Metallica is currently touring Europe for the second leg of the M72 tour. During this run, they are playing several major cities across Europe. Sometimes the band visits a city for a single show, and sometimes for an entire weekend. In the latter case, they call it a No Repeat Weekend, in which two completely different shows are performed on Friday and Sunday. Through connections, I managed to get tickets for a No Repeat Weekend in Frankfurt about a month before the concert. Because a certain Harry Styles, at 32 years old, is apparently too lazy to tour Europe and therefore rented the Amsterdam Arena for ten days, Metallica (almost twice as old as Harry Styles!) had to relocate to Frankfurt. Below is a report of day one.
The fact that Frankfurt is also easily accessible for many Dutch people becomes clear when, during our two short stops, we are approached by fellow Dutch fans making the same journey. Full of enthusiasm, my daughter and I leave Zwolle at 9:00 AM and begin the trip, which – according to the route planner – should take just under four hours. However, due to heavy traffic and an accident just outside Frankfurt – the final three kilometres take more than two hours – we arrive at the hotel around 5:00 PM. After finding the metro to the stadium (with help from several friendly Germans), we arrive at the small station near the Deutsche Bank Stadium. From there, we still have to walk for another half hour before finally reaching the stadium. Security there is practically nonexistent. I spread my arms, receive two pats on the shoulders and a quick stroke across my back, and I am waved through.
As soon as we enter the stadium, the stage immediately stands out. Around the centre circle, an octagonal stage has been built with room for fans on every side. The advantage is that sometimes the band members are standing less than ten metres away from you. The downside is that when the band performs on the opposite side, you see them from much farther away and often from behind. Knocked Loose is missed tonight due to all the traffic chaos. I do manage to catch most of Gojira set. Especially toward the end, the audience responds enthusiastically. The band certainly works hard for it. Old and new material alternate, and Gojira is allowed to use the entire stage. The sound is plagued by heavy echo, making the songs difficult to distinguish from one another. Silvera, Grind, and especially the closing Amazonia however receive strong applause, even from the upper tier.
According to the announced schedule, Metallica was supposed to start at 8:30 PM tonight. However, It’s A Long Way To The Top does not begin until fifteen minutes later, followed by the epic Ecstasy Of Gold (which is loudly sung along to) before the band kicks off with Creeping Death. So far there are no surprises, but that quickly changes because after Harvester Of Sorrow comes Holier Than Thou, a song rarely performed live. The crowd completely loses its mind. After the title track of the latest album follows an excellent performance of Ride The Lightning, once again giving the audience the chance to sing along loudly, especially during the chorus.
Anyone who knows Metallica a little knows they always do something for charity as well. Tonight, Emily is literally put in the spotlight. She is able to attend tonight’s show with her parents and brother thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. James Hetfield asks for applause, and Emily certainly receives — and deserves — it.
Fortunately, we are also treated tonight to several Metallica classics: Nothing Else Matters, Master Of Puppets, Battery, and a large portion of the instrumental Orion. In between, there is room for the “Kirk and Rob Doodle.” Together they perform Schwarz-Weiβ wie Schnee, a classic by Tankard and also the anthem of football club Eintracht Frankfurt. The Day That Never Comes suddenly appears out of nowhere and is followed by Cyanide. Afterwards, James mentions that it is a wonderful song to play, but personally I could have done without it. On the positive side, Metallica’s sound tonight is significantly better than during the support acts. I hear a lot of complaints about echo during the first two bands of the evening, but during Metallica’s performance there is no sign of it and all the instruments are perfectly balanced. On top of that, James Hetfield is in exceptionally good voice and seems to hit every note effortlessly.
Whether it is new or older material, Metallica performs everything with enthusiasm, and the audience responds just as passionately. Of course we all scream Seek And Destroy as soon as Hetfield merely shouts the word “Searching,” and before long the enormous beach balls are flying through the air. With Master Of Puppets, the set comes to an end and the lights go up. All the band members then take another lap around the stage, throwing plenty of guitar picks into the audience.
For most of the approximately 55,000 visitors, another small logistical nightmare then begins, because at the tiny station near the stadium everyone wants to catch a tram back to their hotel. The trams arrive every few minutes but fill up instantly, so we are transported away packed together like sardines. Still, for most fans this does not spoil the evening, because tonight’s setlist was more than satisfying. It is clear that Metallica did not play it safe tonight and continues to prove that they are still capable of delivering a tight and impressive show.
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