Metallica brings its monolithic metal to Houston

Metallica returned to Houston on Sunday night for the first time since late 2008, making good on months of hype and a week’s worth of fan excitement over the monolithic metal act’s visit to the Bayou City.

The band is currently on the road showing off material from a new double LP (November’s “Hardwired...To Self-Destruct”) which is textured, sturdy and expansive, a perfect fit for the cavernous NRG Stadium.

Frontman James Hetfield and the rest of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act packed in a slew of headbanging classics into the set list to quench the metal thrash thirst of its multigenerational fan base.

With fans from 5 to 65 years old, Metallica is a legacy act that refuses to pump the brakes, still teaching tricks to newly christened metalheads daily. That resolve was full throttle Sunday night.

Direct opener Avenged Sevenfold brought its decadent gutter anthems into NRG Stadium, complete with snarling pyrotechnics aplenty. The California five-piece (itself turning 18 years old this year) recently threw a bit of prog-rock into its sound, further thickening its live sonic stew. Don’t fret, though — it won’t be turning into Rush anytime soon. Standout cuts included arena candy like “Nightmare” and “Hail to the King,” which made great use of the band’s pyro kit. Avenged Sevenfold has always had a second home of sorts in Houston, and it was welcomed with ecstatic cheers, making for a worthy appetizer for Metallica.

Playing in front of a series of massive LED screens, not unlike U2 brought into the same venue last month, Metallica wrenched out hit after hit, sprinkling in cuts off “Hardwired” that have proven road-friendly. The band is at its most burly and thundering at the moment, riding a wave of goodwill for the new album and all that comes with being the big daddy in metal music.

Metallica whipped its loyal headbangers into a frenzy early on, pulling out “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “Creeping Death” and “The Unforgiven” in succession.

Check out Chron.com for a more extensive review of tonight’s Metallica show.

Gary Fountain Metallica lead guitarist Kirk Hammett performs on Sunday at NRG Stadium. The legacy act brought its full-throttle thrills to Houston on tour for its new double LP.