Metallica play intimate London gig for Radio 1

Metallica performed their smallest London gig in years last night (September 15), on the day their ninth album 'Death Magnetic' reached Number One in the UK album charts.

After selling over 20,000 more albums than their nearest contender Glasvegas, Metallica performed a set for Radio 1 at the BBC Radio Theatre in Broadcasting House to kick off three days of shows in the capital.

The Bay Area behemoths tore through a set that leaned heavily on 'Death Magnetic', but still found time to play some fan favourites.

Older tracks 'For Whom The Bell Tolls' and 'Master Of Puppets' were ecstatically received, despite James Hetfield fluffing the intro to the latter.

The frontman had to restart the song to the jeers of his bandmates but the audience in the tiny venue still roared their approval.

Metallica played:

'That Was Just Your Life'
'End Of The Line'
'Until It Sleeps'
'Broken, Beat And Scarred'
'Cyanide'
'Frantic'
'For Whom The Bell Tolls'
'The Day That Never Comes'
'Master Of Puppets'
'Blackened'

Metallica play a fan club-only show at the London 02 Arena tonight (September 15), while tomorrow (September 16) they are set to record a short set for Later... With Jools Holland, to be broadcast Friday.