It’s King’s Day in the Netherlands – a legal holiday to commemorate the birthday of King Willem-Alexander, who this year turns 56. The streets and canals of Amsterdam are awash with pissed-up residents worn the royal colour of orange. But Metal Hammer don’t see any of that first-hand.
We’re 5 miles beyond town, where 71,000 Metallica fans are collecting at the Johan Cruijff Arena for a celebration of their own. It’s the very first date of Metallica’s M72 World Tour, in assistance of 11th album 72 Seasons , and this evening the band will debut their brand-new program.
“I’ve travelled halfway across the world to be here today,” smiles Jason, a 52-year-old fan from Newcastle, Australia, who’s using a zip-up Master Of Puppets hoodie. “It was actually 31 hours, all up, to be here.”
Is it worth it? “Totally. 100%. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” says Jason, who has actually been to more than 70 Metallica displays in 22 nations. “I love everything about Metallica – what they represent, the connection with their fans, and obviously their music . Yeah – pretty much everything!”
From the outdoors, the Johan Cruijff Arena – home to AFC Ajax football club – appears like a huge hamster cage, with long, transparent tubes housing escalators to carry individuals to their seats. Around the border and with an hour up until doors, fans are queuing at the tee shirt stands – equipped with 15 various styles – getting food from hotdog vans, spilling out of bars and meeting pals.
Because this is Metallica, today isn’t simply the start of a normal trip, it’s the start of an experience. The M72 Tour will go through Europe – consisting of Download celebration – followed by North America, and is presently scheduled to complete on September 29, 2024, in Mexico City. They will play 2 programs per location without any repeats in those setlists, with various assistance bands for each.
There are likewise a lots of additional activities prepared: today, fans can go to a pop-up shop selling special posters, tee shirts, beer cups and a limited-edition ‘Screaming Suicide’ skateboard, in addition to seeing a complimentary program from Eindhoven metalcore quintet Another Now.
Then, there are the tickets. Aside from the routine seating and standing ones, fans can purchase among 6 ‘enhanced experiences’, which can consist of fulfill and welcomes, a production and phase trip, food and beverages in the ‘Black Box Lounge’, and access to the Snake Pit – the special standing location within touching-distance of the band as they play live.
The VIP check-in marquee, fitted with speakers blasting out Limp Bizkit’s Rollin ’, is staffed by ladies in a uniform of black leather coats, black pants, yellow tops and gold hoop earrings. Employed by means of a hospitality firm, Fabienne enjoys it. “Normally in my other jobs, I have to wear a blouse and my own pants,” she discusses. “But now we’ve got style too, and it’s nice. It fits in with the whole concert.”
Milling around some neighboring benches, we fulfill Martyna, a fan who stands apart in her own, intense yellow, Metallica leather coat. She made it herself, and approximates it took her more than 70 hours. “This is actually a mustard-coloured Primark jacket that I painted with leather paint,” she discusses. “I made little glitter appliqués, and then handpainted the Amsterdam shadow part [on the back]. I hope I don’t get sued! But I’m not selling them, so I’m not making money.”
Martyna is here with partner Kent, whom she fulfilled on the Metallica authorities Fifth Member Forums. She’s Polish however was living in Ireland at the time, and welcomed Kent – initially from Iowa however residing in Amsterdam – to see Metallica at Slane Castle in 2019. Now the set cohabit here.
“I was @ladyofjustice and he was @kbell75,” smiles Martyna. “We didn’t know what each other looked like, we didn’t know anything. But then I decided, ‘Well, I have an extra ticket for Slane…’ and the rest is history!”
Kent, sporting a Kill ’Em All t-shirt, is also into craft projects. “I have a bus-sized poster that I’ve designed with photographs and scans from my entire Metallica collection – about 800 items or so,” he says. “That’s just vinyl and CDs. It doesn’t include the posters and t-shirts I’ve accumulated in 34 years of being a fan.”
They’ve pertained to the program with Martyna’s moms and dads, and her daddy – who utilized to teach metal-working in a college – made the huge silver Metallica logo design pendant spending time her neck. “He’s literally a metal dad!” she chuckles.
Outside among the VIP entryways is 36-year-old Neal Fitzpatrick from Lurgan in Northern Ireland, simply outdoors Belfast. He’s stired to hear we simply fulfilled Kent, who formerly used him Amsterdam travel recommendations on the online forums. Neal, using a Ride The Lightning hoodie, has actually paid €998 for 2 nights’ entry into the Snake Pit. It’ll be his “six or seventh” time seeing the band, whom he found by means of a friend at age 16, however his very first time seeing them this close up.
“Apart from it being in the middle of the arena, I don’t know what to expect!” he chuckles. “Everything seems to be quite under wraps, so it does. No one really knows what’s happening.”
