“BURN, AMSTERDAM, BURN!” James Hetfield yells during Fuel, as bursts of fire erupt around the ring-shaped stage at the 71,000-capacity Johan Cruijff Arena. It’s the first date of Metallica's worldwide M72 Tour, in support of new album 72 Seasons, and the atmosphere is one of pure celebration. The band are encircled by eight towers topped with wraparound video screens beaming the action to the nosebleeds, while inside the ring is their infamous ‘snake pit’ where fans can get within touching distance. It doesn’t get much bigger than this.
But first, Architects. Metallica have scheduled two shows per city, each with a different setlist and support bands, and the Brightonians are doing the honours tonight. All those songs from last year’s The Classic Symptoms Of A Broken Spirit, that sound like they were written for stadiums? They live up to the promise. The hooky, industrial-flecked likes of Deep Fake and Tear Gas are resolutely crushing. “You are currently witnessing a lot of boys – men – on this stage, living their wildest dreams,” grins frontman Sam Carter, reminding himself how far they’ve come. “Our job is to warm you up. ARE YOU WARM?”
