LA_0013 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Seems Metallica are back at their best............Metallica Live In London: 16/09/08Metallica played a one-off gig at the O2 centre for an audience of rabid fan club members. MSN was there making a devil sign… It's a promoter's wet dream. Take one of the biggest bands in metal history, set up an album launch party exclusively for members of their official fan club and host the whole shebang at the impressive O2 Arena. Charge punters five measly pounds for their ticket, donate the proceeds to charity and you've got journalist (and fan) heaven. That is, if you managed to get a ticket. Yesiree, Metallica's marketing team may deserve a holiday (and a raise) but the success of this extra special gig was never a sure thing. After all, you can have all the trimmings but if the music and its delivery isn't top notch, the fans won't stomach the main course. Luckily, Metallica served up a stonkingly good ninth studio album and a launch party set to back it up. Death Magnetic was released on the 12th of September, giving fans three days to memorise the album before their idols took it to the stage. A few recent sneak festival previews of songs hinted at great things to come and on gig night, the response from the obsessed is positive. Inside the venue people show off their Guitar Hero moves and adjust their Metallica shirts (dress code: black). One over-excited punter screams all the way from North Greenwich tube station to the O2's towering entrance. After 27 years on the circuit, there's no shortage of T-shirts to choose from and a lot to be excited about. These guys are masters of their art and as yet, no band has knocked them from their throne. Age hasn't affected their energy levels and when they hit the stage they launch straight into the album's title track That Was Just Your Life. James Hetfield is a true frontman. Each song is played with a ferocity and intensity that doesn't falter. Speculation that the band will play the entire album in full is fuelled when they launch into song number two The End Of The Line. Suspicions are promptly shattered however, when the band smacks us in the face with The Thing That Should Not Be from album ‘Master Of Puppets'. These guys are smart; they know full well that old tunes are essential. Of Wolf And Man ends with a gut-wrenching Hetfield howl that leads into the sound of choppers and gunfire. The masses know what's coming. One doesn't disappoint."Did you miss the pyro?" Hetfield asks? "It went off in my head". Indeed, there's no screens, no fancy lighting; just Metallica and their instruments. That's all the punters need. The pace is fast, the set is long and Hetfield makes time for regular banter and crowd interaction. This is a celebration of the fans, for the fans. Guitarist Kirk Hammett and bass player Robert Trujillo pace the stage, stomping, long hair thrown about, guitars held high. Meanwhile, the crowd radiates the love right back. "I heard Death Magnetic kinda went number one here in the UK" says their hero. "Thank You". The seventeen song set includes only three more newies; the potentially legendary ‘Cyanide', slower sing-along gem ‘The Day That Never Comes' and ‘Broken, Beat and Scarred'. The rest are old faithfuls and the view from the seated area in level one is a good one. The O2 doesn't always hit the spot (if you witnessed the diabolical sound levels at The Smashing Pumpkins you'll know what I mean). Tonight, Metallica hit the venue with a wall of sound we can't fault. It's good to see drummer Lars Ulrich centre stage, pounding his kit for all to see. ‘Wherever I May Roam', ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls and ‘Master Of Puppets' hit the spot. During Stone Cold Crazy and Jump In The Fire Hetfield asks for the lights to be turned on so that he can see the faces in the crowd. It's a rare and intimate touch and it works right on through to the Seek and Destroy finale. As a succession of giant black ‘Metallica' emblazoned beach balls rain down on the crowd, Hetfield promises more indoor gigs early next year. Fans leave content and head home to listen to Death Magnetic again; this time, safe in the knowledge that they were part of the fortunate few to witness this one-off piece of Metallica history. Capturing a moment like this… now that's something no amount of pyrotechnics or marketing can achieve. http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/music/feat...umentid=9614275LA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zint Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 stonkingly?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moreblack Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Hope Axl's taking notes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkyMonk Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Sounds legendary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.