Is there a tune you truly desire them to play tonight? “Well, my favourite song’s Creeping Death . I like to play the drums a little bit back home, so I’ll be just focusing on Lars. Lars gets a lot of stick. Lars is fantastic. He’s been doing it for 45 years. I am a Lars supporter!”
Hoping to sign up with Neal in the Snake Pit is Piotr, who’s holding up an indication that checks out: ‘I Need A Ticket’. He declares this method has actually worked for him “hundreds” of times at previous gigs. He’s seen Metallica in the past, consisting of a handful of programs in the Snake Pit, and wishes to have the experience once again.
“It’s in front of the stage, it’s a cosy experience – not like 10,000 people pushing back,” he smiles. “It’s the best!”
What’s the greatest quantity he’s willing to increase to? “According to local police, I cannot offer anything, because then the person selling could get a fine,” he confesses. “But I could offer to buy beers inside, to a total of €20.”
And then there’s the abovementioned Jason from Australia, here with Erwan, from Paris (overall Metallica reveals seen: 24), and John, from Chattanooga (overall Metallica reveals seen: 47) who informs us he paid $2,500 for an I Disappear Diamond pass that grants him access to every program.
The trio fulfilled by means of Facebook, where Jason runs The Legacy Remains, an informal Facebook fanpage for MetClub Legacy members (somebody who had actually a paid MetClub subscription in between 1994 and 2015 for 2 or more years, or had actually an active paid subscription on August 24, 2015).
They fulfilled in reality at Metallica’s 40th anniversary displays in 2021. Not just are the trio grateful for their relationship with each other, they’re influenced by the band’s openness about psychological health. On the back of John’s pink fight coat is a spot reading ‘You Are Not Alone’. “You’re not,” he verifies, in a warm Southern accent.
“Wherever you go, the Metallica family’s there. And last year, during the Fade To Black song [at a show in Pittsburgh in August], James had his little [speech] about suicide, and being there for people – you’re never alone, you’ve got just to reach out and someone will be there.”
How do you feel about Metallica discussing these type of topics? James likewise sings about it on Screaming Suicide , from 72 Seasons . Some fans may state: ‘Just play thrash.’ “I love it,” says John.
“I’m actually a mental health professional,” chips in Jason. “So I think it’s great. I think that’s one of the big reasons that Metallica really have such a worldwide fanbase and have some really close-knit connections. Obviously suicide’s one of those prevalent issues in society at the moment, and I think writing songs [about it] is very brave, and breaking down the stigma that’s around that.”
Do you believe it’s especially tough for guys of that generation to discuss that things? “Yeah, definitely. It’s a generation of bravado,” says Jason.
“Yeah, our generation’s definitely that,” concurs John, aged 52 like Jason. “I’m born in Alabama, raised in the South, and that’s just not something you ever talk about in the United States. And I worked for mental health myself for 10 years, working with kids, and you see a lot. And music is one of those things [that can help]; you’ve gotta find whatever it is. For me, it’s metal. For someone else, it’s classical. Whatever it is, it helps mend your soul.”
(Image credit: Derek Bremner)
(Image credit: Derek Bremner)
Walk inside the Johan Cruijff Arena at flooring level, and you’re confronted with 8 towers set up around a main ring-shaped phase, each topped by video screens. They’re presently illuminated orange, most likely for King’s Day. It appears like a cyberpunk fumbling ring.
When Lars talked to us about the brand-new program ahead of the release of 72 Seasons , he hinted that the band had actually been influenced by a few of the world’s most significant popstars. “I don’t think it’s a secret that we’re playing in the centre. We’ve been doing it when we’ve been playing indoors for years – I guess going back 25 years – but we’ve never been able to pull that off in a stadium,” he explained. “
We are playing in the centre of a football pitch. That part’s pretty exciting – we’ve never been able to do that. U2 did it with The Claw [a claw-shaped central structure on their U2 360 show, from 2009-2011], Ed Sheeran did it last year [with six leaning video-screen poles arranged around a round stage on the Mathematics tour]. I think we’ve found a way to pull it off.”
The set-up definitely looks enforcing, and after a set from Wolfgang Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH, it’s up to Architects to provide it a spin. Frontman Sam Carter is continuously on the relocation, running all around the circular phase to engage with as lots of people as possible. Metallica’s audience don’t appear to be acquainted with the band, however it’s difficult to disregard the similarity Tear Gas , Deep Fake and Impermanence – a few of the most significant British metalcore anthems of recent times, with a growing crunch that fills the place.
“I realised that these next two years of playing shows with Metallica and Mammoth WVH is going to be fucking incredible, because we get to play to stadiums full of people that like loud fucking heavy music ,” screams Sam at one point, making a point of unifying the multi-generational crowd in their love for metal. Set-closer Animals (“the best song we’ve ever written”) is legally awesome.
