METALLICA JUST MADE HISTORY: A Thunderous Salute to Black Sabbath at Villa Park’s Final Show – Watch Now

In a night destined to go down as one of the most electrifying in metal history, Metallica unleashed a legendary set at Villa Park in Birmingham, sharing the stage with the very gods who made it all possible—Black Sabbath. At Back to the Beginning, the final performance ever from Sabbath, Metallica didn’t just play. They detonated.

Thousands of fans packed the iconic venue, knowing they were witnessing something sacred: the final bow of the pioneers of heavy metal, and a passing of the torch to one of their most ferocious descendants. And Metallica made sure it was a show no one would ever forget.

A Setlist for the Ages

Opening with a searing rendition of “Sabbra Cadabra”, Metallica immediately signaled that this would be no ordinary tribute. Frontman James Hetfield, visibly emotional, stepped up to the mic and thundered, “This one’s for the masters. For the ones who taught us how to burn.”

The band tore through six tracks, including a trio of Black Sabbath deep cuts rarely heard live:

• “Symptom of the Universe”
• “Into the Void”
• “Sabbra Cadabra”

They mixed in fan-favorite Metallica originals, too, sending the crowd into a frenzy with:

• “For Whom the Bell Tolls”
• “Master of Puppets”
• “Seek & Destroy” (dedicated “to the Brummies who started it all”)

Pure Fire on Stage

This wasn’t just music—it was a ritual of distortion, sweat, and reverence. Lars Ulrich’s drumming hit like thunder on a stormy night, while Kirk Hammett’s solos cried with the spirit of every Sabbath riff that ever echoed through darkened basements and stadiums.

Between songs, Hetfield paused to shout:

“Without Sabbath, there is no Metallica. There’s no ‘Ride the Lightning.’ There’s no ‘One.’ There’s no us. Birmingham, this is holy ground.”

When Legends Meet Legends

As if the moment couldn’t get more surreal, Tony Iommi himself walked on stage at the end of Metallica’s set to embrace the band. He raised Hetfield’s hand, and the crowd erupted as the two metal generations stood together—a bridge from past to future.

More Than a Concert

The energy in the crowd was unmatched. Flags flew, fists pumped, and tears streamed down faces. For many, this wasn’t just a gig—it was a funeral and a rebirth, a wake for one of the greatest bands of all time and a roaring welcome to those carrying the torch forward.

The entire performance was filmed and streamed globally, ensuring that even those who couldn’t be in Birmingham could feel the tremor of history being made.

The Legacy Continues

“Back to the Beginning” was not just the end of something great—it was the beginning of something eternal. Metallica proved they are not just heirs to the throne—they are now guardians of the flame.

And in Birmingham, where it all began, the roar of metal never truly fades—it only evolves.

Watch Metallica’s full performance from Villa Park now.