Metallica Cardiff Review: 30-Year Wait for M72 Tour at Principality Stadium

Metallica's M72 world tour arrived at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on June 28, 2026, after three years on the road, and the 70,000-strong crowd was not disappointed. The band delivered a ferocious 17-song set that included a surprise cover of Tom Jones' "Delilah" and a deafening rendition of "One."

30-Year Wait for Cardiff Return

Metallica last played Cardiff in 1996 at the Cardiff International Arena (CIA), a venue a tenth the size of the Principality Stadium. The 1996 show was unforgettable for one fan who crowd-surfed onto the stage and nearly dove onto Lars Ulrich's drum kit. This time, the band dominated the stadium from a central ring-shaped stage, with Ulrich moving between four drum kits to keep the energy high.

Setlist and Highlights

The set opened with "Creeping Death" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls" at staggering volume. James Hetfield told the crowd, "It blows my mind to see all this love here for this music. You guys have blown my mind... We're gonna find out how loud Cardiff is." The crowd responded with enough noise to leave "internal organs vibrating."

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Highlights included phone torches lighting up during "Nothing Else Matters," an explosion during "Fuel," and a crowd sing-along for "The Memory Remains." The band's cover of Tom Jones' "Delilah"—led by bassist Robert Trujillo—earned one of the biggest cheers of the night.

Community Engagement

Before the show, Metallica partnered with the Welsh Blood Service to encourage blood donations, an effort to "give something meaningful back" to host communities. The response was reportedly huge. The band also attended the inaugural Blackbird Festival at Cardiff Castle and dined at a local restaurant.