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In the rain and the mud, Metallica rocked the hill in Halifax Thursday night.

“Halifax, are you with us? Metallica is with you,” James Hetfield roared, later dubbing the Canadian east coast city “Metallifax.”

Metro Halifax reports thousands gathered on the Garrison Grounds to hear the metal legends headline Rock The Hill. Rainy skies began to clear at about 8 p.m. The last opening act, New York’s Coheed and Cambria, did an admirable high-energy job. But after their set, when Clint Eastwood appeared on three giant screens behind the stage and a Western tune filled the air, the crowd erupted.

Most fans had been standing in the rain and mud for hours…and Metallica did not disappoint.

“Rain, no rain. Sun, no sun. We create our own,” shouted Hetfield, with every word eliciting cheers.

From there it was all pyrotechnics and crowd-pleasers. The band launched into “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and the crowd recognized it immediately, throwing up the horns and banging their fists along to the beat.

“I hope you like the old ones,” Hetfield said with a smile.

The crowd certainly let him know their preference, as the band then launched into the title track from “Ride the Lightning.”

On Saturday (16), Metallica performs at Quebec's Summer Festival (Festival d'été de Québec) in Québec City. Joe Satriani will open the concert, part of the 44th edition of the event, which runs July 7-17 and features 300 shows spanning 11 days, making it Canada's biggest outdoor artistic event.