... At the O2 Arena in London, the 'Death Magnetic' launch party. I'm still grinning like a fool, it has to be the best I've ever seen 'em play. Even the endearingly ramshackle Lars held it together (except for one almighty comedy fluff near the beginning).
How's this for a setlist?
'That Was Just Your Life'
'The End Of The Line'
'The Thing That Should Not Be'
'Of Wolf and Man'
'One'
'Broken, Beat And Scarred'
'Cyanide'
'Frantic'
'Until It Sleeps'
'Wherever I May Roam'
'For Whom The Bell Tolls'
'The Day That Never Comes'
'Master Of Puppets'
'Blackened'
'Stone Cold Crazy'
'Jump In The Fire'
'Seek And Destroy'
The sound was surprisingly clear for a venue that size (except for a murky couple at the beginning), but sadly Rob was a casualty, bass and arenas just don't seem to mix and he was for the most part an indistinct booming.
Still, he did a short but groovy as hell distortion soaked solo, leading into 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', but the biggest cheers seemed reserved for the bass and drum poundings on 'Cyanide', which really got the crowd going and brought an even bigger smile to my face. Nice to see that sometimes, just grooving on the root gets to the crowd more than anything. Nice one.
Plus, all the rest of the band were in clear high spirits, especially James, and a party atmosphere all round, particularly when the house lights came full on and what seemed like hundreds of giant black metallica beachballs dropped from the ceiling and were booted by audience and band across the stage and crowd.
A special gig. But I admit, I did go for a beer during 'Frantic'.
How's this for a setlist?
'That Was Just Your Life'
'The End Of The Line'
'The Thing That Should Not Be'
'Of Wolf and Man'
'One'
'Broken, Beat And Scarred'
'Cyanide'
'Frantic'
'Until It Sleeps'
'Wherever I May Roam'
'For Whom The Bell Tolls'
'The Day That Never Comes'
'Master Of Puppets'
'Blackened'
'Stone Cold Crazy'
'Jump In The Fire'
'Seek And Destroy'
The sound was surprisingly clear for a venue that size (except for a murky couple at the beginning), but sadly Rob was a casualty, bass and arenas just don't seem to mix and he was for the most part an indistinct booming.
Still, he did a short but groovy as hell distortion soaked solo, leading into 'For Whom The Bell Tolls', but the biggest cheers seemed reserved for the bass and drum poundings on 'Cyanide', which really got the crowd going and brought an even bigger smile to my face. Nice to see that sometimes, just grooving on the root gets to the crowd more than anything. Nice one.
Plus, all the rest of the band were in clear high spirits, especially James, and a party atmosphere all round, particularly when the house lights came full on and what seemed like hundreds of giant black metallica beachballs dropped from the ceiling and were booted by audience and band across the stage and crowd.
A special gig. But I admit, I did go for a beer during 'Frantic'.
It's cool they still play blackened reguarly, that song is so freaking awesome!
