Metallica
Optus Stadium, Perth
Saturday, November 1st
They’ve come a long way, Metallica. Over forty years ago four spotty teens co-invented neck-aching thrash metal, then against all odds became chart-topping titans, struggled through a difficult experimental 90’s fuelled by pills and booze, then a dysfunctional life coach period before evolving into venerated elder statesmen.
Along the way they’ve rarely compromised musically, enduring and triumphing perhaps because of that. Name one other heavy metal band who could sell out a venue the size of Optus Stadium; there’s barely another rock band who could manage it.
So, for their first Australian tour since 2013’s Soundwave jaunt (their 2019 tour was canned when singer/guitarist James Hetfield took himself off to rehab), Metallica served up a career-spanning smorgasbord that played to many of their strengths and delighted those of a certain age whose jaw hit the floor listening to their 1983 debut Kill ‘Em All, right through to younger fans, of which there are many present tonight.
Opener Suicidal Tendencies hit the stage like a pent-up tsunami, hyper frontman Mike Muir railing against authority and conformity. Muir spent almost as much time in the crowd as he did on stage, inciting a circle pit, going nuts through classic “Institutionalized”, and inviting Aussie singer Nisha STar to help out on their recent single “Adrenaline Addict”.
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Image: Evanescence Credit: William Buck
Evanescence were intense in a more atmospheric and dramatic sense, their symphonic metal full of gothic resonance, led by Amy Lee’s immaculate vocals which effortlessly filled the stadium — boy, can she hold a note with perfect clarity. Their set climaxed with mega smash “Bring Me to Life”, the crowd with them all the way.
65,000 people roared when backing track AC/DC’s “Long Way to the Top” started playing in front of a Metallica photo and video montage, and roared again when their long-standing intro tape, Ennio Morricone’s “Ecstasy of Gold”, followed, accompanied by footage from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. When the band took the stage and launched into “Creeping Death”, the stadium bathed in blood-red light, the foundations positively shook, residents several suburbs away likely complaining about a disrupted sleep.
@wilko400 Metallica – Fuel Perth 2025 @metallica #metal #metallica #livemusic #perth #fuel
At the end of the day this was just four blokes on a stark stage playing songs, most of which were written between three and four decades ago. That being said, each song made a joyous, resonating racket, and the crowd knew every riff, every word, every note of every solo. Everyone marvelled at the production design, too — it was more an experience than a concert, showing exactly why Metallica are a cut above all of their contemporaries.
1991’s The Black Album (aka Metallica) was most heavily represented with six tracks (“The Unforgiven” and “Sad But True” are highlights), while the rest of the setlist took one or two tracks from most of their other albums, though some would have arguably preferred less from that album and another from each of their early records.
Image: Metallica Credit: William Buck
“Fuel” was a pyromaniac’s dream, plumes of fire helping to warm the crowd on a chilly spring night; the lesser-known “Moth Into Flame” was equally combustive and impressive; a jam section between guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Rob Trujillo touched on Budgie’s “Crash Course in Brain Surgery” and “Zebra” by Australia’s own adopted son, John Butler; “Seek and Destroy” and “Master of Puppets” were simply immense, not to mention heavy as fuck, while inflatable beach balls flew around the crowd like some free-form, no-rules volleyball game.
Their newest offering, “Lux Æterna”, fitted neatly into the set before a barrage of battlefield-like pyro introduced the mighty horrors-of-war classic “One”. Epic closer “Enter Sandman” was the cherry on top of a very impressive cake.
Metallica could have played another two hours featuring many of the great songs they skipped tonight, but the chosen songs, the show, and the entire spectacle of Metallica live in 2025 was undeniably triumphant.
Ticket information for Metallica’s remaining Australian tour dates is available here.
