@ZackTeibloom It was the worst kept secret of the festival. The Guitar Hero Metallica showcase at Stubbs was just a front for a performance from the Metallica themselves, the worst kept secret in rock.

Metallica is the only band in history to have five consecutive albums debut at number one on the Billboard top 200. With over 50 million albums sold, they topped the charts once again with Death Magnetic, which stayed on top for three straight weeks.

Lead singer James Hetfield enjoyed being too big for Stubbs, which only holds 2,200 people, just a fraction of the stadiums Metallica has filled for over 20 years. “We’re a young band from Norway and we want to get signed” Hetfield said in an admittedly weak Norwegian accent.

As comedian Todd Barry said on stage the next night, “You think the guys in Metallica saw the word BBQ on their tour schedules and got a little confused?”

There was no confusing what happened Friday night. Metallica tore the house down with an all-out assault. I had to put my ear plugs in during sound check and fight not to catch an elbow in the mosh pit. They played just more than an hour, but that was all it took to see why they have such a loyal following.

Every member of the band is a master of their craft from Kirk Hammett’s hammer ons to James Hetfield’s roaring vocals to Lars Ulrich’s thunderous sound on his monster kit. Even for non-metal heads, If you feel the need to rock deep inside, it’s hard to feel anything but love for Metallica. 9.5/10

Set list:

1. Creeping Death
2. For Whom The Bell Tolls
3. Harvester Of Sorrow
4. One
5. Broken, Beat & Scarred
6. Cyanide
7. Sad But True
8. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
9. Master Of Puppets
10. Blackened
- – - – - – - -
11. Breadfan
12. Whiplash
13. Seek & Destory

Related posts:

1. The Long Awaited Metallica Bonnaroo Review
2. A n00b review of Metallica
3. The Long Awaited Metallica Bonnaroo Review
4. Metallica – Death Magnetic: The Great Debate
5. Rock on the Range: The Worst Festival of the Summer