 4/26/2025 - Toronto, Ontario - I decided at the last minute to head north of the border to see metal legends Metallica perform at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. It was a nice spring day for a drive and I encountered no issues getting over the border at the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge heading into Canada but encountered a large amount of traffic entering the city and due to scheduled closures was unable to use the TTC to get into the city, fortunately I left early enough to make it in plenty of time before the show. I was able to park right next to the stadium for a decent price. I picked up a cheaper ticket the morning of the show on Ticketmaster and was sitting right behind home plate. It was a just okay spot for this show. Opening the night, Ice Nine Kills set the tone with an electrifying performance that seamlessly melded the theatrical and heavy beats, with tracks like Ex-Mørtis and Hip to Be Scar, this showcased their signature horror-themed lyrics and dynamic instrumentation. Limp Bizkit was next and they played classic hits like Nookie and Break Stuff with high energy set that transported the crowd back to early 2000's. The unexpected inclusion of a snippet of Metallica’s Master of Puppets thrilled fans and reminded everyone of the legacy these bands share. Frontman Fred Durst’s charisma and crowd engagement kept the energy high, and reminded everyone why these metal icons dominated the 2000’s metal scene. As night fell in Toronto, the main event of Metallica built up the excitement as prior to their entrance they played video of Ennio Morricone's Esctasy of Gold. They opened the set with Whiplash and then navigated through their iconic catalog that featured an entirely different setlist than their April 24th show, as they hammered through timeless staples like For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Unforgiven, Wherever I May Roam and Ride the Lightning. Highlights included Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo’s doodle segment where they payed tribute to Canada's classic trio Rush covering La Villa Strangiato and YYZ. Lar Ulrich did not miss a beat and James Hetfield’s vocals were still very good despite the poor acoustics in Rogers Centre. They closed the show with two classics that included a bomb and gunshot filled One and finally closing the show with an excellent crowd pleasing Enter Sandman. A good show that was well worth the trip the Tallica Boys still get it done.Slideshow |
