Metallica has announced the release of their new 12th studio album, titled “72 Seasons,” which will be released on April 14, 2023. In addition, the band has announced a major world tour for 2023-2024, during which Metallica will perform weekend concerts around the world on Fridays and Sundays without repeating songs. Here’s what Lars Ulrich said:
We’re announcing a two-year world tour. We have all the dates for ’23 and ’24 ready to go. We’re coming to a city near you. We’re playing two nights in every city, playing two completely different shows. So you buy one ticket for two shows — a Friday and a Sunday — and you get what’s called a no-repeat weekend, which, obviously, is an old radio term. You get two one hundred percent completely different and unique shows.
So starting in April 2023, the band will visit 22 different cities in Europe and North America and play two nights in each city, with each “No Repeat Weekend” show being completely unique: two completely different set lists with two different bands opening each night. A statement from the band said:
Purchase a two-day ticket, and you won’t see the same song twice for a total of over 30 songs spanning our 40+ years of being lucky enough to make music. Most of the shows (sorry, not all – we tried!) will be on Fridays and Sundays, so we’ll be sure to have lots of extracurricular events for you to hang with fellow Metallica fans at before the shows kick-off and on the Saturday night in between.
As for the stage design, M72 tour will present a completely different image for the band at the stadiums – the stage will be in the center of the stadium, and the so-called “Snake Pit” will be moved to the center of the stage, so the fans will have a full 360 degree view of the show. Snake Pit” is the special zone, as if inside the stage itself. It will cost a certain amount of money to get there, but more about that later.
Each of the two shows in each city will open with a different opening band, including: Five Finger Death Punch, Ice Nine Kills and MammothWVH, Architects, Greta Van Fleet or Volbeat, and some cities will even see an updated Pantera as the opening act.
A portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold will go to the band’s charity foundation.
Metallica have also announced a series of VIP packages, or “enhanced experiences” as they call them in the ticketing, from which fans can choose according to their financial well-being various perks when attending a show. This package includes 5 options, the cheapest of which will cost in the neighborhood of $600 and will include a premium seat for both concerts in the same city, one Metallica limited edition merchandise. And if you want a concert in the Snake Pit area, i.e. in the middle of the stage, then the VIP package will cost from $1,000 to $4,000, but will include additional bonuses such as a backstage meeting with the band members, photography, including a group photo on stage, free drinks in the special “Black Box” lounge before the show, posters, autographs and much more.
There will also be special “I Disappear” series tickets that, depending on the type and cost, will allow you to attend as many concerts as you want to attend. So with a $1,000 package you’ll be able to attend all of the band’s shows in 2023 or 2024 (your choice) on one of the continents (also your choice). With a 2000 dollar package you can visit all the shows in Europe and North America in 2023 or 2024, and a 3500 dollar package gives you the opportunity to visit all the shows in two years.
And the most expensive Lux Æterna package, worth over $ 7,000, gives you the right to watch both shows in your chosen city from an exclusive private viewing platform for 8 people, a visit to a special “Black Box” lounge before the concert with free beer and various drinks and other privileges.
