LARS ULRICH Says Younger Fans Ignore METALLICA Classics: 'They're More Into the New Stuff'

Summary

• Lars Ulrich says some Metallica fans prefer 72 Seasons and Death Magnetic over the band’s iconic early albums like Ride the Lightning.
• He believes newer albums hold up better in terms of production, calling Death Magnetic and Hardwired technically stronger.
• The M72 tour extends into 2026, with shows across Europe, featuring Gojira, Knocked Loose, and a Pantera tribute.

Not every Metallica fan has Master of Puppets tattooed on their brain. According to Lars Ulrich, a surprising number of listeners are skipping the band’s old-school thrash masterpieces in favor of more recent material.

Think less Ride the Lightning, more 72 Seasons.

“I talk to fans who say, ‘My favorite song is on 72 Seasons,’ or ‘I love something from Death Magnetic,’” Lars told Variety. “And you sort of brace yourself, expecting them to say For Whom the Bell Tolls. But instead they’re like, ‘Ride the Lightning? What’s that?’”

He didn’t sound bitter. If anything, he seemed amused.

“I think that’s kind of beautiful, especially when you’ve been doing this as long as we have.”

Stronger With Age?

For Lars, newer doesn’t necessarily mean worse. He’s been honest about how the band’s earlier albums weren’t always home runs in the production department.

During a past chat with Eddie Trunk, Lars pointed out that albums like Death Magnetic and Hardwired… to Self-Destruct feel more refined to him than some of their ’80s and ’90s output.

“A lot of the older albums, we’d finish them and then listen six months or a year later and feel uneasy about the mix, or an intro, or some guitar part, or a drum fill—stuff like that,” he said. “To me, Death Magnetic and Hardwired hold up better in terms of those production choices.”

So the early stuff might have soul, but the recent stuff has clarity, and Lars is not pretending otherwise.

Tour Keeps Rolling

The M72 World Tour (Get Metallica Tickets Here), which started in April 2023, is charging ahead into 2026. Europe is the next target, with shows planned from May through July.

Support acts this time around include Gojira, Knocked Loose, a Pantera tribute, and Avatar.

If that looks like someone threw a deathcore brick into a classic metal blender, you’re not wrong. Metallica seems to enjoy mixing generations and genres into their lineups.

No Repeat Gimmick Returns

Several stops will bring back the band’s No Repeat Weekend format. Two nights, two entirely different setlists, zero overlap.

A sly way to get fans to buy tickets twice? Probably. Smart? Also yes.

Other cities will get a single full-scale performance, similar to the North American stretch.

The Stage Is Still Weird

Love it or hate it, Metallica is sticking with their center-stage setup. The circular platform puts the band smack in the middle of the stadium, with fans surrounding them from all sides.

It’s built for spectacle and probably a logistical nightmare, but at this point, they’ve made it work.

And right in the middle? The Snake Pit. Think of it as the VIP splash zone for people who paid to sweat in proximity to Lars’s drum kit.

Giving Something Back

Even while selling out stadiums and pummeling eardrums, Metallica’s philanthropic side rolls on.

A slice of ticket revenue will go to local causes through their All Within My Hands Foundation, which funds food banks, disaster relief, and education programs.

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