Metallica triumph on the Thursday night at Download Festival 2023 – setlist and photos
An incredible performance
Last updated 9th Jun 2023
Metallica brought the first ever Thursday at Download Festival to a triumphant close with a career-spanning set.
The band’s ninth performance at Donington Park, factoring in their previous appearances at Monsters of Rock, kicked off with a pulsating rendition of their 1984 classic ‘Creeping Death.”
Metallica brought their lavish M72 Tour production to Download Festival, and the performance was projected onto six cylindrical screens with Metallica moving between the main stage and a circular walkway.
Continuing to roll out the classics, Metallica dispatched a fiery ‘Harvester of Sorrow’, ‘Master of Puppets’ opus ‘Leper Messiah’ and standout ‘Load’ track ‘King Nothing’ before taking things up-to-date with a furious performance of ‘Lux Æterna.’
Having told Planet Rock in May that headlining Download is still a “big deal” for Metallica, Papa Het was in jubilant form, showering the crowd with superlatives and dishing out the “Yeahs!” with casual abandon.
Other zeniths throughout the set included ‘Fade to Black’, ‘Nothing Else Matters’ and a powerful ‘Sad But True.’
‘Fuel’ aptly featured gargantuan, eye-brow-singing bursts of pyrotechnics before a muscular and anthemic ‘Seek & Destroy’ had the Donington faithful singing in unison.
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 below plus all the action from Day One at Download Festival 2023 below featuring Alter Bridge, Halestorm, Skindred and many more.
Metallica headline Download Festival again on Saturday night (10th June) where they will perform a completely different setlist.
Metallica’s Thursday setlist at Download Festival 2023:
Creeping Death
Harvester of Sorrow
Leper Messiah
King Nothing
Lux Æterna
Screaming Suicide
Fade to Black
Sleepwalk My Life Away
Orion
Nothing Else Matters
Sad but True
The Day That Never Comes
Blackened
Fuel
Seek & Destroy
Master of Puppets
Thursday at Download Festival 2023 in photos:
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cherry Bombs
Cherry Bombs open the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Cancer Bats
Cancer Bats play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Mammoth WVH
Mammoth WVH open the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Jinjer
Jinjer play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Hundred Reasons
Hundred Reasons play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Halestorm
Halestorm play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Puscifer
Puscifer play the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge play the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Skindred
Skindred headline the Opus Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023
Metallica
Metallica headline the Apex Stage on Thursday at Download Festival 2023