Metallica To Broadcast ‘M72’ Concert Live In Australian Cinemas

Metallica have announced a run of Australian screenings for an ambitious two-part concert film, which they plan to broadcast “live” from their performance in Arlington, Texas next month.

The band will perform over two nights at Arlington’s AT&T arena, delivering completely unique sets on Friday August 18 and Sunday 20. Both shows will be captured on film, mixed and edited in realtime, and then beamed direct to cinemas around the world as the convolutedly titled Metallica: M72 World Tour Live From Arlington, TX – A Two Night Event.

It’ll be a live broadcast for viewers in the US and some territories where the timezones align, however those of us in Australia will catch each show’s recording a few hours after they end. The first show will reach Australian cinemas on Saturday August 19, with sessions on at 5:30pm and 9:00pm AEST. Following the same formula, the second show will screen on Monday August 21. A full list of participating cinemas can be found here.

You can see a trailer for the event below:

As the title implies, these Arlington shows come as part of Metallica’s ongoing world tour in support of 72 Seasons, their 11th studio album, which arrived back in April and promptly topped the ARIA Charts. The record itself was also streamed in cinemas as part of a worldwide premiere event.

In a glowing review of the album, Kristen S. Hé wrote: “Four decades after they kicked the doors down in their early twenties with Kill ’Em All, Metallica have come full circle in a way that no one could have predicted. Lyrically, 72 Seasons is about how the struggles of one’s first 18 years can reverberate into adulthood. But musically, it’s about reconnecting with their earliest influences and finding new meaning in them once again - with no interest in simply recapturing past glories.”

Meanwhile, Metallica recently announced the production of a new documentary on their superfans, with a public casting call issued earlier this month.