One of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time, Metallica sold out Nassau Coliseum last night, their 11th visit to Long Island’s biggest concert venue. They were welcomed like old friends by 17,000 adoring fans and played in an unusual in-the-round stage setup.
The show began with musical composition “The Ecstasy of Gold,” the same introductory music they have used at their concerts since 1983. Then they opened with “Hardwired,” title track off their most recent album Hardwired… to Self-Destruct (2016).
The 18-song set list was well-rounded with old and new represented. Fans were enthusiastic about favorites “For Whom The Bell Tolls” and “Master of Puppets.”
They saved the best for last with an encore of “Blackened,” “Nothing Else Matters” and “Enter Sandman,” finally playing “The Frayed Ends of Sanity” on the outro.
Vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield spoke to the audience intermittently about the band’s history playing at the Coliseum, which reopened last month after a major renovation.
Throughout the show, the band members rotated their positions on the square stage in the middle of the floor of the arena, thus giving the sea of people standing and in the stadium seating a clear view 360 degrees around.
After 36 years of playing together, Metallica can’t help but be masters at what they do and make it look easy.
