![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/REQ5BJ46UZAZZLUBA3WTGJAUJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=240c3feced91db5d99fe36bfa4084858a99ce66277ed41cab4a43e2ab1bc4a46&width=400&height=225)
Metallica left the stage declaring their hopes to return to Saudi Arabia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YRVHINR35RGP7NIBNWGPOEYTFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=08f77bc58aafbb170e0df38be4f2a0292c7e9f077b61ae7fb8fec3e9aa274e8d&width=400&height=225)
Metallica at Soundstorm 2023 music festival in Riyadh. All photos: MDL Beast
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTXBUSCVOJGRDGH7QA5W2W3RTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=993ca8fba0fee6b9c403d6819ecdff7a3d92bb0c40fd129b4400e3c38a50fcf8&width=400&height=225)
It marks their first show in Saudi Arabia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T3BWJHVCC5GE7KIM2QYXV2AAEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=016a977ae8e4754e7f64b66b431c457b76b73e5b545f026a66c50306369646fe&width=400&height=225)
The show featured plenty of hits and fireworks
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3HCR5G65CVBUFGIQ7WNPFN6KRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=636a4b86596ad5ebdc2ad68de51ee74802b79c9a71b5d31a5d5507ac5bc8326d&width=400&height=225)
The band performed a potent two-hour set
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3OZRQKTSBFIBK6RG6TLVVMQ7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b22553e221876270858abecdd64f471c21bcebc6ac25df480ef725f56c29db6&width=400&height=225)
Metallica played on the Big Beast stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PS5UVTTXW5BGRAL4ABMY35ZQBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2aeb0f815c8cb8a0569e12d1e4c8fb5716c3fc96bef71a869cecb337ba0095df&width=400&height=225)
One of the many solos by guitarist Kirk Hammett
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CNDHCVZNFEI7CQAJPMUKOURII.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2bee20a3eacb9dd4b279a09f722fd89487bf4f461ff992df4cf8787d8701c34&width=400&height=225)
Drummer Lars Ulrich set the pace throughout the gig
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VENJYLPZI5CPVJE7ONZWPHORQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dacc640d55a03b642d51fb7bfcb81cf905af78769080fb69b8719a47f9ad470d&width=400&height=225)
Singer James Hetfield was at his growling best
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FO7NW7IXTBDORHRA33O6M47VOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fa321c512270073513fce15785cae33aad9d8f137e6b2b92f0f4faac4806c10&width=400&height=225)
The band performed fan favourites and deep cuts like Orion
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/REQ5BJ46UZAZZLUBA3WTGJAUJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=240c3feced91db5d99fe36bfa4084858a99ce66277ed41cab4a43e2ab1bc4a46&width=400&height=225)
Metallica left the stage declaring their hopes to return to Saudi Arabia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YRVHINR35RGP7NIBNWGPOEYTFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=08f77bc58aafbb170e0df38be4f2a0292c7e9f077b61ae7fb8fec3e9aa274e8d&width=400&height=225)
Metallica at Soundstorm 2023 music festival in Riyadh. All photos: MDL Beast
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VTXBUSCVOJGRDGH7QA5W2W3RTE.jpg?smart=true&auth=993ca8fba0fee6b9c403d6819ecdff7a3d92bb0c40fd129b4400e3c38a50fcf8&width=400&height=225)
It marks their first show in Saudi Arabia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T3BWJHVCC5GE7KIM2QYXV2AAEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=016a977ae8e4754e7f64b66b431c457b76b73e5b545f026a66c50306369646fe&width=400&height=225)
The show featured plenty of hits and fireworks
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3HCR5G65CVBUFGIQ7WNPFN6KRU.jpg?smart=true&auth=636a4b86596ad5ebdc2ad68de51ee74802b79c9a71b5d31a5d5507ac5bc8326d&width=400&height=225)
The band performed a potent two-hour set
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M3OZRQKTSBFIBK6RG6TLVVMQ7M.jpg?smart=true&auth=3b22553e221876270858abecdd64f471c21bcebc6ac25df480ef725f56c29db6&width=400&height=225)
Metallica played on the Big Beast stage
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PS5UVTTXW5BGRAL4ABMY35ZQBU.jpg?smart=true&auth=2aeb0f815c8cb8a0569e12d1e4c8fb5716c3fc96bef71a869cecb337ba0095df&width=400&height=225)
One of the many solos by guitarist Kirk Hammett
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6CNDHCVZNFEI7CQAJPMUKOURII.jpg?smart=true&auth=c2bee20a3eacb9dd4b279a09f722fd89487bf4f461ff992df4cf8787d8701c34&width=400&height=225)
Drummer Lars Ulrich set the pace throughout the gig
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VENJYLPZI5CPVJE7ONZWPHORQU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dacc640d55a03b642d51fb7bfcb81cf905af78769080fb69b8719a47f9ad470d&width=400&height=225)
Singer James Hetfield was at his growling best
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FO7NW7IXTBDORHRA33O6M47VOA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9fa321c512270073513fce15785cae33aad9d8f137e6b2b92f0f4faac4806c10&width=400&height=225)
The band performed fan favourites and deep cuts like Orion
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/REQ5BJ46UZAZZLUBA3WTGJAUJY.jpg?smart=true&auth=240c3feced91db5d99fe36bfa4084858a99ce66277ed41cab4a43e2ab1bc4a46&width=400&height=225)
Metallica left the stage declaring their hopes to return to Saudi Arabia