Virginia Tech records seismic activity during Metallica set

"Enter Sandman" unleashes a "fanquake" felt beneath Virginia Tech’s feet.

Metallica nearly cracked the Earth in Blacksburg. During their May 7 stop at Lane Stadium, the metal titans kicked into “Enter Sandman,” and the crowd response was so intense, it triggered seismic activity recorded by Virginia Tech’s Seismological Observatory.

That’s right, around 60,000 fans unleashed such pure, unfiltered energy that the stadium literally shook. Though the vibrations didn’t register as a full-blown earthquake, the instruments picked up on the tremors. Call it what you will, a fanquake, a metal eruption, but the message is clear: Metallica still brings the thunder.

The moment hit even harder because “Enter Sandman” is sacred ground at Virginia Tech. The Hokies blast it before every home game, so when Metallica ripped into the riff live at the stadium for the first time ever, the place went nuclear.

This wasn’t some random one-off either, it’s part of their globe stomping M72 World Tour supporting the album 72 Seasons. With back to back shows at each stop and no repeated songs, every night’s a different beast. The tour rolls on to cities like Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Houston, backed by a savage lineup including Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills.

Concerts causing seismic waves isn't new, but Metallica doing it while honoring a college football tradition? That’s a once in a lifetime collision of rock, history, and sheer human chaos.