The M72 World Tour is an ongoing

concert tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often, concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific ...

by American heavy metal band

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

in support of the band's eleventh studio album ''

72 Seasons ''72 Seasons'' is the eleventh studio album by American heavy metal band Metallica, released on April 14, 2023, by their own record label Blackened Recordings. ''72 Seasons'' was produced by Greg Fidelman, who produced the band's previous st ...

'', which was released on April 14, 2023. The tour was announced on November 28, 2022, following the release of the album's first single, "Lux Æterna". The tour began on April 27, 2023 in Amsterdam and is set to conclude on July 5, 2026 in London, England. Along with an upgraded stage design which relocates the "Snake Pit" to the center stage, the tour features two or more performances in the majority of cities played.

Background

On the announcement of the tour the band stated that, over the past few years, they had been inspired by the fans who attended their shows in 2019 and 2021. In the same statement they stated that they "had a blast being a part of the 2021 Wimmer Festivals when they played two nights in one city". Starting in April 2023, Metallica is set to visit twenty-two different cities around the world and playing two nights in each city, with each being part of a "No Repeat Weekend" show which will feature two different set lists which includes deep cuts from the band's catalog. Two day tickets for each show went on sale on December 2, 2022, with single tickets being later made available to the general public on January 20, 2023.

Five Finger Death Punch Five Finger Death Punch, also abbreviated as 5FDP or FFDP, is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band from Las Vegas, Nevada, formed in 2005. The band originally consisted of vocalist Ivan Moody, rhythm guitarist Zoltan Bathory, lead g ...

were originally slated to support Metallica in the select 2023 European shows along with

Ice Nine Kills Ice Nine Kills is an American heavy metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, who are signed to Fearless Records. Best known for its horror-inspired lyrics, Ice Nine Kills formed in its earliest incarnation in 2000 by high school friends Spenc ...

, but pulled out due to lead vocalist

Ivan Moody Ivan L. Moody (born Ivan Lewis Greening on January 7, 1980) is an American singer and songwriter who is the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch (FFDP). He performed for several other bands including Motograter and Gho ...

having to fully recover from complications from a recent hernia surgery. As a result, Five Finger Death Punch was replaced by

Nightwish Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Neval ...

vocalist

Floor Jansen Floor Jansen (; born 21 February 1981) is a Dutch singer and songwriter. She is the third and current lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Jansen first became known as the lead vocalist of symphonic metal band After Forever f ...

in Amsterdam, and Dutch symphonic metal band

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

in Paris, Hamburg, and Gothenburg. In Inglewood, California on August 27, 2023, Moody was absent due to falling ill with the flu, and his vocal duties in Five Finger Death Punch were taken over and shared by

Phil Labonte Philip Steven Labonte (born April 15, 1975) is an American singer, best known as the lead singer of the metalcore band All That Remains. He is the former lead vocalist for Shadows Fall, was the touring vocalist for Killswitch Engage in early ...

( All That Remains), Howard Jones (ex-

Killswitch Engage Killswitch Engage is an American metalcore band from Westfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1999. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Jesse Leach, guitarists Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz, bassist Mike D'Antonio, and drummer Justin ...

Light the Torch Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400–700 nanometres (n ...

), and AJ Channer ( Fire from the Gods) for the show. The September 1, 2023 performance in

Glendale, Arizona Glendale () is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. Located about nine miles northwest of the state capital Phoenix, Glendale is known for State Farm Stadium, which is the home of the Arizona Cardinals football team. The city al ...

was cut short by two songs due to

James Hetfield James Alan Hetfield (born August 3, 1963) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, co-founder, and a primary songwriter of heavy metal band Metallica. He is mainly known for his raspy voice and intricate rhythm playi ...

suffering from vocal issues, and the band's following performance on September 3 in Glendale was postponed to September 9, 2023 after Hetfield had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

Suicidal Tendencies Suicidal Tendencies is an American crossover thrash band formed in 1980 in Venice, California, by vocalist Mike Muir. The band has undergone various lineup changes, with Muir as the only remaining original member. Their current lineup includes ...

replaced Ice Nine Kills as an opening act for the rescheduled Glendale performance. The shows in Arlington, Texas on August 18 and August 20, 2023 were recorded and released in cinemas worldwide for one night only for each show (international screenings were shown a day later on August 19 and August 21 to suit local time zones). Metallica Warsaw 2024

On the second night in

Foxborough, Massachusetts Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Located in the Greater Boston metropolitan area, it is about southwest of Boston. The population was 18,618 at the 2020 census. "Foxborough" is the official spelling of th ...

