Metallica’s Opening Sequence with “The Ecstasy of Gold” and “Creeping Death” in Berlin Became One of the Most Explosive Moments of the M72 Tour
On May 30, 2026, Metallica stormed into Berlin’s Olympiastadion with one of the most powerful openings of their entire M72 World Tour, instantly transforming the massive stadium into a sea of chaos, anticipation, and pure heavy metal energy. Long before the band even appeared onstage, tens of thousands of fans packed into the venue beneath the Berlin night sky, knowing they were about to witness one of the biggest rock events of the year. Yet nobody could fully prepare for the overwhelming atmosphere that unfolded once the legendary intro sequence began.
As the stadium lights slowly dimmed, a wave of anticipation swept across the crowd. Fans began screaming, chanting, and raising fists into the air while giant video screens illuminated the darkness surrounding the in-the-round stage setup. Unlike many modern concerts that immediately launch into spectacle, Metallica carefully built tension, allowing the entire stadium to sink into suspense before the first notes arrived. Every section of Olympiastadion seemed to vibrate with expectation as thousands of people stared toward the stage waiting for the moment the band would finally emerge.
Then came “The Ecstasy of Gold.”
The iconic Ennio Morricone composition echoed through the stadium speakers, instantly triggering one of the loudest crowd reactions of the entire evening. For decades, the song has served as Metallica’s legendary entrance music, becoming almost as important to the live experience as many songs in the band’s actual catalog. The moment the familiar melody drifted across Olympiastadion, fans erupted into deafening cheers, fully aware that Metallica’s arrival was now only seconds away.
As the orchestral tension continued building, giant screens flashed cinematic visuals while thousands of phones illuminated the stadium like stars scattered across the darkness. Every section of the audience appeared completely locked into the moment. Some longtime fans sang along to every note of the instrumental introduction, while younger listeners experienced the legendary pre-show ritual live for the first time. The atmosphere felt less like the beginning of a concert and more like the opening scene of an enormous blockbuster film.
Then everything exploded.
The second “Creeping Death” detonated across the stadium speakers, the entire venue erupted into absolute chaos. James Hetfield charged onto the stage beneath blinding lights while Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, and Robert Trujillo immediately launched into one of the most iconic opening riffs in metal history. The roar from the crowd became overwhelming as tens of thousands of fans screamed every word before the first verse had even fully begun.
Few songs in Metallica’s catalog carry the same explosive live power as “Creeping Death.” Originally released on Ride the Lightning in 1984, the song has become one of the band’s most beloved concert staples thanks to its relentless energy, crushing riffs, and legendary audience participation moments. Decades after its release, the track still feels capable of instantly igniting an entire stadium, and Berlin proved exactly why it remains one of Metallica’s most dangerous live weapons.
James Hetfield sounded especially ferocious throughout the performance. His vocals cut through the stadium with remarkable power while he constantly commanded the crowd from every angle of the massive stage. Even after more than four decades of touring, Hetfield continues performing with the authority and intensity that helped make Metallica one of the biggest rock bands on earth. Every time he stepped toward the crowd, the audience response grew even louder.
Meanwhile, Kirk Hammett delivered the song’s iconic lead sections with sharp precision while Robert Trujillo thundered across the stage with endless energy. Lars Ulrich’s drumming drove the performance forward relentlessly, giving “Creeping Death” the same explosive momentum that has made it a live favorite for generations of fans. Together, the band sounded unbelievably tight despite the enormous scale of the venue surrounding them.
The crowd reaction quickly became one of the defining visuals of the night.
Massive waves of movement spread across the floor while fans screamed every lyric back toward the stage. The famous call-and-response moments transformed Olympiastadion into one gigantic choir of metal voices. Thousands of fists rose into the air in perfect synchronization while giant sections of the audience bounced beneath the lights. From the floor to the highest sections of the stadium, every corner of Berlin seemed fully consumed by the performance.
Visually, the opening sequence looked absolutely massive. The M72 stage design allowed Metallica to move freely across multiple angles while giant screens captured close-up shots of the band from every direction. Combined with blinding lights, smoke effects, and the enormous scale of Olympiastadion itself, the performance felt almost overwhelming in size. Every song felt amplified by the sheer magnitude of the setting surrounding it.
Part of what made the opening feel so special was the emotional connection many fans have with “The Ecstasy of Gold.” For decades, the instrumental has served as the soundtrack to Metallica’s arrival. Hearing it live instantly triggers memories for longtime fans who have followed the band across multiple tours, eras, and generations. In Berlin, that emotional connection became especially powerful because of the anticipation surrounding the M72 tour’s European run.
The Berlin show also carried major significance within Metallica’s 2026 schedule. Olympiastadion represented one of the biggest stops on the European leg of the M72 World Tour, drawing massive crowds and generating enormous online attention before the concert even began. Fans traveled from multiple countries to witness the performance, turning the event into a gathering of metal fans from across Europe rather than simply a local concert.
As videos from the opening sequence began circulating online, social media immediately exploded with reactions. Clips of “The Ecstasy of Gold” transitioning into “Creeping Death” spread rapidly across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Reddit, with many fans calling it one of the strongest openings Metallica had delivered during the entire M72 era. The combination of suspense, nostalgia, and pure aggression resonated instantly with audiences around the world.
Even among a setlist packed with legendary songs like “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “The Unforgiven,” “One,” “Master of Puppets,” and “Enter Sandman,” many fans continued discussing the opening sequence long after the concert ended. There was something uniquely powerful about the way Metallica built anticipation through “The Ecstasy of Gold” before unleashing the pure violence of “Creeping Death” seconds later. It felt like the perfect summary of everything the band represents.
By the end of the night, Berlin had witnessed one of the most electrifying performances of the M72 World Tour. Yet for many fans inside Olympiastadion, the memory that lingered strongest was still those opening moments — the darkness, the familiar Morricone melody, the eruption of screams, and the instant chaos that followed when “Creeping Death” exploded through the stadium speakers.
As clips continue spreading online, thousands of fans are already calling Metallica’s opening performance of “The Ecstasy of Gold” and “Creeping Death” in Berlin one of the most unforgettable live moments of the 2026 European tour — a thunderous reminder that even after four decades, Metallica still knows exactly how to take control of an entire stadium within seconds.
