Metallica brings the noise to Rogers Centre in blistering concert
Metallica
3 stars (out of four)
Rogers Centre, Toronto, April 24, 2025
A little more than 40 years ago — Jan. 19, 1985, to be exact — an upstart young band from Northern California nearly burned Toronto's Concert Hall to the ground due to the friction caused by how fast they played their guitars.
They were inspired by a new wave of British metal, played heavier and more frantically; who ever thought it would have so much staying power? That band was of course Metallica, and by the next winter they were headlining their own tour with a stop at Maple Leaf Gardens.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the thrash metal pioneers now need a full four days in Toronto — to host an art exhibition inspired by their music, launch a coffee-table book and screen a preview of a documentary about how they've saved fan's lives. Not to mention play a pair of sold-out concerts at Rogers Centre.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
As grizzled as James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and Robert Trujillo may now seem, they haven't missed a beat. They still know how to put on a bombastic headbangers' ball.
At the first night of shows, there were more interludes and rest periods than in the good ol' speed demon days, just as the dates on the tour are more spread out. The newest wrinkle for the ongoing M72 World Tour, which began with the release of their 11th studio album, '72 Seasons,' in 2023, is that no two setlists in the same city are the same, no songs are repeated. Which makes sense given their extensive body of work dating back to 1983, but can make things expensive for even their most loyal of fans.
Words can't really do justice to the transformation Rogers Centre underwent shortly after the Blue Jays wrapped their latest homestand in anticipation of Metallica's Toronto takeover. The entire field was covered and eight towers were erected with cylindrical video screens atop each one projecting images, including a cool montage of ticket stubs from the nearly 20 Toronto-area shows played over their Canadian concert history.
There were also plenty of close-ups of the four of them doing what they do best, while the band made full use of the not-quite-circular stage; drummer Ulrich had his kit moved around so as many people as possible on the floor could get a good look at his playing prowess.
The set featured an eclectic mix of compulsory cuts off of '72 Seasons' including the title track, 'If Darkness Had a Son' and 'Shadows Follow' relatively early on. I don't know if they'd be considered deep cuts, but I was surprised to hear 'Holier Than Thou' over other potential choices from Metallica's breakthrough 1991 self-titled album as well as 'Ride the Lightning''s 'Fight Fire With Fire' with its misleadingly gentle acoustic opening. And from 2008's 'Death Magnetic,' 'The Day That Never Comes' was a welcome inclusion.
There was even an impressive mosh pit that broke out during the prolonged instrumental — and tribute to late former bassist Cliff Burton — 'Orion.' It was not as impressive, however, as the amplified singalong that commenced during 'Nothing Else Matters.' And if the older attendees thought of nodding off around the 10:30 p.m. mark, 'Fuel,' with Hetfield's rapid and loud delivery of 'Gimme fuel / Gimme fire / Gimme that which I desire' definitely woke everyone up.
I don't know if I'll get the image of giant yellow and black beach balls dropped from the towers and bouncing through the stadium during the 'Kill 'Em All' classic 'Seek and Destroy' anytime soon, but that's Metallica in 2025, I guess.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
15 minutes ago
- CBC
Losing her voice taught Melanie Fiona to speak up for herself
When Melanie Fiona lost her voice in 2012, she was completely terrified. She had just won two Grammys, she was touring with massive names like Alicia Keys and Kanye West, and suddenly her biggest source of creative expression and income was gone. She was burned out, and her body was forcing her to quit. "It really made me take a pause and say, 'Wow, you're just going on autopilot'," Fiona says in an interview with Q guest host Talia Schlanger. "And that put me on the path of learning to say no, for your well being." After years of constantly performing and recording, Fiona realized she was neglecting her personal life. Her success was often at the cost of not only her health, but also her time with the people she loves. "It was a whirlwind of excitement…. Every time another level was achieved, it was just like, 'Is this really happening? Is this my life?'," Fiona remembers. "But it comes with a lot of sacrifice…. I think about the birthday parties that I missed with my family, celebrations, anniversaries, my grandmother's funeral in that time." Melanie Fiona says her break gave her some much-needed space to get in touch with her spirituality, start a family, and begin living her life with mindfulness and gratitude. "It was the awakening I needed to think about my life holistically, and not just as a career-driven person," says Fiona. "It's, 'Who do I wanna be in this world? How do I want to make people feel? What do I want to create that's gonna bring more inspiration and healing to myself and others?'... In retrospect, the journey is perfect." Fully recharged from her hiatus, Melanie Fiona is unleashing her powerful voice once again on her new EP Say Yes. She's ready to affirm what's possible again, without putting herself aside. " It's a mantra that I want people to consider for themselves. Like, 'What is on the other side of saying yes?'," Fiona explains. "Because you've done the work, to deserve that right to say yes in a free space.… And that's the space I made it in. In joy, and freedom, and happiness." WATCH | Official lyric video for Mona Lisa Smile: Melanie Fiona says her fans are happy to see her return to her classic R&B roots, and she's excited for new fans to discover her too. "It's just been nothing but positive," says Fiona. "I just love that people still want to hear more from me. And I love that it's also a reminder for new people, who are discovering the project and me as an artist, that there's a whole catalog to discover and it's good. "And it's stood the test of time," Fiona says. "I'm so grateful.… I still get to do what I love, with a full scope of having a life now." The full interview with Melanie Fiona is
