Returning for night #2 of their electrifying “No Repeat Weekend” at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Memorial Day Sunday, 5/25/25, Metallica unleashed a powerful call-to-arms for fans to reignite the fire the band sparked during Friday’s show.
On their massive circular stage, flanked by six enormous video monoliths, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich, and Robert Trujillo took the stage with the herculean task of outdoing themselves.
The moment the opening chords of “Whiplash” blasted through the PA, ravenous worshippers across the stadium rocked in perfect unison, fists pumping high in the Spring night air. Fueled by pure adrenaline, crowd surfers began to rise and fall in the General Admission section as the chaos erupted onstage and in the sea of bodies below. Metallica had Philly in the palm of their hands just one song into their two-hour set.
Buckle your seat belt, secure your safety harness, and kiss your ass goodbye as the performance was off to epic portions of thrash savagery. Metallica carried on with their brutal annihilation of metal destruction with “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and then “Ride the Lightening.” It was evident from the onset of the show that this was no ordinary performance – it was a soul-crushing display of American-made metal at its finest.
Every song in their carefully curated setlist was played with a sense of unbridled passion and fury from the very first note to the last. Whether it was the blistering speed and aggression of newer songs, “Lux Æterna” and “Screaming Suicide” from 72 Seasons, or the timeless classic “Enter Sandman,” written 34 years ago, Metallica left nothing on the table.
Lars effortlessly transitioned from his four drum kits, building up the endings of many songs with his stylistic and bombastic cymbal crashes to egg the crowd on. At the same time, Robert was the seismic force behind Metallica‘s signature low-end growl. He has the uncanny ability to lock into a heavy groove with Lars on “Moth to a Flame” or transition into the restrained “One” with its melodic phrasing. His bass playing doesn’t just support the music—it drives it forward with unstoppable momentum along with Lars.
James‘ commanding stage presence captivated and enthralled the entire stadium, from the fast-paced songs to the semi-acoustic “Unforgiven.” His raw, emotionally charged vocals seem to come from the very depths of his soul, making the audience feel every word, but none more potent than on “Fade to Black” with its dark lyrical message of hopelessness and loss of will to live. All this was paired with the tasteful, virtuosic lead work of Kirk. The interplay between James‘ rhythmic riffing and Kirk‘s frenzied wah-wah playing elevated the songs, taking the music to a level of depth and sophistication that sets the band apart from its peers.
Where better than in Philadelphia, PA, could Metallica help multiple generations of fans define their individuality as a declaration of independence? On the final night of the “no-repeat weekend,” Metallica took Lincoln Financial Field over the musical precipice, playing the perfect combination of songs in the setlist!
Tickets for Metallica‘s upcoming shows can be found here.
