Watch Metallica Spawn a Monster for Their Sphere Residency Opener
Pitchfork • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Metallica made a grand debut at the Las Vegas Sphere on October 1, performing an 18-song set that spanned their career from 1983’s Kill Em All to 2023’s 72 Seasons.
- The band played as a four-piece in front of the venue’s massive curved screen, featuring striking visuals like towering tombstones, stained-glass windows, and a multidimensional depiction of Lovecraftian imagery.
- The show’s visuals contrasted with the venue’s neon exterior, displaying dark and horror-inspired imagery such as nooses, crosses, and ruined landscapes.
- James Hetfield praised the combination of modern technology and live music, calling the experience “pretty awesome.”
- This performance was the first of 24 scheduled shows at the 20,000-capacity venue through March 2027, with concerts occurring every Thursday and Saturday and featuring unique setlists each week under the “No Repeat Weekends” concept.
