Metallica launch ‘Life Burns Faster’ Sphere residency in Las Vegas (photos)

Metallica kicked off their Life Burns Faster residency at Sphere in Las Vegas with the first of 12 No Repeat Weekends on October 1 and 3.

The two-night opening weekend saw James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo perform completely different setlists backed by visuals created specifically for the Sphere. Nearly 40,000 fans attended across the two shows, with the band digging into material spanning its catalog and bringing several songs back to the stage after lengthy absences.

The October 1 opening night included the first performance of “…And Justice for All” since 2014, while “Now That We’re Dead” returned for the first time since 2021. Metallica also opened the show with “Battery,” marking the first time the song had served as a concert opener since 2014.

Night two on October 3 featured more rarities, including the first performance of “Devil’s Dance” since 2008 and the return of “The Outlaw Torn” for the first time since 2019. “Blackened” opened the show for the first time since 2014.

Both nights also featured tributes to late Metallica bassist Cliff Burton. The band performed “The Call of Ktulu” in his honor on October 1, while “Orion” served as the tribute on October 3.

The Life Burns Faster residency continues with another No Repeat Weekend on October 8 and 10, followed by shows throughout October and November. Metallica will return to Sphere in January, February and March 2027, with the residency wrapping March 13.

Following the Las Vegas run, Metallica will resume their M72 World Tour with a 12-date North American stadium trek beginning May 8 in Vancouver.

Check out photos from Metallica’s first Life Burns Faster weekend at Sphere, along with the setlists and remaining residency dates below.

October 1 photos by Brett Murray:

October 1 photos by Jeff Yeager:

October 3 photos by Brett Murray:

October 3 photos by Jeff Yeager:

Metallica – October 1, 2026 – Sphere, Las Vegas:
Battery
Creeping Death
Now That We’re Dead
Sad but True
The Shortest Straw
Wherever I May Roam
The Day That Never Comes
…And Justice for All
Kirk and Rob Doodle (“Sleepwalk My Life Away”)
Nothing Else Matters
The Call of Ktulu
Lux Æterna
Ride the Lightning
The Memory Remains
Seek & Destroy
Master of Puppets

Metallica – October 3, 2026 – Sphere, Las Vegas:
Blackened
Fuel
Leper Messiah
Devil’s Dance
72 Seasons
King Nothing
Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
The Outlaw Torn
Kirk and Rob Doodle
The Unforgiven
Orion
Hardwired
Whiskey in the Jar
For Whom the Bell Tolls
One
Enter Sandman

Remaining Life Burns Faster dates:
October 8 & 10
October 15 & 17
October 22 & 24
October 29 & 31
November 5 & 7
January 28 & 30
February 4 & 6
February 18 & 20
February 25 & 27
March 4 & 6
March 11 & 13

Metallica – M72 World Tour 2027:
May 8 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place
May 13 – San Diego, CA – Snapdragon Stadium
May 18 – El Paso, TX – Sun Bowl Stadium
May 22 – San Antonio, TX – Alamodome
May 26 – Fayetteville, AR – Razorback Stadium
May 29 – Kansas City, MO – Arrowhead Stadium
June 2 – Raleigh, NC – Carter-Finley Stadium
June 5 – Indianapolis, IN – Lucas Oil Stadium
June 8 – Buffalo, NY – Highmark Stadium
June 12 – Madison, WI – Camp Randall Stadium
June 15 – Cleveland, OH – Huntington Bank Field
June 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rice-Eccles Stadium