One might think that nearly three years into a tour, a band would have exhausted every bit of their back catalog possible. Not Metallica, though, as the Big Four thrashers proved in Mannheim, Germany, on August 25th when they whipped out a surprise rendition of "The Outlaw Torn" onstage for the first time since 2011.
The song appears, of course, on polarizing 1996 album Load, but regardless of how you feel about that record, it's hard to deny that the version the quartet shredded through last month was atmospheric, heavy as hell, and downright evil during quieter passages that highlighted Papa Het's eerie vocal strains and the out-front bass lines. Newly released official footage of the performances captures the moment: With the stage glowing green and musicians lit from below, the whole showing was a gorgeous reintroduction to a piece of classic Metallica that clearly merits a fresh take.
Following their summer tour throughout Europe, Metallica will next bring their WorldWired Tour back across the Atlantic for another run of American dates kicking off with two back-to-back sold-out shows at San Francisco's brand new Chase Center on September 8th and 9th before heading back out in international territory with a string of eight shows in Australia and New Zealand.
For fans who can't make it when the group pair with the San Francisco Symphony for S&M 2 in their hometown in early September, the full show will air in theaters across the world for one night only — October 9th — as a special concert film. Find details for that event here, and see a full list of upcoming tour dates on the band's official website.
