Check out a review of Metallica's show at Webster Hall in NY on September 27th, exclusive to fan club members:

Lars has no hair left, James cut his a long time ago, and Kirk now has gray hair. Even so, the band endures the hardship from beginning to end.”

By Caio Maia

Perhaps you, the reader, don't fully grasp that 1983 was 33 years ago, but anyone old enough to appreciate Metallica back then knows perfectly well. First your knee hurts, then your back, and by the end, you're thinking, "These guys are playing a little too loud.".

Well, someone seems to have forgotten to inform James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett – let's talk about Lars Ulrich later. They're both 53 years old, guys. Fifty-three years old. If Kirk's hair wasn't turning white and if I didn't know that in 1983 they were already old enough to be frantically pounding guitars, I'd say it's a lie. Seeing them both live, you question nature – anyone who thinks Mick Jagger is a natural phenomenon should see Kirk Hammett, seriously.

The band enters the stage at Webster Hall in New York, smiling. This is a show, it's worth remembering, for the fan club, in a theater that holds 1500 people. James greets the audience, exchanges a few words with the fans and comments: “Eight years have flown by! Maybe not for you.”

The show begins with an almost uninterrupted barrage of three songs: Breadfan , Hollier Than Thou, and Battery . Without a break. James changes guitars and resumes talking. “We’re here today to celebrate many things. One of them, of course, is that Metallica is alive and well! And, we think, still kicking ass! We’re also celebrating the new album. Here’s something from the old days,” he said, and then launched into Harvester of Sorrow .

Of the 14 songs in the show, none came from "St. Anger" or "Death Magnetic." The band played the two songs from the new album that had already been released and three songs from the Black Album – which did not include The Unforgiven or Nothing Else Matters , but instead, in addition to the predictable Enter Sandman and Sad But True , Hollier Than Thou . Besides that, there were two already established covers ( Breadfan and Whiskey in the Jar ) and all the others were songs from albums from the 80s. Instead of the hits, Orion , dedicated to Cliff Burton, who died almost exactly 30 years ago (and received by the audience with shouts of "Cliff, Cliff, Cliff!"). After Sandman , the lights went out and the band took a short break. The audience sang the riff (and the initial "chant") of The Frayed Ends of Sanity . The band joined in, but only played the riff.

On the return, the band makes the courageous choice to play Hardwired , which ends up showing that the song is good, very good, and will hold the attention of any fan. Just like Moth Into Flame , it must be said. Before closing with Seek and Destroy , James asks: “One more? Which one?” The audience has several suggestions, but “Seek…” dominates. “This one? This one is old. It’s 35 years old. Why don’t we play a newer one?” he asks, but already begins the opening chords of the classic.

It couldn't have been more symbolic than what was there: a gathering of people who have known those guys for many years. An audience that sang every song, without exception, and many of the riffs. They could have sold that ticket for something like a thousand dollars outside the theater, but they knew that being there was worth more.

Regarding Lars Ulrich, a brief introduction: for me, who had never seen Metallica live until now, it was a shock to discover that the criticism that he can't play drums might be justified. On more than one occasion during the show, especially during "One ," I thought I was the one who wasn't hearing properly. The guy simply abandoned the bass drum and decided to play only with his hands. That's bad, I think, because he's the soul of the band. The problem is that a drummer can't disguise it, right? If James wants to hire another guitarist, he can just sing. But Lars doesn't have that option. And he's 52 years old. If it's already difficult to pound the drums like that at 20, it certainly won't get any easier.

Lars is bald, James cut his a long time ago, and Kirk now has gray hair. Even so, the band endures the onslaught from beginning to end. Metallica has been the biggest rock band in the world for fifteen years, and for good reason. Judging by Tuesday's show – and the two new songs – it's likely they'll remain so for quite some time to come.

Set list:

Breadfan

Holier Than Thou
Battery
Harvester of Sorrow
Fade to Black
Moth Into Flame
Sad but True
Orion
One
Master of Puppets
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Enter Sandman Bis:
Whiskey in the Jar
Hardwired
Seek and Destroy