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Metallica M72 Nashville May 1 2025: First Night Highlights At Nissan Stadium
May
Metallica brought the thunder to Nashville on May 1, 2025, igniting Nissan Stadium with a ferocious energy that only the pioneers of thrash metal could deliver. Over 60,000 fans gathered under the Tennessee sky for what would become a legendary night—an unforgettable start to the M72 No Repeat Weekend.
Are you ready to relive the chaos, the fire, and the music? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Metallica’s first night in Nashville.
Event Overview: Metallica’s Massive May 1 Show at Nissan Stadium
- Date: Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Location: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
- Tour Name: M72 World Tour
- Parking Lot Opens: 2:00 PM
- Gates Open: 4:00 PM
- Show Start: Scheduled for 6:00 PM, but began at 9:00 PM
- Show End: 11:15 PM
- Attendance: Over 60,000 screaming fans
This marked Metallica’s largest show ever in Nashville, showing their continued global dominance nearly four decades after their debut.
What Is the M72 No Repeat Weekend Concept?
The M72 World Tour is no ordinary trek. This 2023–2025 mega-tour celebrates Metallica’s “72 Seasons” album and features a unique two-night format in select cities. No songs are repeated between shows, which means fans attending both May 1 and May 3 at Nissan Stadium will get two completely different setlists.
This format reinvents the concert experience and rewards die-hard fans with deep cuts and rare tracks not usually played live.
Stage Setup: The Snake Pit & 360-Degree Immersion
Metallica transformed Nissan Stadium with their signature in-the-round production. At the heart of the setup lies the Snake Pit, a fan-favorite area where attendees get an up-close-and-personal experience in the middle of the action.
- The stage was designed to give fans a 360-degree view, ensuring no bad seat in the house.
- Visuals, flame-throwers, and explosive pyrotechnics lit up the sky in true Metallica fashion.
- Fans in the Snake Pit reported feeling like they were “on stage with the band.”
This experience, part of the enhanced ticket packages, made it clear why M72 is one of the most immersive stadium tours of all time.
Opening Acts: Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies Set It Off
Metallica was preceded by two titanic openers:
- Pantera delivered a crushing set, continuing their reunion momentum with tracks like “Walk” and “Cowboys from Hell.”
- Suicidal Tendencies amped up the crowd with punk-thrash mayhem, reminding everyone why they’ve earned cult legend status.
Both bands proved more than worthy of warming up the stage for Metallica, stoking anticipation to a fever pitch.
Metallica’s May 1 Setlist: Rare Cuts, Tributes, and Surprises
Here’s a breakdown of the highlights from Metallica’s explosive set:
- Opened with AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top” played from tape
- Intro track: “The Ecstasy of Gold” by Ennio Morricone—a timeless Metallica tradition
- Performed “To Live Is to Die” live for the first time since 2011
- Snuck in a “Smoke on the Water” tease mid-set
- Dedicated a song to the late Cliff Burton, Metallica’s original bassist
“Seeing ‘To Live Is to Die’ live nearly brought me to tears. That was pure Metallica magic.” – Fan on Reddit
View the full setlist here via Setlist.fm
Ticket Information: Options, Prices & Access
Tickets for the Nashville shows were in high demand, with multiple tiers available:
- 1-Day General Admission and Reserved Seating
- 2-Day No Repeat Weekend Packages
- Enhanced Experiences:
- Snake Pit passes
- Meet and greets
- Backstage production tours
Tickets could be purchased through Ticketmaster, Live Nation, and SeatGeek.
Why This Night Mattered: Metallica’s Return to Music City
It’s not every day that Metallica rolls through Nashville. In fact, it’s been years since they last took the stage in Music City. This show wasn’t just another date—it was a milestone:
- Largest Metallica crowd in Nashville history
- Celebrated their ongoing global M72 World Tour
- Tied to their critically acclaimed 2023 album, 72 Seasons (learn more here)
Fans and critics alike hailed this as a top-tier performance on par with Metallica’s greatest nights.
Fan Reactions: Social Media Goes Nuclear
The internet exploded with praise:
- Reddit: Massive thread on r/Metallica with minute-by-minute fan recaps
- Twitter/X: #MetallicaNashville trended with photos, videos, and shoutouts from the Snake Pit
- Instagram: Flooded with 360-degree stage shots and fire-breathing moments
“Best Metallica set I’ve seen since the Black Album era.” – Twitter user @ThrashQueen666
What To Expect on May 3: Second Night, New Surprises
If you thought May 1 was wild, May 3 promises more surprises. With zero song repeats, fans attending both nights will witness:
- New setlist with rare deep cuts
- Possible inclusion of 72 Seasons tracks not played on Night 1
- Another stacked lineup of openers
Get your tickets here: Metallica May 3 Event
Metallica Nashville Was Metal History
May 1, 2025, will be remembered as a night when legends met loyalty. Metallica didn’t just perform—they reaffirmed their throne as the kings of live metal. From the Snake Pit to the nosebleeds, fans were united in one thunderous voice.
Whether you were there or living vicariously through the highlights, this was a show for the history books. And with Night Two still to come, the Metallica takeover of Nashville is far from over.
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