Review by Catherine McCauley for MPM
The biggest weekend of 2026 for Metal gigs in Dublin is finally here. The socials are awash with excitable fans elated about the upcoming no repeat weekend, some desperately seeking tickets and others chatting about the potential wares the POP-UP Shop in the Convention Centre will have. The monumental Metallica are encouraging the fans North and South to donate blood with their ‘All Within My Hands’ Foundation having teamed up with giveblood.ie for the #BleedingMe Campaign from the 19th until the 22nd of June – which everyone who donates will receive a limited edition t-shirt not available to buy at the gigs nor online. The band are genuine when they call their fans the Metallica family.
Despite their continued success Metallica encourage their fans to invest in their local communities whilst the band themselves through their foundation support local charities in the cities they play in. This tour is a powerhouse in part due to the massive circular 360-degree stadium design. I was awestruck on walking into the Aviva Stadium and seeing the magnitude of not only the Stadium but also Metallica’s legendary stage set up. As it’s an early show doors open at 5pm and Avatar go on stage at 5.30pm. Avatar from Sweden originate from Molndal and have released ten albums since they theatrically burst onto the scene in 2001. Their most recent album, ‘Don’t go in the forest’ was released in 2025.
Avatar bringing groove metal to Dublin dressed in all black leather and face paint, the band consist of Johannes Eckerstrom (vocals, brass, piano, keyboards), John Alfredsson (drums), Jonas ‘Kungen’ Jarlsby (guitars), Henrik Sadnelin(bass, backing vocals) Tim Ohrstrom (guitars, backing vocals). The lads launch into ‘In the Airwaves’ as they begin their set with sheer determination to warm up the Dublin audience. Avatar deliver a metal opera exuding eccentricity and quirkiness with thumping double bass drums and powerful melodies.
The lads windmill in synchronicity and command the stage with enthusiasm and it makes you wonder what it must be like taking to such a huge arena with such an elaborate set up as here tonight. Avatar more than rise to the challenge and own their turf emanating passion and desire to entertain a massive arena with folk continuing to filter in to their designated area. Avatar charge through ‘The Dirt I’m Buried In’, ‘Smells Like a Freakshow’, and round off a thrilling set with the anthemic ‘Hail the Apocalypse’. Eckerstrom thanks Dublin for giving Avatar a chance with sincerity and tells us that they shall be back to ‘your lovely city’ on Tuesday 24th November at the National Stadium. For the Northern Metallers they shall be playing The Limelight on Weds 25th November.
The Aviva continues to fill up and there are less empty green seats to be seen throughout the stadium. The atmosphere is electric. I for one am overpowered by the sheer size of the Aviva Stadium, this truly is an experience which I won’t ever forget. Prior to the colossal Pantera taking to the stage videos of the lads were projected onto the 30 – meter- tall video towers. The screens are showing footage of the Pantera lads back in the day. I saw this montage last year at the 3 arena gig but seeing the images of the Abbott brothers a second time still packs a punch as Dime Bag and Vinnie were larger than life characters and are still huge losses to the metal world. Two drum kits proudly displaying the Abbott Brothers images are placed on opposing side of the stage. The lads take to the stage and rip into ‘A New Level’, Phil as ever barefooted captivates as he dominates the stage with his unassuming yet physical presence.
‘Mouth for War’ was brutal with Rex and Charlie in their element pounding on the drums and bass. The lads were not deterred by the good old Irish weather as the skies opened. Phil himself comments ‘weather aside are we having a good fucking time? – I’m loving it man!’ I can assure you Phil the Dublin audience share the sentiment. Charlie is prepared and his hood is up for the wetter parts of the set. ‘Becoming’ and ‘Strength Beyond Strength’ are immense to hear in such a huge Stadium and Phil encourages us to sing along the noise levels are deafening. An interlude with Cemetery Gates playing in the background accompanied by visual images of the fallen brothers light up the towers as Charlie jogs over to the opposite side of the stage to launch into ‘5 minutes Alone’, Zakk’s riffs are fast and aggressive and as he parades with swagger around the stage engaging and entertaining the fans.
The Circular stage certainly has its advantages for fans enabling everyone to have a great view. Phil encourages the audience to give Avatar a round of applause. Jesting Phil advises us not to break our hands yet as he expresses Pantera’s genuine appreciation to Metallica for having them on tour stating that it was a privilege. The weather improves and the blue skies are peeping out. Phil says that he can see God. Whether he was joking or serious Phil chats about how there will be a contingency here tonight who won’t know who the ‘fuck’ they are. Given that I’ve been a huge fan since my teenage years I find this hard to believe although maybe he’s considering the younger fans amongst us. Phil introduces the next song stating that it’s all about family and friends and everyone else here too and the intro to ‘This Love’ begins – this track is a major highlight as Dublin takes great delight in chanting along with Phil to the chorus.
