Following Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Friday night headlining set at Voodoo Music + Arts Experience in New Orleans, the bar was set high for Metallica. Even before the festival, though, expectations were raised as it was announced that the band would be taking over Green Day's headlining duties while lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong entered a rehabilitation program for alcohol abuse. This meant that Metallica would be returning to the stage for their last show in 2012.

With a catalog as deep as Metallica's, every live show is different, and their performance at Voodoo fest was no exception. Playing only one song that was released after 1991's self-titled album, affectionately known by fans as the 'Black Album,' Metallica stayed close to their roots playing songs from 'Kill 'Em All,' 'Ride the Lightning,' 'Master of Puppets,' '...And Justice for All' and the aforementioned 'Black Album.'

Opening with one of their oldest songs, 'Hit the Lights' was a great way to lay the foundation for what was to come in New Orleans. From 'Master of Puppets' and 'Blackened' to 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' and 'One,' Metallica delivered classic hit after hit for two solid hours.

Packed with pyrotechnics and fireworks, Metallica's show was the perfect way to end the band's 2012 touring schedule. With a 3D movie in the works and plans to enter the studio in a matter of months to work on their next studio album, Metallica never slow down, and their performance at Voodoo clearly conveyed that to the world. Beyond the rocking good time, the performance also showed that more than 30 years into their career, the guys in Metallica are still having just as much fun as they were when they first got together in the garage.

One highlight of the evening was the encore, starting with a short rendition of a Green Day tune followed by 'Creeping Death,' 'Battery' and a flawless performance of 'Seek & Destroy.' By the end of the night, Metallica proved to the tens of thousands of fans in New Orleans that they are one of the biggest bands in the world.

Metallica Voodoo Fest Oct. 27, 2012 Setlist:

'Hit the Lights'
'Master of Puppets'
'Holier Than Thou'
'Harvester of Sorrow'
'Of Wolf and Man'
Kirk Solo
'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)'
'All Nightmare Long'
'Sad But True'
Rob Solo
'Fade to Black'
'Orion'
'One'
'For Whom the Bell Tolls'
Kirk Solo #2
'Blackened'
Kirk Doodle
'Nothing Else Matters'
'Enter Sandman'

Encore

'Creeping Death'
'Battery'
'Seek & Destroy'

Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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Metallica
Chuck Armstrong, Ultimate Classic Rock
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