In September, thrash-metal veterans Metallica hit the stage at San Francisco, California’s Dreamfest to benefit the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. While charitable in nature, the gig still managed to upset the venue’s neighbors, according to San Francisco Gate, but that didn’t stop the band from shredding through brutal standards like “Creeping Death,” “Master of Puppets” and early, Kill ‘Em All classic “Seek & Destroy,” the last of which has been immortalized in pro-shot official video released on the group’s YouTube channel.
“Tonight, we’re gonna play some new stuff,” jokes singer James Hetfield, “And we might play an old song.” As the band launches into the track, Papa Het gets the crowd going with coordinating claps and banter, readying them all for the whiplashing seven-minute composition. Drummer Lars Ulrich stands up behind his kit in excitement, bassist Robert Trujillo spins his bass round and round, and the whole group appears to have an absolute blast as they encourage the audience to sing-along. After one particularly quiet bit, Hetfield kids with showgoers that the band is finished for the night, only to break back into the song with an even stronger presence. It all serves as evidence of a band that is still very much in its prime, even 35 years removed from its debut album.