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This is incredible! A superb combination of audience-shot footage and stereo soundboard audio! A highly anticipated, previously unreleased archival video is finally here. This release is a true cultural treasure, allowing you to experience a club gig from 1988—a time when the band was at the absolute peak of its metal prowess. The footage captures the show at the Troubadour on May 24, 1988, featuring audience-shot video perfectly synchronized with stereo soundboard audio. In fact, this footage is an official release; it was recently made public after originally being produced for “Metallica Mondays,” a live streaming series launched during the pandemic. Naturally, its official status ensures top-tier quality. The soundboard audio used here is the same official recording included in the *…And Justice for All* deluxe box set, and the synchronization with the video is a masterclass in professional editing. There are moments during “Am I Evil?” and “Battery” where the tape glitches for a few seconds, but these are bridged by “SCENE MISSING” inserts—a detail that reflects the aesthetic care of an official archive release. It is a magnificent video production. Beyond its technical perfection, the most shocking aspect is the gig itself—a high-octane, “pure steel” metal performance packed into an intimate club setting. Unlike a standard concert, this was a secret, exclusive show where the band unleashed the raw, unadulterated “steel-hard” Metallica sound that predated their shift toward a more groove-oriented style. What were the circumstances behind such a special performance? Let’s take a look at the band’s activities during the *…And Justice for All* era to understand the context of this show. 1988: May 23 – *…And Justice for All* completed; May 23 & 24 – Warm-up shows (2 dates); May 27–July 30 – MOR Tour (28 dates) [Aug 25 – *…And Justice for All* released]; Sept 11–Nov 5 – Europe (41 dates); Nov 15–Dec 18 – North America #1 (23 dates). 1989: Jan 11–April 21 – North America #2 (63 dates) [incl. Philadelphia 1989]; May 1–6 – Oceania (4 dates); May 11–18 – Japan (6 dates); May 24–Sept 23 – North America #3 (79 dates) [incl. official Seattle footage]; Oct 4–7 – South America (3 dates). This was Metallica in 1988/1989. They kicked off their live activities on the very day *…And Justice for All* was finished, joining the legendary “Monsters of Rock” tour headlined by Van Halen. The Troubadour show was a warm-up gig held just prior to that—a secret show in an intimate club setting. This release captures that atmosphere perfectly, delivering a frenzied experience where the secretive vibe of a small club collides with raging, ferocious metal. From the moment you hit play, the intense “scent of iron” blasting from the screen takes your breath away. Every crunching riff possesses both the razor-sharp precision of a blade and the destructive power of a heavy cleaver; that insanely sharp guitar sound slices right through the air of the cramped venue. And it’s not just about being “sharp and technically proficient.” To be honest—perhaps because it was their first stage appearance in a while—the ensemble plays with a wild energy that teeters on the brink of falling apart. Yet, somehow, they hold it together at the very last moment. Instead, they just keep raging, picking up speed and driving the song forward with sheer, forceful momentum. That wild, unbridled energy is quintessentially “metal”—and quintessentially “thrash.” There isn’t a trace of the groove-heavy “big beat” sound that would later shake stadiums; this is clearly the band operating in the club-bred mode of their origins, dumping buckets of pure, unadulterated heavy metal onto the crowd. It’s a revival of the *Garage Days* era, where every single note gleams with a metallic sheen—a 100% pure heavy metal thrash paradise. Igniting and scorching that club atmosphere is a selection of masterpieces that distill the essence of the thrash era. While the professional-shot Seattle concert from the official box set is the defining visual record of the *…And Justice for All* era, this release predates that album’s launch, so the new material is kept to a minimum. Let’s break it down and compare the setlist: Originals (11 songs) – *Kill ‘Em All*: “The Four Horsemen,” “Whiplash,” “Seek & Destroy”; *Ride the Lightning*: “Creeping Death,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Fade to Black”; *Master of Puppets*: “Welcome Home (Sanitarium),” “Master of Puppets,” “Battery,” “Leper Messiah” (★); *…And Justice for All*: “Harvester of Sorrow.” Covers (3 songs) – “Last Caress,” “Am I Evil?,” “Blitzkrieg” (★). *Note: Songs marked with (★) were not included in the Seattle footage from *Live Shit: Binge & Purge*.* So, that’s how it stacks up. They limited the new material to just “Harvester of Sorrow,” filling the set with a lineup of killer tunes drawn evenly from their first three albums. It even features tracks like “Leper Messiah” and “Blitzkrieg”—songs that didn’t appear in the official Seattle footage. Another highlight is “Battery.” It actually features a special arrangement where the intro is “Damage, Inc.”—a bold, aggressive choice that works brilliantly. If you’re watching without knowing what’s coming, you think “Damage, Inc.” has started, only for it to instantly switch into “Battery.” That one reckless moment is incredibly cool—so brilliant it sends goosebumps racing all over your body, not just once, but three times over. It is pure, unadulterated metal! In addition to the full club show, this release includes a bonus track: “Creeping Death” from the concert at Alpine Valley three days later, on May 27, 1988. While this bonus footage is a standard audience shot, witnessing the band in action on that massive stadium tour—shaking the vast arena space—makes the purpose of the secret Troubadour gig suddenly click. By seeing the sheer scale of the stadiums that served as their primary battleground, you can viscerally grasp the intense, concentrated energy of the club performance. This captures Metallica at a pivotal moment: rising to become giants of the scene while still exuding the raw, gritty essence of the underground. It is truly an archival treasure—a document where the band’s immense potential is distilled into the intimate confines of a club. For any metalhead alive in 2026, this is an absolute must-own. It features audience-shot footage paired with stereo soundboard audio from the May 24, 1988, Troubadour show. This is a highly acclaimed, professionally crafted archival release with top-tier production quality. It offers a complete, 96-minute recording of the secret gig held the day after the completion of *…And Justice for All*. It is a cultural treasure that lets you experience the maximum intensity of a packed, intimate club show. Troubadour, West Hollywood, CA, USA 24th May 1988 (96:20) 1. Creeping Death 2. For Whom the Bell Tolls 3. Welcome Home (Sanitarium) 4. The Four Horsemen 5. Whiplash 6. Fade to Black 7. Seek & Destroy 8. Master of Puppets 9. Encore Jam 10. Last Caress 11. Am I Evil? 12. Battery 13. London Dungeon Jam 14. Harvester of Sorrow 15. Leper Messiah 16. Encore Jam 17. Blitzkrieg BONUS TRACK Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, WI, USA 27th May 1988 18. Creeping Death COLOUR NTSC Approx.96min. James Hetfield – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Kirk Hammett – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals Jason Newsted – Bass, Backing Vocals Lars Ulrich – Drums Freilichtbühne Loreley, St. Goarshausen, Germany 14th September 1985
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