Metallica’s Historic Performance in Munich
Metallica made history on Sunday night in Munich, Germany, by performing their longest song, Inamorata, live for the very first time. The 11-minute track, which appears on their 11th studio album 72 Seasons, had never been played live until this tour.
The Unveiling of Inamorata
This momentous occasion occurred as part of their ongoing M72 European tour, which is in support of their latest album. Frontman James Hetfield introduced the song with palpable excitement, captured in fan-shot videos.
A Unique Performance
‘This next song, we have never, ever played live before,’ Hetfield announced to the excited crowd. ‘And, you know, in our band we don’t recognize the word “mistake,” because there are no “mistakes.” There’s just unique moments that happen, all right? That’s what we need to tell ourselves. This one is from 72 Seasons. It’s one of my favorites, so I’m gonna like it.’
Imamorata narrowly misses being the band’s longest recording, though it is their longest original song. That title goes to Mercyful Fate an 11:11 minute medley of covers paying homage to the Danish heavy metal band of the same name, featured on Metallica’s 1998 compilation album Garage Inc.
Diverse Performances
The Munich performance was part of a two-night engagement in the city, featuring unique setlists and different opening acts each night. Friday’s concert was highlighted by a dramatic thunderstorm, creating a surreal and powerful backdrop as the band played their classic Master of Puppets, with lightning illuminating the sky.
Friday’s lineup included opening acts Architects and Mammoth WVH, led by Wolfgang Van Halen. Sunday’s show saw Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills warming up the crowd before Metallica took the stage.
Setlist Highlights
In addition to Inamorata, Metallica’s setlist featured staples like Creeping Death, One, and Enter Sandman, along with other tracks from 72 Seasons such as If Darkness Had a Son and the title track. The band’s dynamic setlist clearly reflects their intent to keep performances fresh and engaging even though the band has been playing for audiences for more than 40 years.
Evolution of Setlists
Bassist Robert Trujillo explained the band’s strategy behind their evolving setlists. ‘Initially, we thought it would be really clever and exciting to open the show with an instrumental, like The Call Of Ktulu or Orion,’ Trujillo told Classic Rock. ‘We found that an instrumental is very powerful for the set but it sits much better in the middle of a set, it’s a chance for the fan to absorb and embrace the song. Rather than just coming out throwing a curveball at them, we would rather come out with a Whiplash or a Creeping Death, something that kind of smacks you in the face.’
Success of Latest Album
The band’s newest album, which came out last year, was their first number one album in 15 years. 72 Seasons is also their first collection of new material since 2016, and it soared to the top spot of the UK charts.
Continued Tour Success
The M72 tour continues to captivate audiences across Europe, offering a mix of Metallica’s iconic hits and new tracks from their latest album.
