and performances in the 2000s that were considered to be lazy and weak; after the COVID-19 pandemic, though, the band has seen a marked improvement in performance quality. All four members of the band are performing better than they have in years, despite the fact that they are now all in their 60s.
The band is now on the second year in a row of their “M72 World Tour,” and on May 28, they went to Maryland’s Northwest Stadium for a nearly 2-hour concert. It was a rainy day, raising worries that the concert would be wet and miserable; the two opening bands, Suicidal Tendencies and Pantera, had to play through steady rain. Thankfully, by the time Metallica came on stage, the rain tapered off to make way for clear skies.
For the concert, the somewhat rundown football stadium was absolutely transformed: A huge stage with four drum kits, eight towers hosting enormous visual screens, lights all across the stage, and a “pit” within the stage were all present. The logistics required for this were enormous; Park Life DC explained that the tour’s logistics were on an “unprecedented scale,” requiring careful coordination for each show. Southern Maryland Chronicle reported that over 60,000 fans “and a diverse crowd ranging from 7 to over 60 years old” were in attendance that night, packing the seats on all five floors of the stadium. Two songs, AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” and Ernio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold,” were played with accompanying visuals before the beginning of the concert around 8:55 PM.
The excitement of the crowd was palpable, and Metallica delivered with an electrifying performance. They opened with “Creeping Death,” a classic that shook the stage, and the rest of the concert was just as excellent. The band delivered a superb performance: James Hetfield’s rhythm guitar playing was blistering alongside powerful and gritty vocals; Kirk Hammett had an excellent guitar tone and great solos; Robert Trujillo’s bass work was full and thunderous; and Lars Ulrich’s drumming was vigorous throughout the whole show. All of the members of the band were extremely lively, with tons of fun interactions between songs; Hetfield especially took multiple opportunities to interact with the crowd and crack a few jokes.
Several parts of the show were particular standouts. One such moment was the “Kirk and Rob Doodle,” where the two band members played a jam rendition of “Just A Bullet Away” from the EP “Beyond Magnetic.” The song hadn’t been played since 2011, and was extremely enjoyable for devoted fans who recognized the track. The song “Fuel” was a thrilling experience, with pyrotechnics spitting out real flames multiple times during the song that added to the visuals shown up on the screens. These visuals were best utilized nowhere than in “One,” the tragic song about a World War I veteran trapped in his own body and unable to speak, as the screens flashed with scenes that related to the war. The lighting throughout the show perfectly complemented moments like these, as large rigs bathed the stage in iridescent light that was adapted to fit the mood and lyrics of every song.
Songs like “Orion” and “Nothing Else Matters” were emotional and impactful pieces that left a stark impression on the audience, keeping the show engaging throughout. The most exciting parts of the show came at the end, however—the song “Seek & Destroy” saw enormous, Metallica-branded beach balls dropping onto the stage and bouncing through the crowd. “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman” served as crowd pleasers to round out the show, the band remaining fiery and energetic as they rounded out the show.
As a whole, the acoustics and sound design for the concert were generally excellent. Even for those wearing earplugs, the band had a clear and balanced sound—all four instruments and the vocals could be easily separated, and the entire group’s tone was full and punchy.
Perhaps the experience was slightly brought down by the fact that the setlist was largely made up of hits as opposed to “deep cuts” (less popular songs in a band’s discography), but the entire performance was still a spectacle to behold. Even though Metallica’s performances do come down to a similar “formula” from show to show—which is unsurprising, given the staggering logistics required for every night on stage—seeing them in person is a special experience. The band is planning to play in Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE later this year—with Europe to follow in 2026.
Grade: A