WHAT WENT DOWN
Metallica opened their Life Burns Faster residency at the Las Vegas Sphere on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, the first metal band to play the venue *‡‡. Sixteen songs, album art turned into 240-foot animations, and a closing "Master of Puppets" ¶***.
THE DETAILS
- "Battery" opened the night, its first time leading a set since 2014 *§.
- "…And Justice for All" returned for the first time since 2014, "Now That We're Dead" since September 2021 *‡‡‡.
- "The Call of Ktulu" was dedicated to Cliff Burton, roughly 40 years after his death *‡‡.
- Hetfield to the room before "Sad But True": "Vegas, do you want heavy?" *
- Jack White was in the building ‡‡‡. Attendance was around 17,000 ¶¶.
- 24 shows run through March 2027, no setlist repeats within a weekend †¶.
THE TAKE
Lars Ulrich booked this after seeing U2 there in 2023 and called it intimidating †***. "Enter Sandman," "One" and "Fade to Black" were all held for Saturday §.
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* Metallica Make Metal History at Las Vegas Sphere – Setlist, Video — Corey Irwin, Loudwire, 2026-10-02T07:17:39+00:00 — https://loudwire.com/metallica-las-vegas-sphere-2026-videos-setlist/
† Watch: METALLICA Officially Kicks Off Residency At Sphere In Las Vegas — Blabbermouth, Blabbermouth, 2026-10-02T07:10:19+00:00 — https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-metallica-officially-kicks-off-residency-at-sphere-in-las-vegas
‡ Watch: Metallica Play First Show in Las Vegas Sphere Residency, See Visuals + Setlist — Metal Injection, 2026-10-02T16:19:04+00:00 — https://metalinjection.net/news/watch-metallica-play-first-show-in-las-vegas-sphere-residency-see-visuals-setlist
§ Metallica Launch Las Vegas Sphere Residency in Spectacular Fashion: Photos, Video + Setlist — Spencer Kaufman, Consequence, 2026-10-02T13:30:52+00:00 — https://consequence.net/2026/10/metallica-launch-las-vegas-sphere-residency/
¶ Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ Crosses Came to Life — Then Became Bigger Than Life — at the Sphere — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2026-10-02T13:16:49+00:00 — https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-life-burns-faster-sphere-las-vegas-night-one-1235630296/
** Metallica Just Did Something NOBODY Has Seen Before — Rock Feed, Rock Feed, 2026-10-02T12:11:25+00:00 — https://rockfeed.net/news/ya7hf8Cz7zA
†† METALLICA kick off SPHERE residency: See setlist and video — Revolver, 2026-10-02T14:42:08+00:00 — https://www.revolvermag.com/music/metallica-kick-off-sphere-residency-see-setlist-and-video/
‡‡ Metallica Makes Metal History at the Sphere: Pictures, Set List — Corey Irwin, Ultimate Classic Rock, 2026-10-02T07:17:39+00:00 — https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-sphere-2026-videos-set-list/
§§ Here's How Metallica Launched Their First Sphere Show — Corey Irwin, Ultimate Classic Rock, 2026-10-02T04:17:42+00:00 — https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-sphere-first-song/
¶¶ The first reactions to Metallica’s massive show at the Sphere are in: “Epic would be an understatement!” — Dave Everley, Louder Sound, 2026-10-02T11:14:38+00:00 — https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/live-performances/metallica-sphere-reactions
*** Metallica kick off their epic Sphere residency with a classic setlist and retina-searing display — Fraser Lewry, Louder Sound, 2026-10-02T08:12:15+00:00 — https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/live-performances/metallica-sphere-setlist
††† Watch: Fan-Filmed Footage Emerges Of Metallica’s First Show At The Sphere — wookubus, The PRP, 2026-10-02T05:57:16+00:00 — https://www.theprp.com/2026/10/01/news/watch-fan-filmed-footage-emerges-of-metallicas-first-show-at-the-sphere/
‡‡‡ Metallica Kick Off Sphere Residency With “…And Justice For All” For The First Time In 12 Years — Margaret Farrell, Stereogum, 2026-10-02T13:35:53+00:00 — https://stereogum.com/2513357/metallica-kick-off-sphere-residency-with-and-justice-for-all-for-the-first-time-in-12-years/news/
† Watch: METALLICA Officially Kicks Off Residency At Sphere In Las Vegas — Blabbermouth, Blabbermouth, 2026-10-02T07:10:19+00:00 — https://blabbermouth.net/news/watch-metallica-officially-kicks-off-residency-at-sphere-in-las-vegas
‡ Watch: Metallica Play First Show in Las Vegas Sphere Residency, See Visuals + Setlist — Metal Injection, 2026-10-02T16:19:04+00:00 — https://metalinjection.net/news/watch-metallica-play-first-show-in-las-vegas-sphere-residency-see-visuals-setlist
§ Metallica Launch Las Vegas Sphere Residency in Spectacular Fashion: Photos, Video + Setlist — Spencer Kaufman, Consequence, 2026-10-02T13:30:52+00:00 — https://consequence.net/2026/10/metallica-launch-las-vegas-sphere-residency/
¶ Metallica’s ‘Master of Puppets’ Crosses Came to Life — Then Became Bigger Than Life — at the Sphere — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 2026-10-02T13:16:49+00:00 — https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/metallica-life-burns-faster-sphere-las-vegas-night-one-1235630296/
** Metallica Just Did Something NOBODY Has Seen Before — Rock Feed, Rock Feed, 2026-10-02T12:11:25+00:00 — https://rockfeed.net/news/ya7hf8Cz7zA
†† METALLICA kick off SPHERE residency: See setlist and video — Revolver, 2026-10-02T14:42:08+00:00 — https://www.revolvermag.com/music/metallica-kick-off-sphere-residency-see-setlist-and-video/
‡‡ Metallica Makes Metal History at the Sphere: Pictures, Set List — Corey Irwin, Ultimate Classic Rock, 2026-10-02T07:17:39+00:00 — https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-sphere-2026-videos-set-list/
§§ Here's How Metallica Launched Their First Sphere Show — Corey Irwin, Ultimate Classic Rock, 2026-10-02T04:17:42+00:00 — https://ultimateclassicrock.com/metallica-sphere-first-song/
¶¶ The first reactions to Metallica’s massive show at the Sphere are in: “Epic would be an understatement!” — Dave Everley, Louder Sound, 2026-10-02T11:14:38+00:00 — https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/live-performances/metallica-sphere-reactions
*** Metallica kick off their epic Sphere residency with a classic setlist and retina-searing display — Fraser Lewry, Louder Sound, 2026-10-02T08:12:15+00:00 — https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/live-performances/metallica-sphere-setlist
††† Watch: Fan-Filmed Footage Emerges Of Metallica’s First Show At The Sphere — wookubus, The PRP, 2026-10-02T05:57:16+00:00 — https://www.theprp.com/2026/10/01/news/watch-fan-filmed-footage-emerges-of-metallicas-first-show-at-the-sphere/
‡‡‡ Metallica Kick Off Sphere Residency With “…And Justice For All” For The First Time In 12 Years — Margaret Farrell, Stereogum, 2026-10-02T13:35:53+00:00 — https://stereogum.com/2513357/metallica-kick-off-sphere-residency-with-and-justice-for-all-for-the-first-time-in-12-years/news/