on August 4, 2024, the show was delayed for 90 minutes due to a severe downpour and thunderstorms in the area. As a result, Ice Nine Kills' scheduled opening set was canceled, Five Finger Death Punch performed a shortened opening set, and Metallica ending up still performing a full show. On the fourth night in

Mexico City Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...

on September 29, 2024, Five Finger Death Punch were unable to perform due to an injury Moody sustained at the Louder Than Life festival a few days prior when he accidentally fell onstage and suffered a fractured rib. As a result, Ice Nine Kills moved up to the special guest slot, and Mexican progressive metal band Agora joined the lineup for the show. On November 15, 2023 Metallica announced two more European tour dates for 2024 in Milan and Oslo, with two additional tour dates to be announced later that month. On September 19, 2024, Metallica announced a 2025 North American leg of stadium and festival dates with special guests Pantera,

Limp Bizkit Limp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto (drummer), John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers (bassist), Sam ...

, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills. An Oceania leg was shortly announced on October 23, 2024 for performances in November 2025 with

Evanescence Evanescence is an American Rock music, rock band founded in 1994 by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. After releasing independent extended play, EPs and a Origin (Evanescence demo album), demo ...

and Suicidal Tendencies as support acts. Metallica broke a 43 year old attendance record of the JMA Wireless Dome on April 19, 2025, with more than 47,319 people in attendance that night, making the band's concert the largest ticketed music event in Syracuse. Metallica performed a sold out show at

Virginia Tech The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, commonly referred to as Virginia Tech (VT), is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, United States ...

Lane Stadium Lane Stadium is a college football stadium in the eastern United States, located on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia. The playing surface of the stadium is named Worsham F ...

on May 7, 2025. Their song "

Enter Sandman "Enter Sandman" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It is the opening track and lead single from their self-titled fifth album, released in 1991. The music was written by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich. Vocalist ...

" has been used as the football team's entrance to the stadium for twenty-five years. Metallica is the first band to perform a revenue producing concert at the stadium, as well as offering student seating for their show. The band's performance of "Enter Sandman," combined with the large crowd jumping and cheering, generated enough ground movement and tremors to be registered as a small earthquake by the Virginia Tech Seismological Observatory. On May 22, 2025, Metallica announced a summer 2026 European stadium leg with

Gojira is the original Japanese name for Godzilla, a giant monster at the center of a media franchise. It may also refer to: Films *Godzilla (franchise), ''Godzilla'' franchise, known as in Japan **Godzilla (1954 film), ''Godzilla'' (1954 film), relea ...

, Pantera,

Knocked Loose Knocked Loose is an American hardcore punk band from Oldham County, Kentucky, formed in 2013 and currently signed to Pure Noise Records. The band released their debut studio album, ''Laugh Tracks (album), Laugh Tracks'', in September 2016 thro ...

, and

Avatar Avatar (, ; ) is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means . It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appearance" is sometimes u ...

Reception

The tour was met with positive reviews from music and entertainment critics. While having given the opening night performance in Amsterdam on April 27, 2023, 4 out of 5 stars, Ali Shutler of ''NME'' stated that Metallica was still the greatest heavy metal band around, while Eleanor Goodman from ''

Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' featu ...

'' who gave the performance that same night 5 out of 5 stars, affirmed that the band had thrown the world's biggest heavy metal party. The tour won Rock Tour Of The Year award at the 2024 Pollstar Awards and was the 9th highest grossing tour overall that year with $179,373,637.40 grossed from 24 shows.

Set lists

No-Repeat Weekend sample set list

The following set lists were performed at the Johan Cruyff Arena on April 27 and 29, 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and are not intended to represent a majority of the shows throughout the tour. Night One # " Orion" # "

For Whom the Bell Tolls ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'' is a novel by Ernest Hemingway published in 1940. It tells the story of Robert Jordan, a young American volunteer attached to a Republican guerrilla unit during the Spanish Civil War. As a dynamiter, he is assigned ...

" # "Holier Than Thou" # "

King Nothing "King Nothing" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica from their 1996 album '' Load,'' released on January 7, 1997. The song was written by James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, and Kirk Hammett. The song starts on a bass riff which develop ...

" # " Lux Æterna" # " Screaming Suicide" # " Fade to Black" # "Sleepwalk My Life Away" # "

Nothing Else Matters "Nothing Else Matters" is a power ballad by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in 1992 as the third single from their self-titled fifth studio album, ''Metallica''. The song peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Album Ro ...

" # "

Sad but True "Sad but True" is a song by American heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in February 1993 as the fifth and final single from their 1991 self-titled album. The music video for the single was released in October 1992. Music "Sad but ...

