San Francisco’s metal titans brought the latest leg of their tour in support of Hardwired…To Self-Destruct back to Manchester for a victory lap.

Roofs serve two main functions, keep stuff out and keep stuff in. Manchester’s Etihad Stadium doesn’t have such a luxury, so there was nothing to stop the torrential rain soaking one of the biggest headlining gigs that San Franciscan metal bemoths Metallica have played in the UK.

"It’s the newer songs that show the storied career of metal’s flagship band is far from over"

“Do YOU like your music heavy?” asked Metallica frontman James Hetfield. If the answer to that question is ‘no’, you’d have been advised to leave Twickenham Stadium faster than a flying full-back.

Metallica covered Iron Maiden’s seminal 1981 song 'Killers' during their show at London’s Twickenham Stadium last night (Thursday 20th June).

After donating £40,000 to a homeless charity in Manchester on Tuesday, the ever-genial chaps in Metallica made two further charity donations at London’s Twickenham Stadium last night (20th June).

Metallica brought the fire to their first headline show at Twickenham Stadium in London

The thrash veterans show 'em how it's done in spectacular style

Sound problems, stadium hate, eyebrow-sizzling pyro and a metal masterclass

While Twickenham Stadium is commonly dubbed “the home of rugby”, the greatest heavy metal act of all time drop kicked the posts out its roof for one night, blasting through pyro and fireworks after plunging their flagpole into its residence.

METALLICA bring their WorldWired Tour to Twickenham Stadium for a night of thrash metal glory in their only London show of 2019.

The Kerrang! Awards took place at the Islington Assembly Hall in London last night (Wednesday 19th June) with Jimmy Page, Motörhead and Metallica among the big winners.

Metallica were the big winners on a night of celebrating rock music old and new at the 2019 Kerrang! Awards.

Metallica’s sizable donation will fund the charity for a full year.

Bassist Robert Trujillo and guitarist Kirk Hammett lead the crowd in a singalong rendition in the hometown of the Stone Roses

Chief executive Hendrix Lancaster said he had no idea about the size of the donation until they received it.

Metallica made a substantial donation to a homeless charity in Manchester ahead of their show at the city’s Etihad Stadium.

Metallica were the big winners at the Kerrang! music awards, where they were named best international act and best international live act.

Metallica, Bring Me The Horizon, Ghost and more win big at this year’s Kerrang! Awards

The thrash titans seem to control the weather during this dramatic, cathartic show of absolute power

The heavy metal legends' astonishing donation is enough to keep Northern Quarter-based Coffee4Craig going for the next 12 months

An estimated 60,000 fans packed their way into the stadium for a very wet evening of the band’s famous hits and new content from their tenth studio album Hardwired…To Self-Destruct, released in 2016.

Metallica made a huge donation to a Manchester-based homeless charity before their sold-out gig at the Etihad Stadium.

Vickie Scullard watches the thrash gods raise hell at the Etihad - and even after 40 years it's an untouchable live spectacle