METALLICA, EVANESCENCE, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES – MARVEL STADIUM – MELBOURNE – 08.11.2025
Review: Craig Eriksson (Metallica), Greg Phillips (Suicidal Tendencies, Evanescence). Photos: Jason Rosewarne.
Some 50,000 fans trekked to Marvel Stadium in Melbourne last night to experience Metallica on their M72 World Tour with special guests Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies. Hailing from Los Angeles, American heavy metal rockers Metallica formed back in 1981 and are considered one of the ‘big four’ thrash metal pioneers alongside Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth. It’s hard to believe it’s been 12 long years since Metallica last played in Australia and finally they are back and playing better than ever. Metallica has toured Australia on a number of occasions over the years. Unfortunately for ticket holders of their 2019 Australian tour, it was cancelled when Hetfield checked himself into rehab. Of course, importantly that time of self-help for James meant that band was able to continue and return for us in 2025.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
American thrashers Suicidal Tendencies had the honour of kicking off the night which was both a blessing and a curse. For the early arrivals it was a chance to flex our gig muscles and get into the spirit of the event. However, first up meant that sound guys were still tweaking frequencies and with the stadium yet to fill and the roof closed, sound was bouncing off the walls and returning back into the sonic blend. That didn’t deter vocalist and founding member, Mike Muir from doing his best to rouse the crowd, dancing around manically and goading us to participate. It was great to see young Tye Trujillo, son of Metallica’s Robert Trujillo strut his stuff on bass, which for the most part sadly wasn’t cutting through the mix. With The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Ben Weinman on guitar and former Slipknot drummer (and E Street band’s Max Weinberg’s son) Jay Weinberg behind the kit, this band really does possess some regal, rock n roll ancestry.
In a fabulous local nod, East Asian/Australian singer Nisha STar, who has been collaborating with both Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves was invited to the stage to perform Adrenaline Addict. As the crowd built and succumbed to Muir’s requests for shouting back the band’s name, he’d eventually won us all over with punk anthems such as Cyco Vision
and Pledge Your Allegiance. Mentioning that they’d played The Forum and were heading to the Pier Hotel in Frankston tonight, we couldn’t help feeling that those type of venues were better suited to the band’s frantic, sweaty vibe.
EVANESCENCE
Whilst Suicidal Tendencies might be best suited to a crowded club environment, Evanescence on the other hand have stadium rockers marked clearly on their label. The fusion of symphonic rock and lead singer Amy Lee’s charismatic personality and soaring vocals make for an intoxicating cocktail. Opening with Afterlife from the Netflix series Devil May Cry, the band set the tone for their epic set. The crowd seemed to have a good grasp of the band’s catalogue too and respond enthusiastically to tunes like Going Under, Lithium and Imaginary. The biggest reaction of the night came when Amy Lee took to a baby grand at the front of stage for My Immortal and asked the crowd to light up their phones. It not only demonstrated the band’s penchant for musical drama but also showcased Amy Lee’s extraordinary powerful voice. Finishing up with their global hit Bring Me to Life, the band had made their mark on this heavy-hungry audience, who in reality were there for one thing and to be fair, it wasn’t the support acts.
METALLICA
The lights dimmed and AC/DC’s “It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘N’ Roll)” beamed out of the PA, while the backdrop displayed old photos from Metallica’s past and present shows. Then Ennio Morricone’s The Ecstasy of Gold was broadcast along with footage from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Metallica emerged on stage to a thunderous welcome by the crowd. The band came out firing and ripped straight into two thrash metal classics from Ride the Lightning (1984). CREEPING DEATH with volcanic red lava erupting on the cinematic backdrop followed by giant bells ringing as they launched into FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS. Lars Ulrich’s drumming was relentless. Fast tempos driven by double bass drumming and intense snare work. Meanwhile James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett shredded their guitars at high-speed with distorted and aggressive down-picked riffs. Robert Trujillo on bass with his powerful, rhythmic and fast fingerstyle technique (skills his son Tye has picked up on) combines precision with a strong sense of groove. Two songs in and fans were going off their nut, headbanging, fist punching the air and loving every minute of it.
Metallica played a wonderful 2-hour set of powerful hard rock providing a good mix of songs from their stellar career. The next two songs were from Reload (1997) with the high-energy, hard rockin’ FUEL which started with some great pyros and backdrop displaying large pistons pumpin’. Giant flames lit up the stage as they ripped into the song about reckless abandon, speed and adrenaline with the lyrics – “Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.” THE MEMORY REMAINS followed with its grinding heavy riffs and haunting vocals. Metallica slowed things down a notch with the power ballad THE UNFORGIVEN from The Black Album (1991) with its heavy verses and melodic chorus. The song is about Hetfield’s personal life from adolescence to old age. The lyrics explore the consequences of trying to please everyone else which leads to regret and the inability to forgive oneself in the end.
