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GIG REVIEW: Metallica @ Manchester Etihad (18/06/19)

Being the biggest act in your genre is a near-impossible status to attain for any artist, much less maintain for over two decades. Yet thrash legends Metallica can undoubtedly lay claim to this impressive distinction. While their discography obviously contains several all-time classic records, it is in their live shows where they routinely display exactly why they remain the biggest and, arguably, best band metal has to offer. The band's 'Worldwired' tour has been chugging along and adding new dates for well over two years now, with fan demand seeing them recently return to Europe for a second leg of shows. I saw the band at Manchester's Etihad Stadium for a gig every bit as incredible as their reputation suggests.

Metallica really brought the heat to Manchester


Opening up for a band as huge as Metallica is always going to be a near-impossible task, especially given how ferociously dedicated their fans are. Yet Ghost stepped up with bags of confidence to play a characteristically theatrical and bombastic set, proving that they truly belong on a stage this big. This was my first time seeing Ghost after being a casual fan for a few years and now I definitely need to see them play a headline set in the near future. Their latest album, Prequelle, is excellent and actually just won the Kerrang! Award for Best Album, so check that out if you're new to the band.

Even with the strong reputation which Ghost have earned, there was no doubt that everyone in the Etihad was there for one band only. From the moment that the iconic Ennio Morricone theme 'The Ecstasy of Gold' began to play over the PA, a tangible sense of anticipation hung heavy in the air. When Metallica finally took to the stage, kicking off proceedings with a blistering 'Hardwired', it was immediately obvious that this would be a special gig.

Band and fans alike remained at peak energy levels for the next 90 minutes, as Metallica delivered a crowd-pleasing set. The mix of newer material with essential classics was perfectly balanced, while the inclusion of a few deeper cuts like 'Disposable Heroes' and 'The God That Failed' was a great surprise for hardcore fans. Of course, Metallica are the kind of band who could play any track from their first five albums and the fans would lap it up, but a few later-day tracks were also played, including a couple from their most recent record, the fantastic Hardwired...to Self-Destruct (2016), and even the title track from St. Anger (2003).

About half way through Metallica's set, rain began pouring into the Etihad, yet this soaking did nothing to diminish the energy and enthusiasm of the band nor the fans, with the downpour actually adding to the atmosphere of songs like 'One' and a stirring rendition of the ever-popular ballad 'Nothing Else Matters'. Still, when the rain did clear up towards the end, it was much welcomed.

Bassist Rob Trujillo and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett also continued their fun tradition of jamming instrumental versions of songs by bands from each city they visit. Last time I saw the band in Manchester, they led the fans in a sing-along for the Oasis classic 'Don't Look Back in Anger', but this time they opted for a Stone Roses track - 'I Wanna Be Adored'. This was an amazing surprise for me and was a highlight of the gig right from the moment Rob started playing the track's iconic bassline.


For any band to make their shows stadium-worthy, there of course also needs to be some seriously impressive production values on show, but Metallica managed to exceed even my expectations. Five giant projection screens showed live close-ups of the band throughout their set, mixed in with accompanying animated visuals which really brought each song to life. On top of this, eye-popping amounts of fire and lasers combined with the music to make for a genuinely incredible sensory experience, all capped off by the fireworks which shot into the sky above the Ethiad during the concluding 'Enter Sandman'.

Metallica's Manchester Arena gig in 2017 was one of the best gigs I'd ever seen, but this definitely topped it. In fact, this show sits comfortably in my top 3 all-time favourite concerts. If this turns out to be the last visit Metallica ever pay to Manchester, they undoubtedly left us with the best impression possible and proved why they deserve their status as one of the all-time greats.

 After the show, it was revealed that Metallica would be donating £40,000 from the show's ticket sales to Coffee4Craig, a homelessness charity in Manchester. Metal for a good cause!

Thanks for reading,

- Danny

Thanks to Ryan Johnson and Cameron Lomax for the photos
Follow me on Twitter @realdannymoore

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