" # "

The Day That Never Comes "The Day That Never Comes" is a song by heavy metal band Metallica, and the lead single from their ninth studio album, '' Death Magnetic''. The song was released to the radio and for digital download on August 21, 2008. The working title of th ...

" # "Ride the Lightning" # "

Battery Battery or batterie most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source * Battery indicator, a device whic ...

" # "

Fuel A fuel is any material that can be made to react with other substances so that it releases energy as thermal energy or to be used for work (physics), work. The concept was originally applied solely to those materials capable of releasing chem ...

" # "

Seek & Destroy "Seek & Destroy" is a song by the American heavy metal band Metallica and the ninth track from their debut studio album, '' Kill 'Em All'' (1983). It was also featured on the demo '' No Life 'Til Leather''. It was the first song the band recor ...

" # "

Master of Puppets ''Master of Puppets'' is the third studio album by the American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Metallica, released on March 3, 1986, by Elektra Records. Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Sweet Silence Studios with producer Flemming Rasmu ...

" Night Two # "The Call of Ktulu" # "

Creeping Death "Creeping Death" is a song by American thrash metal band Metallica. It was released on November 23, 1984, as the lead and only commercial single from their album ''Ride the Lightning'' (" Fade to Black" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls", from the sam ...

" # "Leper Messiah" # " Until It Sleeps" # "

" # " If Darkness Had a Son" # "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)" # "You Must Burn!" # " The Unforgiven" # "

Wherever I May Roam "Wherever I May Roam" is a song by American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band Metallica. It was released in October 1992 as the fourth single from their eponymous fifth album, ''Metallica (album), Metallica''. It reached number 82 on the US ''Bi ...

" # " Harvester of Sorrow" # " Moth into Flame" # "Fight Fire with Fire" # "

Whiskey in the Jar "Whiskey in the Jar" ( Roud 533) is an Irish traditional song set in the southern mountains of Ireland, often with specific mention of counties Cork and Kerry. The song, about a rapparee (highwayman) who is betrayed by his wife or lover, is ...

" # "

One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

" # "

One-night sample set list

The following set list was performed at

Blacksburg, Virginia Blacksburg is an incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 44,826 at the 2020 census. Blacksburg and the surrounding county is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of Virginia T ...

on May 7, 2025. It is not intended to represent a majority of the shows throughout the tour. # "Creeping Death" # "For Whom The Bell Tolls" # "Ride the Lightning" # "King Nothing" # "Lux Æterna" # "Screaming Suicide" # "The Day That Never Comes" # "Fuel" # "Orion" # "Nothing Else Matters" # "Sad but True" # "One" # "Seek & Destroy" # "Master of Puppets" # "Enter Sandman"

Tour dates

Personnel

Metallica *

– lead vocals, rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar *

Lars Ulrich Lars Ulrich (; ; born 26 December 1963) is a Danish musician who is the drummer and a founding member of American heavy metal band Metallica. Along with James Hetfield, Ulrich has songwriting credits on almost all of the band's songs, and the ...

– drums *

Kirk Hammett Kirk Lee Hammett (born November 18, 1962) is an American musician who has been the lead guitarist of heavy metal band Metallica since 1983. Prior to joining Metallica, he co-formed the thrash metal band Exodus in 1979. In 2023, Hammett, along ...

– lead guitar, backing vocals *

Robert Trujillo Roberto Agustín Miguel Santiago Samuel Trujillo Veracruz (; born October 23, 1964) is an American musician who has been the bassist for heavy metal band Metallica since 2003. He first rose to prominence as the bassist of crossover thrash band ...

– bass guitar, backing vocals

Notes

References

{{Metallica 2023 concert tours 2024 concert tours 2025 concert tours 2026 concert tours Metallica concert tours Concert tours of Asia Concert tours of Bahrain Concert tours of Saudi Arabia Concert tours of the United Arab Emirates Concert tours of Europe Concert tours of the Netherlands Concert tours of France Concert tours of Germany Concert tours of the United Kingdom Concert tours of Sweden Concert tours of Italy Concert tours of Austria Concert tours of Finland Concert tours of Denmark Concert tours of Norway Concert tours of Poland Concert tours of Spain Concert tours of Greece Concert tours of Romania Concert tours of Switzerland Concert tours of Hungary Concert tours of Ireland Concert tours of North America Concert tours of the United States Concert tours of Canada Concert tours of Mexico Concert tours of Oceania Concert tours of Australia Concert tours of New Zealand All-stadium concert tours