Metallica Made history in Munich on Sunday evening, Germanyby performing their longest song, Inamorata, live for the first time.
The 11-minute song, which is on their 11th studio album 72 seasonshad never been played live until this tour.
This momentous occasion took place as part of their ongoing M72 European tour, in support of their latest album.
Frontman James Hetfield introduced the song with palpable excitement, captured in fan-made videos.
“We've never played this next song 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'. Unique moments just happen, okay? That's what we need to tell ourselves. This one is from 72 Seasons. It's one of my favorites, so I'll like it.'
Imamorata narrowly misses being the band's longest recording, even though it is their longest original song. That title goes to Mercyful Fate, an 11:11-minute medley of covers that pays tribute to the Danish heavy metal band of the same name, which was featured on Metallica's 1998 compilation album Garage Inc.
The Munich performance was part of a two-day gig in the city, with unique setlists and different opening acts each night.
Friday's concert was highlighted by a dramatic thunderstorm, which created a surreal and powerful backdrop as the band played their classic Master of Puppets, with lightning lighting up the sky.
Friday's lineup included opening acts Architects and Mammoth WVH, led by Wolfgang Van Halen.
During Sunday's show, Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills warmed up the crowd before Metallica took the stage.
In addition to Inamorata, Metallica's setlist included songs such as Creeping Death, One and Enter Sandman, along with other songs from 72 Seasons such as If Darkness Had a Son and the title track.
The band's dynamic setlist clearly reflects their intention to keep performances fresh and engaging, even though the band has been playing to audiences for over 40 years.
Bassist Robert Trujillo explained the band's strategy behind their evolving setlists.
“Initially we thought it would be really smart and exciting to open the show with an instrumental, like The Call Of Ktulu or Orion,” Trujillo told Classic Rock.
'We discovered that an instrumental is very powerful for the set, but that it fits much better in the middle of a set. It's an opportunity for the fan to absorb and embrace the song. Instead of just throwing a curveball at them, we like to come up with a Whiplash or a Creeping Death, something that hits you in the face.”
The band's latest album, released 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 rose to number one on the UK charts.
The M72 tour continues to captivate audiences across Europe, offering a mix of Metallica's iconic hits and new songs from their latest album.
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