Yesterday, Metallica live streamed an unreleased show from the Copenhagen concert on July 22, 2009. The band was currently touring their massive comeback album ‘Death Magnetic.’ And the set is fantastic. Touching most of the album and playing many of the classics. This was a great way for metal fans to tune in, let loose and enjoy their favorite metal riffs. Some of which rank among the greatest of all time.
Opening with an incredible version of ‘That Was Just Your Life,’ Metallica roar into action. Like they didn’t even need to warm up. And then immediate go into the following track on ‘Death Magnetic,’ ‘The End of the Line.’ Of course, classics like ‘Fade to Black’ and ‘Master of Puppets’ work their way into the set. But what makes this show so special are the deep cuts that are added. ‘Holier than Thou’ is such a welcome addition to the show. It’s always been one of their best tracks that doesn’t really get talked about enough. And during the encore, they threw in ‘Trapped Under Ice.’ What a treat!! Plus, the cut ‘Broken, Beat and Scarred’ from ‘Death Magnetic’ is a true highlight. It’s probably the best song on the album. And it deserves to be highlighted more.
Traditional Metallica songs like ‘Four Horsemen’ and ‘Sad But True’ also ring with excellence. What’s really cool is seeing footage from the ‘Death Magnetic’ tour. It’s not a tour that gets a lot of recognition. And from what I saw I’d say it ranks among their best. The set is tight and focused. The lighting is unlike any Metallica show I’ve ever seen. Poignant laser lights are meticulously timed with each phrase of each song. Perfectly in sync and on point. The show is a peak example of combining musical intrigue and lighting. Just an all around excellent show. The concert is also available on double disc CD from the bands website. You can also watch it in it’s entirety on youtube.
I’m hoping that many other band will follow suit. Streaming free live material for their fans. We’re all a little stir crazy right now and these live concerts offer at least some sense of normalcy. A lot of tours have been cancelled. People’s rock and metal lives have been upended indefinitely. So it would be nice if other bands followed suit and released live gems from their vaults. The fans deserve it. And in this time of crisis I would argue that many fans need it. So pony up rockers of the last decades and give the fans what they want.
