Quebec Magnetic marks a special moment in the history of the head banging timeline of the group.
The DVD spectacular, which features over two hours of metal goodness, is the christening release for the band’s newly formed label, Blackened Recordings, and their first release as a band since their 2008 album Death Magnetic.
Illuminating the stadium, a thousand plus strong army announces the greatly anticipated arrival of the band.
The echoing notes of ‘That Was Just Your Life’ clearly excite the fans, as the Metallica engine room, led fearlessly by James Hetfield, strut their way to the centred staging structure.
After being armed with their musical weapons, Hetfield, alongside six-string magician Kurt Hammet, riff their way through the introduction to the track, with a helping hand from bassist Robert Trujillo and drummer Lars Ulrich.
As well as shielding the band members with darkness from the peering eyes of the crowd, the opening track on the DVD compiles a range of audience filmed footage, which works to great effect, and gives those who have never attended a Metallica concert a brief insight into the spectacle, through the eyes of a ticket holder.
‘End Of The Line’ shows off some of Hammet’s magnificent musicianship in a up close and personal approach, whilst the panning across the enthused stadium, clearly fed by Hetfield’s emotive stage antics.
Following a string of more recent tracks, ‘One’ and ‘Enter Sandman’ are belted out in the same fashion they were in the earlier years of the thrashing lot, from the aggressively expressive vocals to the memorable guitar phrasing.
The tracks show off that whilst the head bangers may have evolved as musicians over their seemingly infinite reign at the top of the metal hierarchy, they still possess the flair that skyrocketed their popularity in earlier years.
The concert features a unique blend of crowd-wooing instrumental craftsmanship and presents a set list of several metal anthems, but none more appealing than ‘Nothing Else Matters’.
Metallica’s first completely self-released product shows off the impressive catalogue the metal masters have carefully concocted over their tiresome reign on top of the metal ladder.