One of my personal faves also from The Black Album followed with WHEREVER I MAY ROAM with its sitar intro, heavy riffs, Trujillo’s 12-string bass and Lars pounding the skins. This song is about the freedom and independence of a life spent travelling. Lyrics like: “Anywhere I roam, Where I lay my head is home, and the earth becomes my throne.” The song is a statement about the band’s own extensive touring, travelling the world and the idea of finding home everywhere they roam.
Mid set, as part of Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett’s Aussie ‘doodle’ series, the two of them jam together and tonight paid tribute to Melbourne hometown rockers The Living End by playing a cover of PRISONER OF SOCIETY (with INXS ‘Don’t Change’ intro). The crowd erupted and sang along while fist pumping the air in unison. THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES from Death Magnetic (2008) followed with a giant hourglass backdrop. It starts as a soft melodic song with a clean acoustic sound. The song shifts in tempo and intensity, gradually building up with a heavy and aggressive barrage of guitars and drums at the end. This song showcased the incredible musicianship of each member of the band and Hetfield’s growling vocals.
The fast, melodic MOTH INTO FLAME from Hardwired ..To Self-Destruct (2016) with its thrash-like riffs reminiscent of Iron Maiden was kick ass! This song draws parallels between seeking fame and being consumed by it, much like a moth drawn to a flame. This one featured bright colourful visuals of the Vegas sunset strip. Metallica performed several more songs from The Black Album including SAD BUT TRUE with its powerful lyrics about the struggle with one’s darker self, whether it be addiction or mental health. How it can take control and the person is trapped by their own internal beast. This song placed fans in a trance with its incredible dreamy visuals. The beautiful ballad NOTHING ELSE MATTERS had everyone singing along and holding their phones up displaying a sea of lights. The iconic fingerpicked guitar intro and subsequent orchestral arrangements made this song a standout in their show.
A blast from the past was the thrash metal song SEEK & DESTROY from their debut album Kill ‘Em All (1983) with its catchy chorus “Searching, seek and destroy”, heavy chugging riffs and raw sound and a wonderful solo by Kirk Hammett. About 30 giant inflatable beach balls were thrown out into the crowd and looked amazing as they bounced around the stadium. The crowd came together like an army during this song, fist punching the air in unison.
Another drumkit appeared on the horseshoe stage up close and personal to the fans for LUX ÆTERNA from 72 Reasons (2023). With its fast, upbeat, power metal sound reminiscent of songs from Kill ‘Em All, Lars is an absolute machine on this song, drumming with such intensity and force. Hammett played another guitar solo while Hetfield’s gritty, energetic and powerful vocals displayed a maturity in his voice. The anthem MASTER OF PUPPETS from the 1986 album of the same title was a fan favourite and the crowd sang with such commitment. The theme of this song is about drug addiction and how it can control the addict’s life leading to loss of control and self-destruction.
A Metallica show would not be complete without ONE from …And Justice For All (1988). This is such a powerful song with strong lyrics about a soldier’s internal torment and his desperate wish for death after stepping on a landmine and losing his limbs, sight, hearing and speech. It was a goosebumps moment hearing the sombre, clean guitar intro which built up and led into a heavy, thrash-metal assault, mirroring the soldiers mental and physical state. Lars drumming was intense and the guitar solos were some of the best of the evening. The cinematic backdrop had war planes and soldiers marching while large flames rose from the stage, lasers and smoke canons creating a powerful, eerie atmosphere.
The show concluded with the iconic ENTER SANDMAN, slaying the crowd with its opening riff, driving repetitive anthem and dark themes, blending a child’s lullaby (“Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep” prayer) with nightmare imagery. Hearing 50,000 fans chant the chorus “Exit: light, Enter: Night, Take My Hand, We’re off to never never land” was chilling. A fitting song to end an incredible evening.
SET LISTS
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
You Can’t Bring Me Down
Institutionalized
Send Me Your Money
Adrenaline Addict
(with Nisha STar)
Cyco Vision
Pledge Your Allegiance
EVANESCENCE
Afterlife
Made of Stone
Going Under
Take Cover
The Game Is Over
Lithium
Wasted on You
Better Without You
Call Me When You’re Sober
Imaginary
Use My Voice
End of the Dream
My Immortal
Bring Me to Life
METALLICA:
CREEPING DEATH
FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
FUEL
THE MEMORY REMAINS
THE UNFORGIVEN
WHEREVER I MAY ROAM
KIRK & ROB – AUSSIE DOODLE – THE LIVING END’s PRISONER OF SOCIETY/ with INXS Don’t Change intro
THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES
MOTH INTO FLAME
SAD BUT TRUE
NOTHING ELSE MATTERS
SEEK & DESTROY
LUX AETERNA
MASTER OF PUPPETS
ONE
ENTER SANDMAN
UPCOMING AUSTRALIAN SHOWS:
Wednesday 12 November – Suncorp Stadium – Brisbane
Saturday 15 November – Accor Stadium – Sydney
https://www.livenation.com.au/
