Metallica Live

Local rockers Glyder kicked off this metal carnival with a blast of Thin Lizzy-esque fare (an appropriate addition to the bill as the aforementioned troupe were originally booked). One of the frontrunners of the new wave of American heavy metal, Mastodon took to the stage next to a fervent greeting. A superlative set culled from their four longplayers, served up with trademark intensity, did not disappoint.
Cries of ‘Jerry, Jerry, Jerry’ greeted grunge dignitaries Alice In Chains. Mr. Cantrell and company were, in this humble reviewer's opinion, unequalled on the day. Classics such as ‘Would?’, ‘Them Bones’ and ‘Man In The Box’ sparked much moshing while new material like ‘The Looking In View’ and ‘Check My Brain’ were lapped up with comparable relish.
Much squealing welcomed Avenged Sevenfold’s cartoonish efforts, the apex of which was a pulverising ‘Beast And The Harlot’. Other noteworthy moments came when frontman M Shadows donned an Ireland jersey hurled on stage by ecstatic fans.
Then it was time for the U2 of the metal world to make their entrance. ‘Blackened’ ushered in a career-spanning greatest hits set with a few covers thrown in for good measure. The latter included a triumphant ‘Whiskey In The Jar’; a doff of the cap to Bob Seeger in the shape of ‘Turn The Page’; and Sweet Savage’s ‘Killing Time’, with guest vocals by Ray Haller (of the aforementioned Belfast metallers), who looked like all his birthdays had arrived at once.
‘Harvester Of Sorrow’, ‘Master Of Puppets’ and ‘Fight Fire With Fire’ swept us back to Metallica's glory years, and crowd pleasers ‘Enter Sandman’ and ‘Nothing Else Matters’ were predictably anthemic. This, coupled with Hetfield’s therapy speak-peppered banter, made the proceedings slightly cringey – but when you’re metal royalty you’re (un)forgiven.