By Honey Rumbles / Jeff Arnhart
Metallica Ignites NRG Stadium with Thunderous Set on Houston Stop of M72 World Tour
Houston, TX – June 14, 2025 — The Bay Area titans of thrash brought their full-force M72 World Tour to a packed NRG Stadium
on Saturday night, unleashing a sonic onslaught that had metalheads
headbanging from the floor to the rafters. With a high-octane lineup
featuring Suicidal Tendencies and a resurrected Pantera as openers, the night was a celebration of heavy music’s past, present, and punishing future.
Suicidal Tendencies: Crossover
Challenger
Opening
the evening with fierce energy, Suicidal Tendencies,
led by the ever-intense Mike Muir, exploded onto the stage with their
crossover brand of punk and thrash. The set included classics like “You Can’t Bring Me Down” and “Institutionalized,”
backed by Dean Pleasants’ ripping guitars and the explosive rhythm of
bassist Tye Trujillo (filling in on tour) and drummer Greyson
Nekrutman. Muir stalked the stage like a man possessed, rallying the
crowd into circle pits and chaos. The pit erupted early as fans
embraced their signature crossover style – a perfect prelude to the
evening.
Pantera: Texas
Pride
Once the stage reset, Pantera
followed, roaring through a set that honored the late Abbott brothers
while embracing a new era. With Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy
Osbourne) on guitar and Anthrax’s Charlie Benante on drums, surviving
members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown led the charge with raw passion and
fire. “Cowboys from Hell,” “Walk” and “This Love” were thunderously received turning NRG into a swamp of headbanging and unity. Their set proved that Pantera’s legacy lives on through sheer power and precision. As a side note, two drum kits
were set up for Pantera on both ends of the circle stage. Halfway through the set Benante move form one kit to
the other so both sides of NRG Stadium could feel like
they were on the facing the stage.
Metallica: Thrash
Legends Own Houston
When Metallica
hit the stage on their massive 360-degree “snake pit” setup, the
stadium erupted. James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert
Trujillo powered through a nearly two-hour set that fused decades of
metal mastery. Fans were treated to deep cuts and classics alike.
Opening with a punishing “Creeping Death,” Metallica dove into a setlist that included “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Nothing Else Matters,” “Sad But True,” "One" and "Seek & Destroy." The
band’s energy was as fierce as ever, with Hetfield’s growl sharp and
confident, and Hammett delivering blazing solos while prowling the
stage's catwalks. Trujillo’s bass thundered throughout, and Ulrich,
despite critics over the years, played with undeniable passion and
grit. Ulrichs' drum kit was rotated every four songs to all four
corners of the stage during the set so that every fan got to feel like
they were part of the direct stage. Surprisingly for a stadium setup the sound system was above par and sounded quite good.
The night closed in epic fashion with “Master of Puppets” and "One"
both delivered with jaw-dropping production: lasers, fire, and screens
lighting up the stadium in tandem with the music's ferocity. As the
night ended Metallica stood triumphant, 40 years into their reign and still unmatched in metal.
Final Verdict:
Metallica’s June 14 performance was more than a concert, it was a cathartic metal ritual. From the punishing kicks of Suicidal Tendencies to the groove mastery of Pantera, every act fueled the night’s momentum. But it was Metallica
who stole the show, delivering 2+ hours of unadulterated thrash
brilliance, emotional peaks and crowd-igniting spectacle. Houston’s
metalheads responded in kind, moshes, chants, and pyro lit up a night
that confirmed Metallica’s enduring legacy and the timeless power of live metal.
Metallica Setlist:
Creeping Death
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Ride the Lightning
The Memory Remains (with extended band outro)
Lux Ęterna
If Darkness Had A Son
Kirk and Rob Doodle ("Hit the Lights" and ZZ Top’s “La Grange”)
The Day That Never Comes
Fuel
Orion
Nothing Else Matters (Dedicated to Cliff Burton)
Sad But True
One
Seek & Destroy
Master of Puppets
Enter Sandman
Pantera:
A New Level
Mouth for War
Strength Beyond Strength
Becoming (with 'Throes of Rejection' outro)
I'm Broken (with 'By Demons Be Driven' outro)
Cemetery Gates (Intro only; Tribute video to the Abbott brothers)
5 Minutes Alone
This Love
Fucking Hostile
Walk
Domination / Hollow
Cowboys From Hell (with “Stairway to Heaven” outro)
Suicidal Tendencies Setlist:
You Can't Bring Me Down
Institutionalized
Subliminal
Send Me Your Money
Adrenaline Addict (New Song)
Pledge Your Allegiance
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Metallica
                                       
Pantera
                              
Suicidal Tendencies
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