Metal masters Metallica crush NRG Stadium

Fans going to the Metallica concert at NRG. (For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, June 11, 2017) Fans going to the Metallica concert at NRG. (For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, June 11, 2017) Photo: Gary Fountain/For The Chronicle Photo: Gary Fountain/For The Chronicle Image 1 of / 69 Caption Close Metal masters Metallica crush NRG Stadium 1 / 69 Back to Gallery

Metallica returned to Houston Sunday night for the first time since late 2008, making good on months of hype and a week's worth of fan excitement over the monolithic metal act's visit to the Bayou City.

The band is currently on the road showing off material from a new, double LP (November's "Hardwired...To Self-Destruct") which is textured, sturdy, and expansive, a perfect fit for the cavernous NRG Stadium.

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Frontman James Hetfield and the rest of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act packed in a slew of headbanging classics into the set list to quench the metal thrash thirst of its multigenerational fan base.

With fans from 5 to 65 years old, Metallica is a legacy act that refuses to pump the brakes, still teaching tricks to newly christened metalheads daily. That resolve was full throttle Sunday night.

Direct openers, Avenged Sevenfold, brought its decadent gutter anthems into NRG Stadium, complete with snarling pyrotechnics aplenty. The California five-piece (itself turning 18 years old this year) recently threw a bit of prog-rock into its sound, further thickening its live sonic stew. Don't fret, though, they won't be turning into Rush anytime soon.

Standout cuts included arena candy like "Nightmare" and "Hail to the King," which made great use of the band's pyro kit. Avenged Sevenfold has always had a second home of sorts in Houston and they were welcomed with ecstatic cheers making for a worthy appetizer for Metallica.

Playing in front of a series of massive LED screens, not unlike U2 brought into the same venue last month, Metallica wrenched out hit after hit, sprinkling in cuts off "Hardwired" that have proven road-friendly.

The band is at its most burly and thundering at the moment, riding a wave of goodwill for the new album and all that comes with being the big daddy in metal music. Heck, they can even get away with a drum circle of sorts. You can do that after 36 years in the business.

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Metallica whipped its loyal headbangers into a frenzy early on, pulling out "For Whom The Bell Tolls," "Creeping Death" and "The Unforgiven" in succession. Huge towers of pyro spewed from the sides of the stage at the appropriate times.

The screens behind the band showed images from it's lengthy music video history, with those images from "The Unforgiven" bringing back a million MTV memories.

The band's merch tables were busy the entire show from beginning to end and likely until NRG staff had to start escorting fans out of the building. Special Houston Texans shirts were a big hit, along with the band's old-school shirt designs.

James Hetfield looking more like a emphasized the importance of the Metallica family many times on Sunday night, as at least five small circle pits opened up on the floor of NRG Stadium. It was all out of love, as bodies slammed into each other to some of the most iconic riffs of the past three decades. As the songs ended whole pits hugged one another, only to get back to brutality within a few seconds.

The band dedicated "Sad But True" to none other than Houston Astros great (and vocal Metallica fan) Jeff Bagwell to the roar of the crowd, with Hetfield mentioning the slugger's upcoming Hall of Fame induction. It was a great intersection of music and Houston sports.

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The war-torn "One" gave way to a pummeling "Master of the Puppets" with the band (minus the stationary drummer Lars Ulrich) making their way onto a small stage set out in the crowd. Hetfield spent most of his time out on that stage as the night progressed, joined by bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett. Lucky fans on the floor were treated to solos up close and personal.

A small encore gave way to the deathly trio of early bruiser "Battery", the anthemic "Nothing Else Matters", and closing with the Metallica-for-beginners "Enter Sandman". Now 26 years since its release the cut has lost none of its wonder.

Whenever metal fans get complacent about Metallica and the band's influence and live savagery, all it takes is a concert to remind everyone just why they still matter to fans young and old.