That sensation of togetherness just grows ahead of Metallica, as AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock ’N’ Roll) blasts over the speakers, and the video screens illuminate with pictures of Metallica fulfilling their fans. ‘We’re here for you’, the pictures appear to state. ‘You’re crucial to us.’ Flashing yellow lights magnify. And then, introduction tape The Ecstasy Of Gold plays.
Down in the Snake Pit in the centre of the ring, it’s tough to determine precisely when the band require to the phase. Suddenly, they’re all over. James is shredding in front of us, Kirk and Lars are to our back right, Rob’s someplace to the left. And instead of getting in to fireworks or full-speed surge, they’re playing the progressive, much-loved Orion , triggering grown guys to accept and kiss each other on the cheek.
Their reveal continues because exact same, warm spirit. A grinning James and Kirk share a fist-bump. Lars – tongue generally protruding of his mouth – appears in 4 various areas around the ring throughout the two-and-a-half-hour set, so everybody gets a take a look at him behind his yellow set.
We don’t see Neal once again, however we envision he’s in Heaven. It’s simple to see why the Snake Pit experience is so sought after. You’re actually at the centre of Metallica’s universe, the limit in between the band and fans almost nonexistent, eye contact with your preferred member quickly possible – and if you wish to see a various member, you simply walk over to them.
But when James says, “We are Metallica, and so are you”, pointing outwards towards individuals in the seats, it seems like he’s prioritising them too. There’s a run of material from 72 Seasons . The ‘all generations’ lyrics to Lux Æterna seem especially relevant, as fans of Stranger Things stand side-by-side with veterans who’ve been following the band since the 80s.
Then, Screaming Suicide and Sleepwalk My Life Away get their live debuts, with Fade To Black in the middle – perhaps not surprising, given the complementary lyrical themes John touched upon earlier. All of it is welcomed by the fans, but Metallica know what individuals want to hear, and so begins a killer run: Nothing Else Matters , Sad But True , Ride The Lightning , Battery , Fuel – complete with pyro – Seek & Destroy , and a closing Master Of Puppets .
Unlike the fake accident on their Poor Touring Me run, or the drones on the WorldWired… Tour, there are no gimmicks tonight. Just a band playing classic songs, with the people they love. It’s even more remarkable, given the bumps they’ve had along the way, not least James’s relapse in sobriety four years ago. Today he looks healthy, and is full of gratitude.
“Metallica is so grateful to be here after 41 years, and see a beautiful family here to greet us in Amsterdam,” he says. “Thank you so much. We don’t take you for granted.”
As the lights come up, and the band and crew toss out plectrums, we spot the youngest member of the Snake Pit. Dilano is 13, and has come from Rotterdam with his uncle Gerben. “I got into Metallica by watching too much Stranger Things !” he smiles. “And already playing guitar. I tried the solo of Master Of Puppets once… and I can’t play it!”
He’s not the only young fan here tonight. As we head over towards one of the merch stands, we meet Tania and her 10-year-old daughter, Saar, from Poland. “She plays guitar, and she did a concert with her pop school where she played Nothing Else Matters , so now she had to see them,” Tania says, revealing herself to be the coolest mum around.
What was the best bit? “That my daughter got the scarf from James Hetfield!” she replies, as Saar produces the frontman’s orange bandana, which had been tucked in his left-back pocket for the duration of the show. “I’m going to tie it around my guitar bag,” Saar smiles.
Walking around to the benches at the front of the venue, we meet old-school, dyed in the wool fan Svetoslav ‘Svetty’ Vassilev drinking a beer. He’s originally from Bulgaria, but has been living in Connecticut for the past 23 years. Tonight was his 90th time seeing Metallica, and he can’t believe the band opened with Orion . “I said to my friend, ‘If they keep opening like this, I’ll go to every single show on the tour!” he chuckles.
Which is possible, as he’s in possession of an I Disappear ticket. With old fans and new coming together for such a massive event tonight, why does he think Metallica are still appropriate in 2023? “I think it’s just how they treat their fans,” he concludes. “They always try to give everything possible to their fans, like doing these crazy kind of shows for us, and the enhanced experiences. Another thing is the community: the Metallica Family. It’s a great group of people that just makes you wanna go and see more and more shows.”
There will be more opportunities for get togethers on tomorrow’s ‘off day’ between gigs, as there’s a ‘Metallica Amsterdam Takeover’ at nightclub Melkweg, featuring a book signing and Q&A with longtime Metallica photographer Ross Halfin. Later, there will be sets by the Netherlands symphonic band Haliphron, electro-metal serial killer obsessives Skynd and among Saturday’s assistance bands, Ice Nine Kills, plus remarkably called homage bands Imitallica and Magnetica, in addition to a Metallica movie celebration.
“Today, I didn’t arrange anything with friends – I knew I would show up here in Amsterdam and see many faces that I know. That’s one thing I really like about the whole Metallica Family,” smiles Svetty.
Metallica’s M72 continues in the United States on August 4. The band heading Power Trip celebration in October.