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Written by: E. George
Published June 5, 2025 @ 6:40 PM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – Metallica brought their signature thunderous energy to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Tuesday night as part of its globe-spanning M72 World Tour, delivering a high-octane performance that traversed the band’s four-decade career.
With a lineup solidified by founding members James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich alongside longtime guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo, the heavy metal icons delivered a 16-song setlist that blended classic fan favorites with selections from their most recent studio album. The massive Atlanta venue pulsed with intensity as the band tore through tracks including “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Fuel,” and “One,” punctuating the night with enduring anthems like “Enter Sandman” and “Seek & Destroy.”
The show was also marked by a unique moment of local flair during the band’s regular “Kirk and Rob Doodle” segment, a tradition on the M72 tour where Hammett and Trujillo break into an improvised jam. In a nod to Georgia’s musical legacy, the duo pivoted from an opening riff of “No Remorse” to perform “One Way Out,” a blues classic widely associated with The Allman Brothers Band. The tribute added a distinctive regional touch to an otherwise roaring metal set.
New material was also on full display, with “Lux Æterna” and “If Darkness Had a Son” representing the band’s latest effort, 72 Seasons. These newer tracks blended seamlessly into the night’s offerings, showing the band’s continued creative momentum even after more than 40 years on the road.
The Atlanta concert was a standalone stop ahead of the tour’s upcoming “No Repeat Weekend” in Tampa, where the band plans to perform entirely different sets across two nights. The M72 World Tour, known for its immersive production and rotating stage layout, has become one of the year’s most anticipated live music events.
With its blend of old-school ferocity and modern showmanship, Metallica’s Atlanta performance reaffirmed the band’s enduring status as one of rock’s most formidable live acts.