Watch Metallica perform a ferocious 'Leper Messiah' at Download Festival

Metallica have shared official footage of their performance of ‘Leper Messiah’ during their headline set at Download Festival on Thursday 8th June.

The heavy metal legends’ triumphant performance last Thursday was the first of two bill-topping sets at Castle Donington as part of their M72 World Tour. Each location on the global trek features two Metallica performances over two nights with completely different setlists.

Metallica launched into ‘Master of Puppets’ opus ‘Leper Messiah’ three songs into their first blistering Download Festival set after they had dispatched openers ‘Creeping Death’ and ‘Harvester of Sorrow.’

Watch Metallica perform ‘Leper Messiah’ at Download Festival:

Other zeniths throughout the set included ‘Fade to Black’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and a powerful ‘Sad But True.’

Somewhat fittingly given Download Festival’s Stranger Things ‘The Upside Download’ fancy dress theme, Metallica ended their set with an almighty performance of ‘Master of Puppets.’

You can see photos of Metallica’s set on Thursday RIGHT HERE. There are also pictures from Saturday at the bottom of the page.

Download Festival will return to its traditional format of three days next year, and it takes place from Friday 14th to Sunday 16th June 2024.

Early bird tickets are on sale from the Download Festival website now.

Music News: Download Festival's Andy Copping reveals the headliners he still wants to book

Metallica and more rock Saturday at Download Festival 2023:

Listen to Planet Rock on DAB nationwide, on our Rayo app, online or via your smart speaker (“Play Planet Rock”).

• Metallica
• Download Festival