HEADLINER: METALLICA
SUPPORTS: EVANESCENCE + SUICIDAL TENDENCIES
DATE: NOVEMBER 12TH 2025
REVIEWER: HAYLEY TREADWELL
PHOTOGRAPHER: ANDREW TREADWELL
We arrived nice and early at Suncorp Stadium with our 11-year-old son, ready to see his biggest show yet — METALLICA!
We were thrilled this was an all-ages show and that we could share it with our youngest. We lined up, grabbed some merch, and made our way to our seats. All in all, a smooth start — lines moving well and plenty of awesome people to chat with.
A cool breeze blew through Suncorp as Suicidal Tendencies took the stage. What a bunch of fun these guys are! Still as energetic as the day they hit the scene, their punchy set was the perfect way to kick things off and get everyone hyped as the stadium began to fill.
I’m sure there were many in the crowd, like me, who were just as excited for Evanescence as we were for Metallica. I’ve been lucky enough to see them a few times, and I have to say — they’ve never sounded better! That big stadium setting is exactly where they belong. Amy Lee’s vocals just keep getting stronger, and the whole band was absolutely on fire. The visuals on the screens added another layer to the performance, tying it all together beautifully.
Opening with Afterlife and closing with Bring Me to Life, with a whole bunch of awesome in between — including my favourite Call Me When You’re Sober and the always spine-tingling My Immortal — Evanescence were the perfect choice to warm up the crowd for what was to come.
(Quick side note: please come back soon, guys — Brisbane loves you!)
We did all the pre-show essentials — bathroom, dinner, drinks — and headed back to our seats, our 11-year-old overflowing with excitement. As Metallica took the stage, the crowd erupted and the band launched into Creeping Death. The little metalhead beside me went wild, pumping his fist in the air with the rest of the Metallica family, fully immersed in the enormity of one of the greatest bands in the world — live and as loud as it gets!
Straight into For Whom the Bell Tolls and we were losing our minds. Then came the pyro with Fuel and that massive, massive sound. Only three songs in and already such a journey! Ride the Lightning followed — how frickin’ lucky were we, Brisbane?!
The band were on fire, delivering from every corner of the stage.
James was the best I’ve ever seen him vocally — strong, raw, and full of emotion. There was this depth to his voice that carried so much power but also real vulnerability, especially in the quieter moments. Watching him command the stage with that mix of intensity and warmth was sensational.
Lars was his usual Lars — unpredictable, loud, and totally in his element. And honestly, that’s exactly why fans love him. He still smashes the drums like nothing else matters (pun intended), hitting every beat with that signature energy and grin. You can tell he lives for the chaos — chatting to the crowd, throwing sticks, hyping everyone up. He’s the heartbeat of the band in more ways than one, keeping both the music and the energy pumping all night.
Rob is always so entertaining to watch, throwing his bass and himself around the stage like the music’s physically running through him. The way he slaps at the bass gives each song this raw, thunderous pulse that feels both chaotic and perfectly controlled. His tone is gritty and heavy but still has that deep groove that locks in with Lars’ drumming — pure Metallica power that hits you right in the chest.
Kirk absolutely owned the stage too. Every solo felt like a moment — sharp, expressive, and dripping with emotion. His fingers fly across the fretboard with that signature mix of melody and madness, and the crowd goes wild every time he bends into one of those screaming notes. He has this way of commanding attention without even trying; it’s pure, seasoned rockstar energy.
A fun moment of the night was Kirk and Rob’s Brisbane Doodle, a cover of The Chats’ Smoko. The crowd sang along with such enthusiasm — a brilliant tribute to our Sunny Coast locals!
The full band returned and the brutal loudness took over Suncorp once again with The Day That Never Comes, Moth Into Flame, and my all-time favourite Metallica song, Sad But True. Then came the loudest singing I’ve ever heard at a show as every single person joined in for Nothing Else Matters. Well done, Brissy — you smashed it! It was genuinely beautiful.
Things got real heavy again as massive yellow and black beach balls came bouncing through the crowd during Seek & Destroy and Lux Æterna. Then, as Lars beckoned the crowd to cheer even louder, the first notes of Master of Puppets rang out — and the place exploded! From our seats overlooking the floor, you could see an epic sea of fist-pumping and moshing fans going next level.
Everyone around me was shouting the lyrics, loving every moment right up until the band left the stage. But it wasn’t over yet — as we eagerly awaited an encore, the rumble of choppers and explosions filled the stadium as One began to play. The crowd sang along beautifully — a truly special moment.
And then, as all good things do, the night came to an end with one final song — Enter Sandman. The perfect way to close out an epic evening of live heavy music.
I’ve read some comments online saying the sound was bad or the crowd was flat, and while everyone’s entitled to their opinion, I honestly don’t know if those folks were at the same show I was! Metallica delivered a performance so loud it radiated through Suncorp, rumbling through your chest and right into your soul. The visuals on the screens behind the band added to every song and the whole atmosphere of the night.
I was surrounded by fans young and old having the absolute time of their lives, and if Metallica came back and did this all again tomorrow, I’d be there in a heartbeat.
The M72 Tour was mind-blowing — fantastic musicianship, an incredible atmosphere, and a night we’ll remember for a very long time.
Thank you to Evanescence for the generosity they extended us while in town, and to Metallica for an unforgettable show that our family (and thousands of others) will cherish.
Until the next gig 
Hayley
Andrew Treadwell
