Metallica launch Las Vegas Sphere residency with rarities-led set
Metallica opened their 24-show Las Vegas Sphere residency with an immersive concert that paired the band’s catalogue with vast, dramatic visuals. The first night’s “no repeat” format, with different songs across each week’s two shows, puts variety and deeper cuts ahead of a predictable greatest-hits set.
The set ranged across the band’s career, including “Now That We’re Dead”, “Lux Æterna”, “The Day That Never Comes” and the instrumental “The Call of Ktulu”; they did not play “Enter Sandman”. The review praises the musicians’ energy and skill despite all four members being in their early 60s, while suggesting the spectacle sometimes draws attention away from the band’s power on its own.
- Metallica began a 24-show Sphere residency in Las Vegas.
- The opening set mixed songs from across their career.
- The review praises the band’s energy but questions the need for spectacle.
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Metallica is a major rock band that has been performing heavy metal music for more than four decades. The Las Vegas Sphere is a state-of-the-art entertainment venue with an LED-covered exterior and immersive interior design. This residency involves 24 shows at the Sphere, representing a substantial commitment to a single venue.
What makes this residency distinctive is its "no repeat" format, where the band performs a different selection of songs across each week's two shows rather than repeating the same setlist each night. This approach prioritises deeper cuts and rarities from their catalogue rather than the greatest-hits format that most touring bands favour. The Sphere's technology allows for expansive, dramatic visuals that can be tailored to each performance.
All four members of Metallica are in their early 60s, making their undertaking of 24 shows a substantial commitment for musicians at this stage of their career. The residency pairs the band's music with the Sphere's immersive visual capabilities, creating a fusion of live rock performance and technological spectacle.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Metallica review – metal titans on fine form in spectacular rarities-focused show”.