Phil then encourages us to take a deep breath and sing with him on ‘Fucking Hostile’ and the audience decibels have my ears ringing. As the weather shifts again Phil comments on how the rain won’t let up but the jams keep rolling of which we are damn glad. Watching Rex lead the outro to ‘Walk’ in his cool demeanour was a sight to behold and we could feel every strum on his bass. Zakk shreds the intro to ‘Cowboys From Hell’ and the circle pits open and the standing level is bouncing. Phil ends the set by singing acapella the line ‘And she’s buying a stairway to’ and the band stand together and bow. Pantera remain a force to be reckoned with and they remain loyal to Dime Bag and Vinnie and are using their live performances as an opportunity to immortalise their fallen brother’s contribution to metal whilst enjoying playing with Charlie and Zakk.The exhilaration in the Aviva is palpable and when ‘It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n Roll” begins the anticipation of seeing Metallica is taken to another level. Images of the band with fans appear on the screens and the crowd are rowdy. Next up images of ‘The Good, the Bad and the Ugly are visible as ‘The Ecstasy of Gold’ rings across the stadium. The first placement of Lars Yellow Drum Kit makes an appearance as it rises from beneath the stage. Shrill whistles and spotlights from the towers fill the venue. Drone cameras are circling the audience surrounding and inside the circular stage (snake pit) capturing the delight of their fans at seeing their heroes tonight. Metallica start tonight’s set with ‘Creeping Death’ a red hue descends and Dublin echo the riffs of James and Kirk vocally. ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ sees James laugh at the anticipation in the crowd prior to the third verse.
The Metallica lads are in great spirits and appear thrilled to be in Dublin the crowd chant with fists in the air in solidarity with the lads from San Francisco as we are treated to ‘Leper Messiah’, ‘King Nothing’ and ‘72 Seasons’. Metallica are consummate professionals, who do not allow the off and on rain affect their spectacular set. James crowns the Dublin audience ‘the loudest instrument that Metallica has’ and the band rips into ‘If darkness had a Son’. James’s swagger as he works the extraordinary circular stage evidences why ‘Papa Het’ is a well-respected Man within the metal Community.
The crew then bring out a stand and James announces ‘Metallica family these two guys are my friends say Hi to Robert and Kirk’ – James and Lars depart the stage at this point leaving their brothers to entertain the Irish masses with their ‘Kirk and Rob Doodle’. Both guitarists appear a tad tentative and Rob tells Dublin we need a little bit of rain – cools us down for the summer. Rob tells us this guitar (Kirks) wrote this song and we are nervous to play it. Its humbling to see the humility of such revered musicians as they play the legendary ‘Black Rose’ (Thin Lizzy cover) which is a special touch for the Irish fans. The lads do a wee jig before finishing and then hug each other on completion. It’s heart-warming to see the effort Metallica have put into the Dublin show from the Poster and Cards featuring Phil Lynott to this authentic tribute.
The graphics of the individuals trapped inside coffins on the Towers during ‘Cyanide’ were unnerving to watch and added that extra element to the songs meaning. ‘Orion’ was a goosebumps inducing cracker of a visual and auditory sight to behold. Rob plays the bass riffs beautifully. James dedicates this ‘for our fallen brother, we miss you’. James who is wearing a Cliff Burton t-shirt pats his chest and we feel the ever raw loss that Metallica has experienced with the tragic loss of the Bassist. ‘Nothing Else Matters’ brings the expressive side out in us all tonight including even the most hardened Metallers. It nearly brings a tear to this gal’s eye watching a large circle of men in the standing area gather with arms around each other’s shoulders during Kirks guitar solo and sway together as the song filled the Aviva. We sing along with passion sharing this moment with each other and Metallica.
Tonight’s performance is an emotional affair, witnessing fans of all ages come together under the stunning Dublin skyline, to feel parallel with their heroes enveloped in music which has a highly emotive meaning to everyone in the Aviva Stadium tonight. Following the more poignant section of tonight’s Setlist Metallica then unveil ‘Sad But True’ with its aggressive riffs and tempo with Rob sporting a Burger King Crown whilst the mosh pits erupted throughout the Stadium. ‘Battery’ is vicious and visceral driving the Dublin fans into a Metal frenzy. ‘Fuel’ is a real uplifting track and the bands energy is contagious, the pyrotechnics are mind-blowing and the atmosphere ramps up even more for what we know will be the final section of the night.
As the Dublin sky darkens Metallica deliver ‘Seek & Destroy’ with the arrival of the giant Metallica beach balls from inside the visual Towers. These are propelled across the crowd by elated fans and even at times directed at the band who are smiling and laughing and kicking any which arrive on stage back out into the crowd again. From the seated area it was a hilarious and fun occurrence during such an intense track which shows that even they may be grown men now Metallica still enjoy having fun whilst evidencing how they are the Juggernauts of Metal. ‘Master of Puppets’ is the final and much desired track judging by Dublin’s reaction to the killer tune. James and Kirk’s riffs are impressively ringing throughout the gigantic stadium as explosive fireworks stun and leave the fans mesmerised. Metallica cherish their fans and are connected at a deep and meaningful level.
James tells us ‘We are Metallica and so are you, look at all this love in Dublin, it blows our minds after 45 years the music we love and you love, we don’t take it for granted man’. Mosh pits appear throughout the standing areas as other fans thrust their fists into the air out of respect to the almighty Metallica. We have seen four drum kit stations, giant 72 season coloured Beach Balls, Irish themes intertwined from their Setlist to the much desired posters and Merch. This was more than just a concert this was empirical – a once in a lifetime show which I don’t think any of us will forget for a long-time and will talk about with fond memories for many years to come. A special mention to the two gorgeous ladies of Metal from Dun Laoghaire, Laura and Rosa who made the gig a more memorable and fun experience. You girls rock!!
Photos taken on nights 2
