metallica at optus stadium / perth, wa
- Brendan Edwards
- Nov 3
- 3 min read
I had the privilege of witnessing the pure brilliance of Metallica for the very first time at Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia, and I'm honestly still buzzing from it. A feeling I know I’m not alone in experiencing. Fans old and new packed the venue wall to wall, united by the same anticipation, ready to witness one of the greatest bands of all time in full force.
Since I was 12 or 13, I have been smashing Puppets and Bells through various forms; cassette, CDs, iPods, and Spotify. Even vinyl, once I learnt to appreciate them. So the chance to see them live was a no-brainer. We almost had the chance in 2019 before the Australian leg got cancelled, so this felt like redemption and they certainly did not disappoint.
The night opened with Suicidal Tendencies, who started with immediate energy and presence, eliciting a response from the crowd that made it clear we were in for an unforgettable night. Lead singer Mike Muir made his way into the crowd right in front of us, so already the night started strong.
Then Evanescence took the stage, and the pristine voice of Amy Lee reverberated throughout Optus, sounding as if time had never touched her ability to belt those signature songs. Her vocals were flawless. Soaring, powerful, and deeply emotional, cutting through the night air with ease. The crowd erupted as the first familiar notes rang out, echoing every word right back at her.
Then, it was time. From the opening riffs of Creeping Death, the concert was a whirlwind of heavy bass lines, frantic drum beats, electrifying solos, powerful vocals, and pyrotechnics and the crowd were all for it. Even giant beach balls found their way around the stadium, keeping everyone entertained.
Songs from Kill ’Em All, Ride the Lightning, Death Magnetic, and The Black Album which was well represented with six tracks, brought back amazing memories growing up, and seeing them live and in full flight was a sight to behold.
I have to give a shout-out to my brother Jay for not only introducing me to the Metallica family but also for giving up a Snake Pit opportunity so we could watch it side by side. We did, however, manage to snag early access tickets, which got us a brilliant position at stage right. So thank you, brother.
With a mic set up right in front of us, we had ample opportunities to see James, Kirk, and Rob up close and later on, with a drum set appearing from the floor, Lars as well.
They played plenty of hits, as well as songs from newer albums and from the tour’s namesake, the 72 Seasons album. And although Master of Puppets is my favourite song, Fuel was probably the highlight for me. The energy, coupled with the massive columns of flames shooting up around the stage, was simply mind-blowing and added a bit of warmth on a brisk spring night.
The feeling leaving Optus was electric and hearing the buzz among other concert-goers, we were all united in the feeling of having experienced something incredible. Although Hetfield joked that he'd be back in another 12 years, should Metallica make their way back down under, we’ll be there.
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