National Post
15 minutes ago
- National Post
Rory McIlroy: 'If I can win the Masters, the Maple Leafs can win the Stanley Cup'
CALEDON, Ont. — Rory McIlroy has given heartbroken Toronto Maple Leafs fans a reason for optimism. Article content The golf superstar and two-time RBC Canadian Open champ is at TPC Toronto this week looking to notch his fourth win of the season. Article content Article content On Wednesday, McIlroy played in the tournament pro-am with MLSE top boss Keith Pelley, who gifted the five-time major champ a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey. Article content More on that in a minute. Article content 'I haven't hidden my sort of aspirations for national Opens and where I would like them to be, what their standing is in the professional game of golf. So this has meant a lot,' McIlroy said. 'I first came here in 2019, once the date changed. It used to be that week after the Open Championship, which wasn't ideal for a lot of players. I honestly love the date change. I love that it's the week leading into the U.S. Open. Article content 'Playing in front of the Canadian fans and everything that goes along with that and the enthusiasm, you guys only get to see this sort of golf once a year, so I think once it does come along, it's really appreciated. Article content 'Then I think that atmosphere is really appreciated by the players that get to play in front of those fans.' Article content
Globe and Mail
an hour ago
- Globe and Mail
Anime convention in Toronto brings together comics fans and cosplayers
Costume-clad Skylar Spalla stood on the curb at the Toronto Congress Centre on a recent weekend, watching hundreds of fellow cosplayers pass by. His twin brother flitted around him, making sure Spalla's massive suit of armour, which they strapped on using zip ties, held together. Every few minutes, a person approached to ask for a photo with him, from muscle-bound warriors to little kids with their parents. The art student's costume, a recreation of the character Havel from the video game Dark Souls 3, was made of little more than papier mâché, paint and pop tabs. It took him countless hours to make, and showing it at Anime North, an annual fan-run convention celebrating anime, manga and video games, he said, brings him a great sense of pride. Anime North is not only Toronto's biggest anime convention – it is also a fashion show where everyone is a star. Outside of the convention buildings, people gathered in the shade or on the grass near the food trucks to take photos and make friends. One was dressed like Star Wars' Kylo Ren, amplifying their voice with a speaker. Another was costumed as A.B.A., the shy homunculus from the game Guilty Gear with her demon-axe partner Paracelsus (made out of pool noodles and cardboard). One man came to Anime North with a Furby head fashioned with remote-controlled eyes and mouth. For many cosplayers, the annual convention provides a chance to show off their costuming handiwork, and make others happy by bringing beloved characters to life. 'Coming to a convention like this gives me the opportunity to share in the joy that this brings me with so many other people,' said Elijah Kamaras-Garland, a photographer and cosplayer from Toronto who dressed in multiple costumes over the convention weekend as characters from the video game Star Fox. He was accompanied by a friend cosplaying as King K Rool, the malevolent crocodile from the video game Donkey Kong. That costume, made of foam mats, 'had to be built around him by a couple of his friends,' Kamaras-Garland said, because it was so large. Since the late 1980s, Japanese comics (or manga) and cartoons (also known as anime) have found an audience outside of their home country. That popularity has exploded over the past decade, as major television channels such as YTV and streaming services have offered anime shows in English for international audiences. This year's convention (attended by an estimated 36,000 visitors) hosted a variety of panels and workshops where attendees could learn about Japanese culture or their favourite fan pursuit, including a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration, a talk about the philosophy of the series Attack on Titan, a comedic live reading of poorly-written fan fiction and a discussion of accommodating cosplay for people with chronic illnesses. Huge halls were dedicated to artists selling their work. Many vendors were Canadians who said that events like Anime North offer exposure and revenue that keeps small businesses afloat. 'It's a great opportunity to be your own boss, and be able to make a living off of something you actually like' said Vincent Leclerc, an assistant of Savage Mojo, a French-Canadian artist, illustrator and animator who specializes in fan art of fantastical dinosaurs. Conventions like Anime North also provide a real-life space for people to meet fellow hobbyists. While anime fandoms have flourished in online spaces including Reddit and Tumblr, it can be difficult to connect in person with others who share the same interests in shows or games. That community is part of why so many people return to Anime North. It was Maxx Romphf's second time at the convention. 'I've seen every anime you can think of [and] video games,' said the Monster High series cosplayer. 'It's just really nice.' At the end of the convention, visitors headed home in their bright, colourful outfits, many to ready themselves for work the next day. Like the day after Halloween, the costumes go back in the closet and it's back to business as usual. But judging from the smiles on attendees' faces, it was an unforgettable weekend for them.
