Off to never never land…

Well it’s a new year and it’s come in with a bang!  Last night I was treated to an absolutely stellar performance by a band that had no trouble proving why they are the best, but let’s start at the beginning shall we?

It’s Sunday evening at “the gahden,” or TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, MA.  Normally home of the Bruins and Celtics, this night hosted a very different crowd.  Masses in black t-shirts and blue jeans of all ages, gathered for a sold out show and the long awaited return of metal gods.

First up, The Sword.  The only song I’ve ever heard from them is “Freya” from Guitar Hero.  While the music did seem slightly repetetive, they did a decent job of getting us warmed up and ready for some real action.

Next, Machine Head, one the best modern metal acts out there I do believe.  Playing a set consisting mostly of songs off their latest album, these guys really got things pumping.  They also did an excellent job covering my favorite Iron Maiden song, “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and finished out their set with fan favorite “Davidian” and screams of “Let freedom ring with a shotgun blast!”

And now for the main event.  As the lights darkened we anxiously awaited the music that they have started every show with since 1983, “The Ecstacy of Gold.”  The music starts, the crowd is already going insane, then as it fades you can hear a loud heartbeat and, for listeners of the album Death Magnetic, a familiar guitar sound.  They open the set as they open the album, exploding out of the gate, METALLICA is here!  The next 2 hours are a hectic trip through time, jumping seamlessly back and forth from the 80’s to 2008, with only a couple brief stops in 1990 as well.  Load, Reload, St. Anger, these albums aren’t even touched once.  Six songs are played off of the new album, and they fit perfectly with the slew of old favorites and a couple rarer heard tracks as well.  As for the sound, this was my fourth time seeing them live and they have never sounded better.  The music was much tighter than in the past, and James’ voice much stronger.  Complete with plenty of pyros, coffin-shaped light displays, lasers, giant black beach balls, the show was, in a word, astounding.

Here is the setlist from last night’s show, which really just speaks of awesome:

That Was Just Your Life
The End of the Line
Harvester of Sorrow
For Whom the Bell Tolls
One
Broken, Beat & Scarred
Cyanide
Sad But True
…And Justice For All
All Nightmare Long
The Day That Never Comes
Master of Puppets
Battery
Nothing Else Matters
Enter Sandman

Encore:
Stone Cold Crazy
Hit the Lights
Seek and Destroy