Review: Metallica’s Denver Finale Delivers Mile High Metal Masterclass

Veni, vidi, vici. They come, they saw, they conquered.

That’s exactly what Metallica did during its long-awaited Denver visit, putting an exclamation point on its No Repeat Weekend with an all-killer-no-filler finale Sunday, June 29, at Empower Field — a spectacle that will go down as one for the ages in Mile High music and metal history for several reasons.

Based off the setlist for Friday's show, you could assume what the thrash titans were going to break out, but when they blew through all-time tomes “Whiplash,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Ride the Lightning” right off the bat, Metallica only confirmed that everyone was witnessing greatness and was in for an unforgettable night.

“Metallica’s in a really good mood, so you guys better watch out,” guitarist-vocalist James Hetfield admitted after the hat trick of heaters.

The band energized the sold-out sea of fans further with “The Memory Remains,” “Lux Æterna” and “Too Far Gone?” Then, while Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich took a breather (as they did Friday night as well), guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo killed time by playing a “Trapped Under Ice” into “Rocky Mountain High” medley, complete with a stadium-wide sing-along. John Denver never sounded so metal.

With the band back as a four-piece, “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” “Wherever I May Roam,” “The Call of Ktulu” (dedicated to late, great bassist Cliff Burton) and “The Unforgiven” followed. The enthusiasm from both sides of the stage carried and intensified through “Whisky in the Jar,” the traditional Irish folk number popularized by native sons Thin Lizzy, “Blackened,” “Moth Into Flame” and “One,” before crescendoing with “Enter Sandman.” Everyone in the stadium knew it was coming, but the roar that erupted when the intro to the most-celebrated song by the most-celebrated metal band kicked in could have registered on any Richter scale within a five-mile radius. Yes, it was that deafening, and Metallica delivered in spades, or jumbo beach balls, which fell from each of the eight towers at the beginning of the epic closer.

Even the lights how and stage production — which offered up 360-degree views — felt amped up all night, particularly the combat soundtrack, fireworks and pyro that introduced “One.”

And in case you needed more proof that Metallica is an unstoppable metal monolith, the thrash outfit officially set the two-show attendance record at Empower Field after filling all the seats, and then some, in welcoming over 152,000 fans throughout the weekend. The No Repeat success broke the previous mark held by none other than Taylor Swift, who attracted 140,000 attendees for her 2023 Eras Tour concerts (those shows were capped at 70,000 due to the enormous on-field stage set-up).

While the record was confirmed by Live Nation Monday morning, the group already knew it had accomplished something special before wrapping up Sunday night, as Trujillo announced the Mile High benchmark during a break in the action.

“Taylor Swift’s been coming in setting records, and Metallica’s been coming in re-breaking them,” he said, arousing much applause. See, we told you Metallica is the Taylor Swift of metal, but bigger!

The Denver dates were the last North American stops on the seemingly never-ending M72 World Tour (which started over two years ago), before it resumes down under in July. The band must first make a stop in Birmingham, England, to send off Black Sabbath properly on July 5 for the Back to the Beginning celebration.

As the name implies, the No Repeat format featured different setlists and bands each night. On Friday, Ice Nine Kills and Limp Bizkit lit it up. For Sunday, Suicidal Tendencies and Pantera got it going.

Suicidal Tendencies brought a healthy crowd out early with its OG crossover and founding frontman Mike Muir’s infectious positivity. Through six songs, Muir also literally ran circles around the stage, almost nonstop, and jumped into the throngs of cyco punks several times, which he’s well-known to do at shows, in sermonizing “You Can’t Bring Me Down,” “Institutionalized,” “Subliminal” and “Send Me Your Money.” Aussie singer Nisha STar joined Muir for new single “Adrenaline Addict,” which was released in April, before Suicidal had fans chanting “S.T.” for closer “Pledge Your Allegiance.”

By unofficial T-shirt counts, Pantera swag rivaled Metallica merch seen throughout the stadium on Sunday. The new-look crew now featuring legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde (best known for his shredding Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society work) and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, alongside indelible lead singer Phil Anselmo and longtime bassist Rex Brown, paid homage to fallen brothers and Pantera founders Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. Dime, a modern guitar virtuoso, was murdered on stage in 2004, while Paul, the thunder-god drummer, passed in 2018.

“Everything we do, every song we play, is for Dimebag and Vince,” Anselmo said after finishing opener “A New Level.”

A tribute video for “Cemetery Gates” shared behind-the-scenes shots of the brothers living it up backstage with their bandmates and the likes of Tommy Lee and Trent Reznor, while fans provided the vocals.

The Texas groove-metal giants can still conjure up a moshpit, too, as bangers “Mouth for War,” “I’m Broken,” “Five Minutes Alone” and “Fucking Hostile” resulted in four separate circles at times.

And just in case anyone wasn’t familiar with Pantera before seeing them Sunday, as Anselmo quipped, the band smashed through “Walk,” by far its most celebrated track, before ending with “Cowboys From Hell,” the band’s calling card since 1990.

Ticket sales aside, based on the reactions of those who were there — on Friday, Sunday or both — everyone left sonically satiated. The long stroll to the Ball Arena rideshare parking lot pick-up spot felt like a heavy metal parade, as fans of all ages recalled what they’d just seen, often headbanging or singing out of tune, as the fresh memory formulated and settled into their brains.

Local thrashers and beer can-crushers Acid Sentence even hosted an impromptu U-Haul show in the parking lot near the west entrance on Sunday night. Sounds crazy, but two nights, including what amounted to ten total hours of metal up your ass, almost didn’t feel like enough once Metallica left the field and the hordes were forced to fill the streets.

Here's hoping Colorado metalheads don’t have to wait another eight-plus years for Metallica to roll through town again. But until the next time, at least the memory remains.

See more photos from the June 29 show below: