Pioneering LA quartet who took thrash metal into the mainstream
With ferocious tempos, precision riffing and lightning-fast aggression, Metallica have spent more than 40 years leading the charge as thrash metal’s most iconic and influential force.
When it comes to heavy music legends, there are few names that command as much reverence as Metallica. Born within the fertile chaos of the early 1980s underground LA scene, their emergence not only defined a genre, but entirely shifted the mainstream. Testing the limits of heaviness with a sound faster, louder, smarter and more fearless than anything that had come before it, a collective of long-haired riled-up riff-lovers forged the path for what metal has become.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Slayer, Megadeth, and Anthrax as the ‘Big Four’ of thrash metal, their mission was set in motion at relentless speed with the one-two punch of 1983’s Kill ‘Em All and 1984’s Ride The Lightning. Evolving from feral, no-frills thrash to the boundless vision of timeless classics like Fade To Black and For Whom The Bell Tolls, their ambition swiftly propelled them to the forefront of popular culture. Proving that heavy music had the potential to be cleverer than many assumed, the technical prowess of genre-defining album Master Of Puppets and the biting social commentary of 1988’s raging ...And Justice for All placed Metallica in a bold league of their own.
Unflinchingly tight in their labyrinthine song structures, balancing crushing heaviness with stadium-filling hooks, the throughline of Metallica’s epic four-decade-long journey has remained their refusal to stand still. From 1991’s world-conquering self-titled full-length (commonly known as The Black Album) to the bluesy swagger of Load (1996) and Reload (1997) and the blisteringly raw catharsis of 2008’s thrashy return-to-roots Death Magnetic, there’s been no end to their creative detours. Expanding their sonic identity at every turn, the barked commands of frontman James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett’s soaring solos, Lars Ulrich’s razor-focused percussive style, and the thunderous low end – helmed by Robert Trujillo since 2003 – have become cornerstones of metal’s DNA.
Their legacy never set in stone, a new chapter unfolded on the band’s towering eleventh album 72 Seasons. Their most introspective effort to date, grappling with themes of identity and rebirth, standout tracks 'Lux Æterna' and 'If Darkness Had a Son' channel the fury of their early years whilst embracing the reflection of growing older.
A purposeful proclamation of Metallica’s past, present and future, their blazing creative fire was reaffirmed during a history-making double headline performance during Download Festival’s 20th anniversary weekend in 2023. One of few bands able to successfully deliver successive two-hour-long sets with no song repeated, their live show has become a rite of passage for fans of heavy music and beyond. Equal parts boisterous and theatrical, from the transcendence of a 50,000-strong singalong to 'One' to the neck-snapping circle pits that break out during 'Master Of Puppets', they’ve come to hold the standard by which heavy metal shows are judged.
In 2025, Metallica announced the Metallica: M72 World Tour, including UK dates in June and July 2026.
Acoustic
Electric
International TV Promo Shoot
The Amsterdam Sessions (Amazon Music Presents)
Why have a Top 10 when you can have one more? Here are our 11 favourite Metallica songs, ranked
As Metallica gear up for the Metallica: M72 World Tour, we take a deep dive into the sub-genre that started it all.
Thursday night is for thrash as Metallica play Part One of their epic headline show at Download's anniversary weekend
The thrash metal legends will play stadium shows in the UK in June and July 2026 - here's how to get tickets
Metallica will be playing the following 2026 headline dates across Europe:
Saturday, 9 May 2026 - Greece, Athens, Athens Olympic Stadium
Wednesday, 13 May 2026 - Romania, Bucharest, Arena Națională
Tuesday, 19 May 2026 - Poland, Chorzow, Stadion Śląski
Friday, 22 May 2026 - Germany, Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank Park
Sunday, 24 May 2026 - Germany, Frankfurt, Deutsche Bank Park
Wednesday, 27 May 2026 - Switzerland, Zurich, Stadion Letzigrund
Saturday, 30 May 2026 - Germany, Berlin, Olympiastadion
Wednesday, 3 June 2026 - Italy, Bologna, Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Thursday, 11 June 2026 - Hungary, Budapest, Puskas Arena
Saturday, 13 June 2026 - Hungary, Budapest, Puskas Arena
Friday, 19 June 2026 - Ireland, Dublin, Aviva Stadium
Sunday, 21 June 2026 - Ireland, Dublin, Aviva Stadium
Thursday, 25 June 2026 - UK, Glasgow, Hampden Park
Sunday, 28 June 2026 - UK, Cardiff, Principality Stadium
Friday, 3 July 2026 - UK, London, London Stadium
Sunday, 5 July 2026 - UK, London, London Stadium
By purchasing a two-day ticket, you gain access to both shows at the venue you purchased for.
