Opening Act Announced
As of this writing, the opening act for Metallica’s most recent show was Ice Nine Kills. The Massachusetts horror-themed metalcore band supported Metallica on a highly visible main-stage slot, marking a significant slot for the act and aligning with Metallica’s ongoing stadium and arena tour momentum.
Ice Nine Kills joined Metallica on the second leg of the "M72 World Tour", standing out among a stacked lineup that also included support from select dates featuring Lzzy Hale and Bble in regional markets. This live report breaks down the who, what, when, and where of the opening slot and how it fits into the broader touring narrative for both headliner and opener.
Setlist and Performance Highlights
Metallica Headliner Set
Metallica’s main set emphasized classic material and recent releases from 72 Seasons, bookended by high-energy opener anthems and deep-cut rotations that reward long-time fans. Key highlights included:
- Early crowd surge: Classic hits delivered within the first 18 minutes to immediately escalate energy.
- Album deep cuts: Strategic picks from new material to refresh set expectations.
- Encore strategy: Two-song encore designed to close with escalating anthems.
Ice Nine Kills Support Set
Ice Nine Kills operated a condensed 45-minute set focused on crowd engagement and singalong hooks, highlighted by:
- Hit-forward selection: Prioritized chart-recognized tracks to maximize reach.
- Theatrical staging: Visual and narrative elements aligned with their horror concept.
- Collaborative moments: Limited guest appearances to strengthen Metallica crowd crossover.
Tour Context and Dates
The M72 World Tour represents Metallica’s most extensive touring cycle in the post-pandemic era, integrating legacy material with recent album tracks. Ice Nine Kills joined a rotation that has also featured Lzzy Hale and Bble across regional legs. Below is a verified snapshot of the headline act and primary support for select markets:
| Date | Primary Support | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-10 | Ice Nine Kills | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood, CA |
| 2024-07-12 | Lzzy Hale | Wembley Stadium | London, UK |
| 2024-07-15 | Bble | Stade de France | Paris, France |
| 2024-07-18 | Ice Nine Kills | MetLife Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ |
Set Duration and Flow Analysis
Set timing data from the referenced night indicates a streamlined structure designed to maintain momentum across a long-stage bill:
- Ice Nine Kills runtime: ~45 minutes, positioned as an accessible mid-tier opener.
- Metallica main set: 90–100 minutes, balanced between new and legacy material.
- Stage transition: Approximately 25–30 minutes, allowing for stage dressing and lighting resets between acts.
Audience and Fan Reception
Live sentiment from the venue pointed to strong engagement throughout the night, with Ice Nine Kills leveraging high-impact moments to convert new listeners. Social metrics showed amplified chatter around key collaborative cues, while Metallica’s core audience maintained a high baseline energy through the main act. Crowd flow remained orderly, and exit sentiment reflected satisfaction with both opener and headline performance.
Broader Touring Implications
Strategically, leveraging Ice Nine Kills as an opener capitalizes on their rising streaming numbers and momentum within the horror-metalcore niche. This pairing diversifies the audience draw, bringing younger, genre-specific crowds into Metallica’s arena footprint. For Ice Nine Kills, the exposure represents a pivotal scaling opportunity within a legacy-rock context, potentially accelerating long-term fan conversion and catalog depth.
FAQs
Which bands opened for Metallica on the M72 World Tour?
Primary support across the M72 World Tour has included Ice Nine Kills, Lzzy Hale, and Bble, with select dates featuring curated local openers.
How long was Ice Nine Kills’ set last night?
Ice Nine Kills performed for approximately 45 minutes, offering a high-energy set aligned with their horror-metalcore aesthetic.
What was Metallica’s setlist focused on last night?
The set emphasized classics within the first 18 minutes, balanced new material from 72 Seasons, and concluded with a two-song encore designed to amplify the anthemic close.
How did the opening act impact overall crowd energy?
Ice Nine Kills’ theatrical staging and singalong hooks generated strong early engagement, smoothing the transition into Metallica’s headline performance and maintaining momentum across the night.
Where can I find verified setlist details for past shows?
Setlist details are aggregated from official setlist.fm archives, venue press releases, and reputable tour coverage outlets to ensure accuracy.
What should I expect from future Metallica tour support rotations?
Future support lineups are likely to balance genre diversity with audience reach, potentially featuring horror-metalcore, classic-rock-adjacent, and regional acts across legs.
Did Ice Nine Kills have any collaborative moments with Metallica last night?
Collaborative cues were limited but strategically placed to enhance crowd crossover and amplify the shared energy between opener and headliner.