Metallica Triumphs At Levi’s Stadium

Metallica
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara
June 22, 2025

Photos by Raymond Ahner

After announcing their 21-date M72 North American Tour over 9 months ago, Metallica, arguably still the biggest band on the planet, finally returned to the Bay Area for a two night stint at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, playing on their home turf for the first time in almost four years. The band’s return was most certainly triumphant, as each show featured a different career spanning setlist. Digging in deep from their catalog, Metallica didn’t leave a single fan disappointed.

Opening night two with the one-two-three punch of “Whiplash,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and “Ride the Lightning,” it was quickly apparent that the band was firing on all cylinders, not that that is anything new. James Hetfield briefly addressed the crowd, saying “Metallica is in a really good mood tonight, so look out, you may catch some of this, we’re infectious,” as he welcomed the Metallica family to night two of their Santa Clara takeover.

Playing on a massive multi-tiered stage which makes every seat in the stadium was the best seat in the stadium, the band tore through “The Memory Remains,” “Lux Aeterna,” and “Screaming Suicide,” after which Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo did their usual “doodle,” with an ever so fitting instrumental version of “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” followed by a quick cover of the Dead Kennedys classic “Callifornia Uber Alles,” with Rob handling the vocal duties, and inviting the crowd to sing along.

From there it was back to the business at hand, and as the eight massive video “towers” surrounding the stage really came to life, Metallica wasted no time with “Welcome Home (Sanitarium,) “Wherever I May Roam,” and “The Call of Ktulu,” all of which sounded just as heavy and just as fresh as they day they were recorded.

Their rendition of the Thin Lizzy classic “Whiskey In a Jar,” was followed by “Blackened” and the “Moth into a Flame,” complete with plenty of pyro, as an almost eerie silence fell on the crowd the band launched into a blistering version of “One,” with even more pyro.

Of course no Metallica show would be complete without “Enter Sandman,” and the band did not disappoint as they closed out their set.

By the time it was all said and done, Metallica once again proved that they are still one (if not the) biggest bands of all time, and they did it right in their own backyard.