Metallica’s doughnut blows 65,000 spectators’ minds at the Metropolitano | Culture

The last time Metallica visited Madrid, in July 2022, it was like any other day at the office: a The Ecstasy Of Gold To start with, a dozen fast Kirk Hammett solos over there, a Nothing Else Matters A classic stage… Everything was fine, everything was routine. A professional performance lacking in surprises and where you had to dig to find passion. The quartet was aware that they were living in their zone of laziness, took note and gave the matter a turn. Last night we began to see the result. Another Metallica took over the Atlético de Madrid stadium, and they are much more popular than those seen in the last visits.

Many things were out of the ordinary last night at the Metropolitano. The group entered the venue through a ground-level corridor, so they could greet the fans who were crowded on both sides in that area. A stage in the centre of the grass, shaped like a doughnut, where there are no blind spots in the entire stadium. It was a concert with a 360 view, as they say, a concept they have already used on other tours, but now it is more overwhelming. The four musicians moved freely around the circular stage. Where is Kirk? In that curve, poking at the strings of his guitar. And James? Look at him, up on a platform, working his tonsils out. with Creeping Death. Lars Ulrich even had up to four drum sets placed in different places. They also installed eight towers with a kind of giant can on top that served as screens to broadcast what was happening on stage or to illustrate with artistic motifs the story of the song that was playing. The truth is that the Californians turned the red and white stadium upside down.

More news. It’s a weekend with Metallica (M72 World Tour. No repeat Weekend, The tour is called “the tour”, which will take place over two days (yesterday, Friday, and next Sunday) in the same venue, where a different repertoire will be performed each day and with two different opening acts each night. Tickets for the weekend cost around 145 euros, and many of those present (65,000, full house) bought them a year and a half ago. The plan is clear: fans will have to dig deep into their pockets, because if they only go for one night they might not hear several of their favourite songs, which they will perform the following day. But the group will give you back your money with a great show.

As with any groundbreaking experience, there are people who may feel disoriented. The concept of the donut stage encourages dispersion. At one point, Hetfield could sing from one corner and Hammett could play guitar from the opposite corner, 30 metres away and with his back turned. The drum change continued to set the path, which circulated counter-clockwise. After two hours, the show ended with a Master Of Puppets performed right next to where the band had left at the beginning of the night. These are details that were not improvised at all.

Perhaps it offered more possibilities for enjoyment to those who witnessed it in the stands, since they had a complete view. For those in the arena it was difficult to admire the whole picture; in exchange, these spectators on foot experienced the discharge of decibels in all its splendor. In any case, we are faced with an integrative spectacle: few stadium concerts manage to reach so many people with such impact.

The ability of this group to imbue itself with a layer of glamour is striking. It was evident in the audience: seasoned fifty-something rockers came together in harmony with gorgeous girls and guys who could have been at a Dua Lipa concert. In fact, some of those present started the week in the capital dancing with the English diva at Mad Cool. The group has made a point of knocking on the doors of places where young people are. (Stranger Things, Fortnite, TikTok) and have been accepted. And this can only be good news.

A few glowing comments must be made for James Hetfield, a guy who seemed to go off the rails while high on drugs and has become someone you can trust to leave in charge of the kids for a night of popcorn and adventure movies. Last night he exuded a relaxed charisma in a John Wayne in Centaurs of the desert and he didn’t need any athletic displays, because with a nod of the eyebrow he had 60,000 people at his feet.

The sound could be improved, as is almost always the case in a stadium that was not built with acoustic refinements. The confusing sonic amalgam, with rebounds and echoes, was hard at first and then, between the fact that it improved somewhat and you end up getting used to it, things became more bearable. They chose a repertoire of 15 songs, mixing classics with pieces for those who want to go a little further, as Orion, an eight-and-a-half-minute instrumental song that they nailed. As for the classics, it is already known that they will not perform these on Sunday, since no song will coincide: Nothing Else Matters, Sad but True either Master of Puppets.

There were funny moments, like when Robert Trujillo He reported that he had composed a song exclusively for the night, entitled Sangria Brain (Bleeding Brain), which turned out to be an interesting instrumental piece played by their bass and Hammett’s guitar. Also causing a lot of excitement was the throwing of giant beach balls while they were performing. Seek and Destroy. It was original until the end, with the quartet going round and round and handing out jokes and greetings to those in the front rows for 15 minutes. Then, the four of them took turns to give a short thank you that always ended with: “See you here on Sunday.” If Spain wins the Euro Cup final, which is being played at the same time as the concert, there will be a good deal of excitement…