Metallica opened a new 24-show residency at Las Vegas's Sphere venue on Wednesday, performing deep cuts and rarely played tracks instead of relying on familiar hits.
The band launched "Life Burns Faster," using their "no repeat" format that means they play twice weekly without playing the same song twice in a single week. This approach forces the band to dig into their full catalog rather than cycle through stadium staples.
The Sphere's massive exterior displays transformed into flames and lightning to announce the metal veterans' arrival. Metallica's residency represents a different kind of tour commitment for a band known for long world tours. By limiting songs to specific weeks, the format creates a rotating setlist that changes throughout the run.
The Guardian's review notes that Metallica, now in their fifth decade, remain "metal titans on fine form." The critic observed that while the band could easily play "hours of hits," the no-repeat structure creates "a more interesting show" and "a larger narrative" beyond a conventional greatest-hits performance.
Metallica formed in 1981 and has released 11 studio albums. Their 1991 self-titled album, commonly called "The Black Album," ranks among the best-selling records of all time. Recent years have seen the band continue touring and releasing new material. The residency format allows fans in Las Vegas to see multiple shows with substantially different setlists across the 24-night run.
The venue itself, opened in 2023, features a 366-foot LED exterior that displays custom visuals for each resident act. Previous residencies at the Sphere have included Phish and the Grateful Dead tribute band Dead & Company.