METALLICA M72 WORLD TOUR
@ ROGERS CENTRE, TORONTO
APRIL 24, 2025
When it comes to stadium rock shows, NO ONE does it better than Metallica. After all, they’ve been headlining this circuit for 35-plus years. It’s clear the new generation of Metallica fans are just as gnarly and obsessed with the world’s biggest metal band as the previous generations have always been.
The show warmed up with AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” blasting over the PA, with a photo montage on the screens showing past Metallica shows and other nostalgic visual gems. As the crowd started to rev up… suddenly, BLACKOUT… SILENCE… and BOOM—Metallica hit the stage, ripping straight into “Creeping Death,” a proper cut from the old-school ’80s thrash era of Ride the Lightning.
With 40,000+ in attendance, and myself situated just 8th row from center stage on the floor, this was a HOT and sweaty experience with a proper mosh pit in full force.
Since the band decided on two entirely different setlists between the Toronto shows, it was pure luck of the draw on what hits they would deliver. Next up, they drilled the audience with the ultra-HEAVY THUMPING “Harvester of Sorrow” from the …And Justice for All album, a proper cut to keep things pumping.
Moving in chronological order, “Holier Than Thou” was up next, sending the mosh pit into an electric freak-show. And, what’s a mosh pit without a fight? Yes, a drunken dude was pissed up and trying to fight everything that moved. He quickly saw the exit.
As the set moved into its second of three acts, the band played tracks from their latest release, 72 Seasons, catering more to the hardcore fans, this being the lesser exciting part of the show. Rob and Kirk kicked into a doodle jam which seemed to have very little thought behind it and felt more like filler than anything.
72 SEASONS ALBUM REVIEW
For those with door access, it was a good time to grab a dog and a beer.
The best was certainly yet to come as James and the gang warmed up the final act with “Orion”, a choice cut from Master of Puppets.
The biggest song of the night was “Nothing Else Matters,” and they absolutely killed it. 25,000+ phone lights lit up the crowd, making for quite a scene, as the band played the song perfectly, note for note, with the audience having every lyric on lockdown. This MAMMOTH of a tune was followed by “Sad but True” and “Fight Fire with Fire.”
At this point in the show, we all knew it was nearing the end—and the mosh pit had a second wind and started going absolutely apeshit.
FUEL!
James busted into the opening lyrics “Give me fuel give me fire…” and the pyrotechnics finally broke out—the place went BALLISTIC, and it was a sight to behold. Not only was the place completely on its head, approximately 50 GIGANTIC beach balls were unleashed for the crowd to chuck about, hitting band members and knocking around equipment. The beach balls didn’t stand a chance in the mosh pit; they were instantly destroyed, and of course, more fights broke out over who would take home the souvenir.
Closing the night out were two of Metallica’s biggest songs: “Seek and Destroy” and “Master of Puppets.” No encore, just stadium rock awesomeness all around.
All in, Toronto just hosted the show of a lifetime, and I’m sure glad I was there to witness it with my son.
(Photography by Andre Skinner)
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