Watch Metallica Perform “If Darkness Had a Son” in Maryland [Pro-Shot]

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By Stu Kelly / June 17, 2025

Heavy metal juggernauts Metallica turned Northwest Stadium into a cauldron of thunder and fire as their M72 World Tour rolled into town last month. While the set was packed with fan-favorite behemoths like “Enter Sandman,” “Master Of Puppets,” “Fuel,” “One,” “Creeping Death” and “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” it was the band’s scorching performance of “If Darkness Had a Son” that stood as a defining moment of the night.

The track, pulled from 72 Seasons, their most recent studio album, landed mid-set like a hammer to the chest—proof that Metallica isn’t just coasting on legacy but continuing to evolve, challenge, and electrify. As the opening riff of “If Darkness Had a Son” cut through the humid Maryland night, a surge of energy passed through the crowd, swelling into a roar that rivaled the band’s towering sound system.

James Hetfield’s vocals carried a sinister edge, equal parts grit and authority, while Kirk Hammett’s guitar work oscillated between eerie precision and unchained ferocity. Lars Ulrich‘s drumming was relentless, anchoring the track’s shifting dynamics, and Robert Trujillo’s basslines growled underneath it all with primal intensity. It was a masterclass in modern Metallica—refined yet raw, sharp but never overproduced.

Positioning the song later in their set wasn’t a gamble—it was a statement. Even surrounded by over 40 years of classics, “If Darkness Had a Son” didn’t just hold its own; it expanded the night’s narrative, reminding fans that the darkness still lives, and Metallica is far from finished summoning it.

By the time the eight-minute epic closed with a final surge of blistering solos and synchronized strobes, it was clear: 72 Seasons isn’t just a new chapter—it’s part of the legacy. And in Landover, under an ocean of horns and sweat, Metallica proved that darkness, indeed, had a son—and 50,000 fans were ready to follow.

Watch pro-shot footage of the performance below.