Rock & Roll Hall of Famers Metallica brought their 2023-24 ‘M72 World Tour’ to North American soil for the first time over the weekend. They played for two incredible nights of music, metal, and mayhem at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
The ‘Mighty’ Metallica’s ‘M72 World Tour’ premiered in Amsterdam, Netherlands back in April. It has hit France, Germany, England, and Sweden before bringing the tour stateside. North Jersey was the first stop on leg 1 of the North American portion of the tour, with two-night stops in Montreal, QC, Arlington, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Phoenix, AZ, St. Louis, MO, and Detroit Rock City before the end of the year. Metallica kicks off the 2nd leg of their European tour in May 2024.
Getting to MetLife Stadium was a feat within itself. Tens of thousands of diehard Metallica fans descended on East Rutherford, NJ. The stadium holds roughly 82,000 people. The record attendance for a show at MetLife Stadium was 93,000, however, set back in 2012 by the 12th Siyum HaShas.
Ed Sheeran holds the record for the second largest attendance at 89,106 for his show in June 2023. Taylor Swift also has to hold some sort of record at MetLife Stadium as well with her massive ‘Era’s Tour.’
Night #1 featured opening acts MammothWVH & Pantera. Ice Nine Kills and Five Finger Death Punch leading off on night #2.
Metallica kicked off their performance the way they always do, with the always exciting hype video from “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” and Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold.” Next, it was the “toe-tapping” version of their very first single off of their very first album “Whiplash” (video below).
Metallica – WHIPLASH (Live) M72 World Tour Night #2
It was a hits-packed, career-spanning setlist on both nights. It featured all of your favorite Metallica tunes, plus a couple of new bangers off their brand-new, eleventh studio album 72 Seasons, including the tour debut of “Too Far Gone?” You can check out the full setlist from night #2 of the ‘M72 World Tour’ below.
Metallica – MOTH INTO FLAME (Live) (clip)
The energy was through the roof from both the bands and the fans alike all night long. Good thing MetLife Stadium doesn’t have a roof!
There is still plenty of time to see Metallica on the 2023/2024 ‘M72 World Tour.’ However, you will have to travel a decent distance to the next closest show to the Philadelphia area, and that includes 2024 as well. Future ‘M72 World Tour’ dates and locations can be found here.
