Saturday, April 19, 2025 – the day Metallica came back to Syracuse after nearly 30 years, and the day they would set the all-time attendance record at the JMA Wireless Dome. Rocking out the Dome to 47,500 fans for more than two hours, Metallica’s on stage theatrics, impressive production and eternally heavy sound were on display, as the band performed a career-spanning setlist for the crowd.
On the heels of a new documentary Metallica Saved My Life, which premiered the night before at Destiny USA, the band rolled into town with a reported 79 trucks worth of staging, speakers, screens and gear, embarking on a new leg of the M72 Tour. Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies kicked the night off at 6pm, gearing the crowd up for one of, if not the greatest, heavy metal bands of all time.
The crowd had what you might expect – aging metal heads of various backgrounds, a few college age students taking advantage of the big show on campus, a fair amount kids and teens with parents and/or grandparents, and your casual Metallica fans looking for that rare Upstate New York arena size-show.
Ahead of Metallica, Pantera’s hour long set was highlighted by “Walk” from Vulgar Display of Power, but notably missing was “Cowboys From Hell,” an all time Pantera classic. While the sound was not at Metallica levels, it was abundantly better than that of Suicidal Tendencies, where all songs were muffled. The only notable highlight being the live debut of “Adrenaline Addict,” featuring Nisha STar.
The band was last in the Salt City in 1996 when Lollapalooza came to the New York State Fair, and prior to that, 1986 at the War Memorial, and that’s it. The rare appearance made this show an even bigger regional draw, let alone the chance of seeing a national artist filling up the Dome. Sure, Billy Joel is a great show every time in Syracuse, but Metallica (and 2023’s Red Hot Chili Peppers) fill the Dome with far more sound and excitement than the Piano Man.
Not without a true connection to Upstate, late in the show, Lars made mention of visiting Rochester in 1983 to record Kill Em All at Music America Studios, loving this part of the state. Shout outs were given to the Lollapalooza and War Memorial shows, but no mention of Woodstock 99, where the band closed out Saturday night with a three encore show, overshadowed by the fires and riots the next day. Probably left out of the short trip down memory lane to keep vibes sky high all night. But the Woodstock set is worth watching, as is their 1994 appearance.
With a circular stage that spanned nearly the diameter of the football field beneath, the Snake Pit was enclosed by a wrap around stage, complete with two drum risers to accommodate Lars as his kit traversed the circumference of the stage, about 376 feet around.
Metallica was slated to begin at 8:30, but with a packed house, the crowd was gratefully patient for a few extra minutes, having time to return from the concourse and merch lines. The opening notes of AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll)” at 8:45pm was a final warning to get back to your seat. The eight video screens raised high like electrical transformers began airing western scenes as Ennio Morricone’s “The Ecstasy of Gold” poured over the speakers, the band rising from the outer edge of the stage to jump right into “Creeping Death,” the sound system dialed up to 11 on the first guitar riffs.
With an evenly spread out setlist, featuring one or two songs at most from 10 separate albums, there was something for the oldest fans, those who loved the 80s and 90s, and the casual fan who knows Metallica from MTV and heavy radio airplay over the last 50 years.
A giant bell rang on the video screens to signal “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” as did a King chess piece ahead of “King Nothing,” and pages of Johnny Got His Gun flashed for “One,” the Dome filling stage and screens creating a sensory playground.
The first hour of the Syracuse show started with early 80s tunes – “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls” and “Hit the Light,” as well as more recent fare “Lux Æterna,” and “Screaming Suicide” – and by the second hour, fans were treated to the biggest Metallica hits from across the years. Fans held up their phones in lieu of lighters during “Nothing Else Matters,” vied for giant beach balls during “Seek and Destroy,” and headbanged to “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman.”
Wrapping up about 10:45pm, the band took time to toss out drumsticks and picks to fans around the stage, offered commentary and extended gratitude to the crowd, giving the fans their monies worth, and then some. The biggest heavy metal band in the world made history in Syracuse this night – sitting in a bit of traffic on the way home would be worth it.
Metallica’s M72 Tour continues this week with three shows in Toronto at Rogers Centre, with special guests Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills.
Metallica 2025 Tour Dates
4/19 – Syracuse, NY @ JMA Wireless Dome *
4/24 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre *
4/26 – Toronto, ON @ Rogers Centre +
5/01 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium *
5/03 – Nashville, TN @ Nissan Stadium +
5/07 – Blacksburg, VA @ Lane Stadium *
5/09 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Music Festival
5/11 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple Music Festival
5/23 – Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field +
5/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Lincoln Financial Field *
5/28 – Landover, MD @ Northwest Stadium *
5/31 – Charlotte, NC @ Bank of America Stadium *
6/03 – Atlanta, GA @ Mercedes-Benz Stadium *
6/06 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium +
6/08 – Tampa, FL @ Raymond James Stadium *
6/14 – Houston, TX @ NRG Stadium *
6/20 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s Stadium +
6/22 – Santa Clara, CA @ Levi’s Stadium *
6/27 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High +
6/29 – Denver, CO @ Empower Field at Mile High *
* = w/ Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies
+ = w/ Limp Bizkit and Ice Nine Kills
Metallica, Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies – JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse – Saturday, April 19, 2025
Setlists via Setlist.fm
Suicidal Tendencies Setlist: You Can’t Bring Me Down, Join the Army, Freedumb, Send Me Your Money, Subliminal, Adrenaline Addict (with Nisha STar, live debut), Pledge Your Allegiance
Pantera Setlist: A New Level, Mouth for War, Strength Beyond Strength, Becoming, I’m Broken, 5 Minutes Alone, This Love, Fucking Hostile, Walk, Domination / Hollow
Metallica Setlist: Creeping Death, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Hit the Lights, King Nothing, Lux Æterna, Screaming Suicide, Kirk and Rob Doodle, The Day That Never Comes, Fuel, Orion, Nothing Else Matters, Sad but True, One, Seek & Destroy, Master of Puppets, Enter Sandman
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