Sometimes even a literally card-carrying member of the KISS Army must admit defeat.
The self-styled hottest band in the world might have pioneered rock as spectacle and influenced entire generations of musicians that followed, but the last time they played the venue formerly known as Lang Park was 45 years ago at the peak of KISSteria Down Under.
Enter Metallica. As one of the fantastic four metal bands of the ’80s – along with Anthrax, Slayer and Megadeth – they still command a following that warrants Suncorp Stadium, whereas KISS were long since relegated to the entertainment centre in the boondocks.
And not only did Metallica warrant “The Cauldron”, they packed it out, with most of the available field full, along with three grandstands.
Surveying the sea of humanity, frontman James Hetfield was humbled.
“After – I don’t know how many years we’ve been a band, but a long time – we’re super grateful that there’s this much love from Brisbane,” he said, as the lights turned on the audience.
“Take a look, you guys: This is love right here. Fantastic.”
Metallica’s M72 tour, and the album it comes off the back of, are named for the 72 seasons comprising our formative first 18 years of life.
And it’s been a full 50 seasons since the LA metal outfit last played these shores, after their 2019 tour was cancelled when Hetfield went into rehab.
But on Wednesday night they more than made up for lost time with a full-throated return.
“Did you miss us?” Hetfield asked, to a rapturous response.
“Thank you, we missed you a lot, it’s been a long time since we’ve been here. Thanks for coming back, we’re very grateful to be here.”
Breakneck opener Creeping Death gave virtuoso Kirk Hammett an early opportunity to show off his guitar chops.
The band’s loud and clear wall of sound was matched only by the spectacular visuals on the monolithic screens, and the pyrotechnics used sparingly to great effect.
Meanwhile, columns of flames could be felt from hundreds of metres away.
And the innovative stage setup, in which the moshpit was separated from the rest of the crowd by a walkway curving out from the stage, allowed the band to get as up close and personal as is practicable in a venue that size.
It’s become customary for Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo to perform a “doodle” – a cover of tracks by local artists – and in Brisbane the honour went to Sunshine Coast punk band The Chats, and their song Smoko (giving the visitors a taste of the local vernacular as well).
“We love it here, Kirk’s already trying to buy a house and talked me into it, what do you think about that huh?” Trujillo said.
“We like to celebrate music from your area, from your country… from your ’hood!”
There was the frenetic drum and guitar break of The Day That Never Comes, and the hammer and marching boots on the big screen for Sad But True.
And the extended intro to Nothing Else Matters worked the crowd into frenzy, the song igniting a constellation of smartphone torches.
As if their drummer needed any introduction, Hetfield said during Seek and Destroy, “Brisbane, say hi to my friend Lars,” as a volley of giant beach balls was unleashed on the crowd.
And climactic megahit Enter Sandman triggered a massive fireworks eruption and the closing words, “Metallica loves Brisbane!”
Setlist:Creeping Death, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Fuel, Ride the Lightning, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam, Smoko (The Chats “doodle”), The Day That Never Comes, Moth Into Flame, Sad But True, Nothing Else Matters, Seek and Destroy, Lux Æterna, Master of Puppets, One, Enter Sandman
