Metallica @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France, Amnéville July 09 2011

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Updated with links to videos and official videos (on July 25)

Metallica @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France

Amnéville, July 09 2011

After a fantastic gig by Megadeth, Metallica is next on the main stage while we're waiting for the show to start we can hear Traja playing on the second stage, symphonic metal, sounds like bullshit to us.

The "golden pit" is more compact than for the other bands hard to secure a good spot down the front as everybody is here for Metallica.

"The ecstacy of Gold" is being played with 10 min late it's 11:10pm, that's the sign of the beginning of the gig, and the beginning of the gig couldn't be better as the first song is " Hit the Lights", then we have " Master of Puppets".
Sound is perfect, not too loud, down the front it's hell but if you're not right in the middle that's ok.

The stage is simple but class with a huge screen in the back (and on both sides as for the other bands ). I have to say that the crew in charge of the footage and mixing of these footage is probably the most pro and arty I have EVER seen at a rock concerts. These guys know how to record a rock concerts and how to mix it. Great Job.

The band is on top form maybe is it because they don't head-bang like maniacs anymore and also because they can secure some breaks every 4-5 songs with a short solo from Kirk or Rob or a intro to a song on which they can relax for a couple of minutes behind the stage without breaking the rythm of the show.

As you can see below the setlist is a "dream come true" for many fans , lots of old songs including "The Call of Ktulu", "Creeping Death" "For whom the bell tolls"or "fade to Black"... Thank god NO "Unforgiven " or "Nothing else matters".

We have a bit of pyro on "One" and another song.

The band is also on stage for quite a long time until 1:30 am

The REAL let down will be the jam at the end before the second encore as Megadeth & Slayer didn't bother coming on stage so we only had Anthrax and Diamond Head on "Helpless" WHAT THE FUCK ?????????????????

The only show on the European dates without the real jam and it's happening in France. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

SETLIST: 1) Hit the Lights 2) Master of Puppets 3) Shortest Straw 4) Seek & Destroy 5) Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 6) Ride the Lightning 7) The Memory Remains 8) All nightmare Long 9) Sad but true 10) The Call of Ktulu 11) One 12) For Whom the bell tolls 13) Blackened 14) Fade to Black 15) Enter sandman Encore 16) Helpless (With Anthrax & Diamond Head) 17) Damage Inc. 18) Creeping Death

Official Pics from The Festival from Metallica.com

Metallica is smokin'

see ya guys soon
Official video of "Call of Ktulu":

Check videos of "Meet & Greet" and rehearsals in "Tuning Room"

The shitty organisation is keeping the good work as it's taking us two hours to leave the premises, all in the dark and no cops for the trafic.

Reminder:

METALLICA @ Bercy 2009
Bercy April 1 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3, Bercy April 2 Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
click for review setlist video and LOTS OF GREAT PICTURES from Patrice Guino

Megadeth @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France, Amnéville July 09 2011

Megadeth @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France
Amnéville, July 09 2011

After a painful show by Slayer, they were great but it was way too loud.
Megadeth is a relief, the sound is not too loud and absolutely perfect.
A pleasure in these conditions.
We're lucky to be part of the happy few in the the "Golden pit". There's room and we can move from front to back or from side to side.

SETLIST: 1) Trust 2) In my Darkest hour 3) Wake up dead 4) Hangar 18 5) Poison was the cure 6) Sweating bullets 7)Public Enemy n°1 (new song) 8) Head Crusher 9) A tout le monde 10) Symphony of destruction 11) Peace sells 12) Holy Wars

As you can see the band is not taking any risks, lots of classics and a couple of more recent songs.
Why opening the gig with "Trust" ? It's still a mistery to me.

Once again Megadeth played a fantastic set, remember when they stole the show to Judas Priest a couple of years ago @ Zénith in Paris.

"Poison was the cure + Sweating Bullets":

Anthrax @ Slayer @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France, Amnéville July 09 2011

Anthrax @ Slayer @ "Big 4" Sonisphere France
Amnéville July09 2011

Anthrax, Audience & Merchandising

First time we're going into this... parking lot as it's the site of the Sonisphere France.
We arrived there around 3:00 pm just before Diamond Head it sounded good from far back.

Why doing a festival in such a shitty place ? It's too small so the site wherever you go is overcrowded. Only one location for the toilets on the main site so it's overcrowded.
The ground is made of concrete and stone so there's NOWHERE to lie down to have some rest peacefully.
Even more annoying wherever you go on the site the sound of the stages (main or second) is so loud that's it's hard to speak to your neighbour without screaming even if you're standing at the complete opposite.
The food is shit, can we get some french food instead of belgian ?
And we're not talking about the mess when they opened the doors early in the morning, we were NOT there, but we've been told it was hell ...and dangerous as people pushed their way to the front and the security didn't know how to handle it.
They should ask the Hellfest for some ( many ) good advices. or find another location.
At least at Clisson you have space and you can lie down on the grass and take a nap without the PA screaming into your ears.

Slayer

First band we're seeing is Anthrax, they're doing a good show without Scott Ian (??!?) and with Andreas Kisser filling in.
Sound is a bit loud and not perfect, the band is sticking to classics with Joe Belladonna on vocals, they're also playing a new song.
I haven't heard these songs in ages, and we're not fan anymore, we used to a long time ago.
We're lucky to be in the "Golden Pit" down the front otherwise it would be a nightmare.
Overall good show but...
Before Anthrax We already had a headache as we had to endure the sound of French Metallers Loudblast who were playing on the second stage.
It's gonna be a long day as Metallica is not playing before 11:00 PM

"Antisocal"

Heavy Slammin'

Then we have Slayer, we saw them a few months ago at the Zénith in Paris in March with Megadeth headlining and the show was terrific.
They've done a great show once again but the sound is very loud so it's hard to appreciate it.
Down the front in the "golden pit" it's pretty quiet but on the main site it's hot as hell with many people slamming (see picture above) or mosh dancing.The action is on stage and in the crowd either.

"South of Heaven..."

Papa Roach

We can hear Papa Roach from the second stage while waiting for Megadeth, glad we're not over there as it's sounding horrible.
Good point for the staff all along this day: times will be respected.
Oh Yeah by the way, How about a Festival with (more) trash-dustbin cans ? I couldn't find any on the site.