Metallica's Sphere Night Two Debuts 'Devil's Dance' After 18-Year Hiatus

Key points

• Metallica played the second night of their 'Life Burns Faster' residency at the Las Vegas Sphere on October 2, 2026.
• The setlist included 'Devil's Dance' from the album 'Load,' which had not been performed live in nearly 18 years.
• The band also performed 'The Outlaw Torn' for the first time in seven years and 'Blackened' as the opener.
• The performance adhered to the 'No Repeat' format, meaning no songs were repeated from the October 1 opening night.
• The residency is part of a 24-show run at the Sphere, scheduled to continue through March 2027.
• Metallica is the first metal band to headline the 20,000-capacity Sphere venue.

Background

Metallica launched their 'Life Burns Faster' residency at the Las Vegas Sphere on October 1, 2026, following the announcement of 12 new North American tour dates for their M72 cycle. The residency features a 'No Repeat Weekend' format, where each Thursday-Saturday pairing offers two completely unique setlists. Previous Sphere headliners include U2, Eagles, and No Doubt, but Metallica is the first metal act to perform there. The 24-show run is scheduled to conclude in March 2027, after which the band will resume touring in North America starting in May 2027.

How outlets are covering it

Louder and Billboard both confirmed the 'No Repeat' format, ensuring night two featured an entirely new setlist compared to night one. Louder highlighted the inclusion of 'Devil's Dance' and 'The Outlaw Torn' as significant deep cuts, while Billboard detailed the full night one setlist for comparison. The Hollywood Reporter focused on the immersive visual production of the opening night, noting the band's use of the Sphere's massive screen for narrative-driven visuals, though they did not provide the night two setlist. All sources agreed on the residency's duration and the band's status as the first metal act to headline the Sphere.

Why it matters

The residency represents a significant evolution in Metallica's live performance strategy, leveraging advanced technology to create unique, non-repeating experiences for fans. The inclusion of long-unplayed tracks like 'Devil's Dance' and 'The Outlaw Torn' demonstrates the band's willingness to revisit deep cuts from their catalog, enhancing the value for multi-night attendees. This approach also sets a precedent for other artists considering residencies at the Sphere, potentially influencing future live music production standards.

What to watch

Metallica will continue their 'Life Burns Faster' residency at the Las Vegas Sphere through March 2027, with each 'No Repeat Weekend' featuring two unique setlists. Following the residency, the band will resume their M72 World Tour in North America, starting in May 2027 in Vancouver and continuing through June 2027 in Salt Lake City. Fans can expect further deep cuts and potentially new visual productions as the band rotates through their extensive catalog.