Metallica opened their Las Vegas Sphere residency with the first of 24 sold-out shows. Fan reactions to the massive opening night were more mixed than expected.
The band first posted its own reaction after the show. The caption described how they felt about the performance.
“We’re speechless,” Metallica wrote in the caption of their new post. “That was one hell of an exSPHEREience.”
Some fans were fully positive about the night. They focused on the visuals and the overall experience.
“Probably the best experience I’ve ever had,” one Metallica fan said. “The visuals were mind-blowing.”
Another fan agreed. “It was really awesome,” the fan said. “Some of the visual effects blew my mind, and I think it really adds to the experience.”
Other fans were less impressed. One criticized the visuals and the length of the setlist.
“Visuals were kind of a letdown….I coulda made most of that shit in blender with free textures from blenderkit,” the fan said. “They sounded great, energy was good, but the visuals just lost me. Just kept thinking back to prior shows where the stage antics were much, much better. When this is supposed to be the best place for these types of things. Plus, only 15 songs is kinda absurd.”
A further fan questioned whether the venue suits the band.
“It looks like there were some pretty cool visuals, but I feel like the Sphere isn’t really suited for Metallica,” the fan said. “Of course Metallica are one of the biggest bands ever, and they have always been able to play wherever they want, but what makes them so good live is, in my opinion, seeing the greatest frontman stage presence in James Hetfield.”
The mixed response puts extra attention on the rest of the run. The opening night is only the start of a long engagement. The band has a lot of time to respond to fan feedback.
The opening night setlist featured “Battery,” “Creeping Death,” “…And Justice for All” and “Master of Puppets.” Lars Ulrich spoke about the venue’s technology during the show.
“For modern technology and old guys playing loud music, I have to say this is pretty awesome,” Ulrich said.
The residency is titled “Life Burns Faster.” It runs from October 1, 2026, through March 13, 2027. The 24 announced shows are arranged in 12 Thursday and Saturday pairings.
Each pairing follows Metallica’s “No Repeat Weekend” format, which the band introduced on its M72 World Tour. The Thursday and Saturday shows have completely different setlists. Fans who attend both nights hear no song twice. That format could shape how fans judge the length of each show.