The assigned location associated with a two-day ticket will be the same for both shows, whether you purchase a seated or standing area ticket.
For example, if you have selected General Admission standing, you will be in General Admission standing for both shows. If you have selected seat C27, you will be in C27 for both shows.
Metallica will play two completely different sets, with no songs repeated across the two shows. Each show will also have different opening acts, which vary by country.
A limited number of single-day tickets will be available beginning 25 July 2025. More information will be announced closer to the release of these tickets.
Snake Pit access is included with select Enhanced Experience packages, and is also available by purchasing the Snake Pit Package, which includes Snake Pit access and a limited edition Metallica x YETI drinkware item. For details, visit wearesuper.co/metallica(Opens in new tab).
The “I Disappear” Ticket is your all-access passport to multiple Metallica shows across the M72 EU/UK 2026 tour. It includes a GA ticket with early entry to as many shows as you can attend - no need to buy individual tickets for each city. “I Disappear” tickets are available through wearesuper.co/metallica(Opens in new tab). This ticket does not include access to festivals or any other special events Metallica participates in.
This is at the discretion of parents/guardians. Explicit language may be used during the performance along with high levels of volume. Age restrictions in each venue may vary. For more information, contact the venue or official ticket agent.
If you are already a Legacy or Fifth Member, please log in to your account and visit the “pre-sale code” page to request an access code. That code will be emailed to you and posted on your account page. For more information, including dates and times of the pre-sale, visit the Fan Club news section https://www.metallica.com/fans(Opens in new tab).
To sign up for the Fan Club and become a Fifth Member, visit https://www.metallica.com/fans(Opens in new tab).
For member queries, complete the form at https://www.metallica.com/contactus(Opens in new tab).
You can find complete information about Enhanced Experiences and how to buy ticket packages at https://www.wearesuper.co/metallica(Opens in new tab).
There is a limit of four (4) tickets per customer per city during the presales, and six (6) tickets per customer per city after general on-sale in the UK. Ticket limits are in place to ensure all fans have the chance to purchase tickets.
Accessible tickets will be available through the venue and through Ticketmaster. Please follow the options from the Live Nation website or go directly to the venue website.
European support acts on select dates include Gojira, Pantera, Knocked Loose, and Avatar. Support acts vary by show and are subject to change.
Show times will be published closer to the events and vary by city.
Seat maps are displayed during the purchase process.
By Coach: Big Green Coach is providing hassle-free and sustainable coach returns to all Glasgow, Cardiff and London shows.
Hampden Park: Travel from Aberdeen, Carlisle, Dundee, Edinburgh, Heartlands, Livingston, Newcastle, Perth and Stirling (Castleview).
Principality Stadium: Travel from Abergavenny, Arle Court, Birmingham, Bridgend (Sarn), Bridgewater MSA, Bristol, Cheltenham, Chepstow, Cullompton, Exeter, Gloucester, Hereford, Llansamlet, Newport, Plymouth, Port Talbot Parkway, Swansea, Taunton and Worcester.
London Stadium: Travel from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Chelmsford, Colchester, Coventry, Derby, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Manchester South (Sharston), Mansfield (East Midlands Outlet), Milton Keynes, Northampton (Grange Park), Norwich, Nottingham, Reading (Calcot), Reading (Winnersh Triangle), Sheffield, Southampton, Stafford, Stoke on Trent, Swindon and Wolverhampton.
Your carbon-neutral coach will arrive at the venue before the music starts and return to your pick-up location after the show. You won't miss a minute of the action.
Guarantee your seat with Big Green Coach, the UK's largest events travel company.
Been going to see Metallica since I was 11 years old. My dad is a huge fan and has been obsessed with them since Kill em' all. Seen them in many different gigs around the UK and can say with absolutely certainty that they are the best band I have ever seen and will ever see!! Absolutely legends - always a pleasure!! I may be biased as I have grown up listening to them, but no one comes close in my opinion!!
saw these back in 2019 and was blown away. Cant wait to see them again in 2026!
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