2023-05-18 00:18:00
By Caroline J. Photos by Caroline J. Posted May 18, 2023, 2:18 AM
Thrash metal deep in the ears, euphoric and happy fans, a beautiful scenography to discover within the largest stadium in France and a legendary group which continues to make us jump and put balm in our hearts following more than 40 years of career! A look back at the first of Metallica’s two Parisian concerts, which took place this Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
METALLICA : 9 letters to designate one of the last best Thrash metal bands in the world still in activity. For more than 40 years now, Californians have been flooding us with happiness with their sharp riffs and ultra-powerful beats. With no less than 11 albums to his credit, including the latest “72 Seasons“, Metallica is one of those rare groups to have produced many hits known throughout the world.
Stage side, Metallica has traveled to cities all over the world, even going as far as Tuktoyaktuk in the Canadian Far North in 1995 or Antarctica in 2013. Paristhere are few scenes that the group does not know, apart from the Olympia. Metallica even had the very good idea of squatting three different venues (Bataclan, Boule Noire and Trabendo) during a single marathon day; it was June 11, 2003. Since then, the group has been used to the biggest venues, such as the Accor Arena (in 2009 and 2017), the Parc des Princes (in 2004) or the Stade de France that the group has already invested in 2012 and 2019. In 2023, the American formation is therefore back in business. For this great return to the capital, Metallica had chosen to bet on a new concept: to offer two shows in the same room, but with two totally different setlists. So in the end, what gives this new Metallica tour ?
We were lucky enough to attend the first of the Californians’ two Parisian concerts, the Wednesday, May 17, 2023. A show that was not full. It is clear that the prices of places have slowed down more than one. But one thing is certain: the circular center stage imagined for theM72 World Tour” was worth the detour! Wide enough for the four members of Metallica can circulate freely throughout the set, the stage is surrounded by eight pylons on which are perched three large rounded screens broadcasting live images of the concert as well as visuals from the universe of the group. The outline of the large circular stage lights up from time to time in red, green or yellow. Inside the stage, we find the famous snake pit, bigger than on previous tours. Thus, several hundred lucky little ones were able to enter and find themselves as close as possible to the show and their idols for a immersion guarantee !
But before experiencing this exhilarating and thundering musical moment signed Metallicaspectators were treated to two first parts, with on one side the American heavy metal band Ice Nine Killswho was the day before in concert at the Elysée Montmartre, and on the other the Dutch symphonic metal band Epic (replacing Five Finger Death Punch). A rather mixed warm-up before the rise on stage of the heavyweights of American Thrash metal!
Thus, it is around 8:45 p.m. that the atmosphere really goes up a notch at Stade de Francewhen resounds (as always) resulting in ” It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll) from AC/DC, followed by the traditional Ecstasy Of Gold by Ennio Morricone, taken up in chorus by the assembly. Fans have known it for several decades now: it is following this legendary instrumental piece that the long-awaited moment arrives, I am of course talking regarding the entry on stage of the four Californians. And it is with the tube”For Whom the Bell Tolls” what Metallica decides to start his first set in Paris. It will not take more to put the fans in all their states and quickly lead to cries of joy from the public.
Then follow the hits “Ride the Lightning” et “Holier Than Thou“, just to continue in the classics of the group. But Metallica then decides to surprise his fans by interpreting the excellent and too rare “I Disappear“, excerpt from the soundtrack of the blockbuster “Mission: Impossible 2“.
Then place the little new ones that the French public was impatient at the idea of discovering live. And the result is rather successful with a “Eternal Light“very dynamic, a”Screaming Suicide“rousing, and a powerful”Sleepwalk My Life Away“.
But back to the classics that fans never tire of hearing from tour to tour. Metallica then continues with the instrumental “Orion“, the essential “Nothing Else Matters“and the Memorable”Sad But True“.
On stage, the four Californians show a broad smile and seem happy to find their ” Metallica Family in Paris, a city that is dear to them. All dressed in black and never leaving his guitar, James Hetfield moves from the outside of the stage to the inside, finding himself singing in front of the snake pit audience, with mind-blowing ease. Always very close to his fans, the singer and guitarist does not hesitate to “checker” some of them, then causing some euphoric reactions.
On his side, Lars Ulrich is still impressive, even sitting behind its beautiful yellow battery. We really liked seeing his favorite instrument appear from the bowels of the stage and change position during the set. During the show, Lars – a bit of a joker – takes malicious pleasure in throwing his towel in which he has just wiped himself in the pit or in spitting water on the public, visibly in demand. The guitarist Kirk Hammett and the bassist Rob Trujillo, always more discreet than their companions, do not make up the numbers. The years pass, but their energy and their complicity remain (almost) intact.
This is also one of the rare groups which succeeds, following more than 40 years of career, in bringing together Paris so many fans from all over the world. English, Colombians, Australians, Americans, Swedes, Chileans or even Mexicans unite behind Metallica with a single watchword: vibrate to the rhythm of Thrash metal and this group that gives them so much!
A group that has certainly taken on wrinkles (Kirk celebrated its 60th birthday last year, while James, Lars et Rob are not very far from joining him), but still take as much pleasure to go on stage and play their songs in front of thousands of fans. In any case, this is how we felt this Wednesday evening at the Stade de France. Despite the youth that seems far behind, the four friends keep the same energy and the same passion. And the fans are asking for more. SO Metallica does not sulk his pleasure by ending his set with several of their expected hits like the Messiah by the spectators, like “Master of Puppets” et “Seek & Destroy“, as flames leap around the stage on the track”Fuel“, heating the atmosphere a little more.
After making us sweat and fidget for 2 hours of set, and having filled our eyes and ears, Metallica bows to his traditional throw of picks and sticks, causing some riots in the pit.
If the public seems conquered by this incredible performance, the group also savors this moment and is already impatient at the idea of meeting the spectators of the Stade de France this Friday, May 19, 2023 for the second Parisian date, which should be as explosive as the first!
Setlist of May 17, 2023 at the Stade de France
- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- Ride the Lightning
- Holier Than Thou
- I Disappear
- Eternal Light
- Screaming Suicide
- Fade to Black
- Sleepwalk My Life Away
- Orion
- Nothing Else Matters
- Sad but True
- The Day That Never Comes
- Blackened
- Fuel
- Seek & Destroy
- Master of Puppets
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