Location: St. Louis, MO, USA Date: November 17, 2008 Venue: Scottrade Center Review by: Justin Weinrich
If you are planing to go to a concert soon, please send me a review at sem@encycmet.com and I'll put it up on the site.
It was four years too many.
For the first time since 2004, Metallica swung through St. Louis and absolutely tore the roof off of the Scottrade Center, home of the NHL's St. Louis Blues. The opening acts were a mixed bag -- The Sword was undeniably excellent (a super-cool combination of Manowar, Iced Earth and Black Sabbath), while Down (featuring Pantera's Phil Anselmo and Vinnie Paul) was downright awful. Finally, just after 9:00 p.m., the lights went out, and the sounds of "The Ecstasy of Gold" filled the arena.
The crowd thundered as "Ecstasy" reached a conclusion, which was immediately followed by the opening to "That Was Just Your Life." James then jumped up on stage and tore into the opening riff, while Lars, Kirk and Rob quickly followed. "Life" was set in a completely still-dark arena, with only green lasers providing the light for the band as they ran through the opener from "Death Magnetic" at breakneck speed. After hanging on the last note from "Life," the guys ripped apart "The End of the Line," Magnetic's second track. One word: Loud. Needless to say, the reception for all of the band's new songs (they played five in all) was much warmer than the welcome "Frantic" and "St. Anger" received during the last go 'round.
After Magnetic's first two tracks and a brief Rob bass solo, the band pulled out "For Whom the Bell Tolls," which ratcheted the crowd up to an even higher decibel level. The band then proceeded to rip through 15 more songs before leaving the stage after playing for nearly two and a half hours.
The show was replete with highlights, among them the flawless execution of "Master of Puppets," played at two hundred miles an hour, and the unbelievably tight "Fight Fire with Fire," which was a nice surprise addition to the setlist. Not surprisingly, "Cyanide" and "The Day that Never Comes" worked very well live (I have to imagine the former will be the next single off of Magnetic to be released here in the States). Sandwiched between "Fight" and "Sandman," "Nothing Else Matters" was another high point, providing a brief six-minute lighter-in-the-air moment for the crowd, capped off by James' solo. But the undisputed highlight was when the band broke into "Whiplash" during their encore. It was played unfathomably fast, with the band in perfect time and the crowd feeling bashed in the head. There's something very cool about watching James, Lars, Kirk in particular -- all in their mid-40s -- playing a song that was written 25 years ago during the angst of their youth.
Criticisms?
Kirk completely flubbed the second solo in "Sanitarium," running an entire measure ahead of the rest of the band. Metallica's encore left a bit to be desired, as their continually odd decision to play mediocre covers -- Monday, it was "Last Caress" -- is a letdown once the band returns to the stage to play their final three songs. (Hey, Lars -- how about "Horsemen," "Blackened," "Justice" or "Thing" instead?) Additionally, aside from "Nothing," the songs from the Black Album are beginning to sound a bit worn out, in particular "Sad But True." It's impossible not to enjoy watching the band perform, but my brother and I each would have preferred that the band reach a bit deeper into their extensive catalog.
Overall, however, the band was in top form once again. The criticisms above really are minor quibbles. The fact that the stage is set up in the center of the arena really does do away with the notion of "good" and "bad" seats. The four suspended coffins above the stage were a nice touch, and Lars thankfully chose not to add anything from "Load" or "St. Anger" to the set. If you're a fan of "old school" Metallica, going to a show will bring you back.
In fact, come to think of it, Death Magnetic overall provides that feel -- the band is back to really enjoying being themselves again. Very few bands can snarl and lurch in so many different directions in the studio, all while sounding like a freight train -- and even fewer can carry that over to a live performance. Metallica does both extraordinarily well.
Setlist:
That Was Just Your Life
The End of the Line
For Whom the Bell Tolls
The Memory Remains
One
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
Wherever I May Roam
The Day that Never Comes
Master of Puppets
Fight Fire with Fire
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman Encore:
Last Caress
Whiplash
Seek & Destroy
