Metallica Returns to Australia and New Zealand This November

Legendary metal icons Metallica bring Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies to Oceania for their M72 World Tour.

By Griffin Kozlowski
Metallica’s 1986 tour bus accident in Sweden claimed the life of bassist Cliff Burton—a tragic turning point for the band that fans still feel to this day
Metallica’s 1986 tour bus accident in Sweden claimed the life of bassist Cliff Burton—a tragic turning point for the band that fans still feel to this day—Image: Reproduction / Disclosure
  • Metallica is touring Australia and New Zealand in November (2024) with Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies.
  • Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival will feature over 100 bands in May, including Metallica, Korn, and Linkin Park.
  • Unique performances include GWAR’s 40th anniversary and Trivium celebrating 20 years of Ascendancy.
The Gist

Metallica’s unyielding journey continues, with the band slated to storm Australia and New Zealand next November. This leg of their endless ‘M72 World Tour’ has a lineup that’s sure to turn some heads, featuring Evanescence and Suicidal Tendencies as supporting acts.

For Australian and Kiwi fans, this announcement lands after a decade-long wait—their last appearance in Australia was back in 2013, and New Zealand hasn’t seen them since 2010. Plans to bridge this gap in 2019 fell through, thanks to James Hetfield’s entry into rehab, leaving fans high and dry until now.

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+8 Photos
Dave Mustaine? Yep, he was the original lead guitarist before he got the boot. Let’s just say some people don’t handle a little inter-band “disagreement” well.

Tickets are set to open for the general public on Monday, November 4, at 12 p.m. local time. Metallica’s fan club faithful will get first dibs, though, with a pre-sale kicking off on Tuesday, October 29.

Metallica AUS/NZ Tour

  • 11/01 Perth, AUS – Optus Stadium
  • 11/05 Adelaide, AUS – Adelaide Oval
  • 11/08 Melbourne, AUS – Marvel Stadium
  • 11/12 Brisbane, AUS – Suncorp Stadium
  • 11/15 Sydney, AUS – Accor Stadium
  • 11/19 Auckland, NZ – Eden Park

While Metallica’s keeping Oceania entertained, back in the U.S., next summer’s Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival is shaping up to be massive. Think over 100 bands flooding the lineup, headlined by Korn, Linkin Park, and two wild nights of Metallica. This isn’t your everyday festival—it’s a four-day rock spectacle scheduled for May 8-11 at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.

Danny Wimmer, the mastermind behind Sonic Temple, was all hyped up about this year’s star-studded roster:

“We’re thrilled to finally reveal the full lineup to our fans! Bringing two nights of Metallica to Sonic Temple has been years in the making, and we’re excited to make it a reality. With over 100 bands, including powerhouses Korn, Bad Omens and Incubus, alongside the highly anticipated return of LINKIN PARK, and the reunion of Three Days Grace with Adam Gontier, 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable year. We can’t wait to see everyone at Sonic Temple!”

Some performances come with a unique twist. GWAR will mark their 40th anniversary, while Crossfade returns to the stage after 13 years. Plus, Bullet For My Valentine and Trivium will each celebrate 20 years of their landmark albums, The Poison and Ascendancy. Expect a few nostalgic tears and some well-worn riffs.

Tickets, from single-day passes to four-day VIPs, are up on the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival website. Though options are plentiful, a few items—like single-day tickets, 4-day Columbus Owners Club, and RV camping passes—are already sold out. If you want to be in the middle of the mayhem, grab your passes soon.

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