Metallica Thrashes Way Through Lively Show

In the fickle world of popular music, it takes a lot of work to win fans who will stand by their band. Metallica has achieved this by putting in years of down-in-the-trenches touring and no-holds-barred playing, not only holding onto its original hard-core fans but winning mainstream ones as well.

Over the years, the Bay Area quartet has taken quite a few liberties with the thrashy metal premise it perfected, indulging in bouts of balladry, pop flourishes, country-isms and glam-rock posturing.

Yet in spite of all the experimentation, the fundamental character of Metallica’s music and its attitude toward its fans remains unchanged. If this hasn’t been clear on Metallica’s most recent albums, it was when the group took the stage Friday before a full house at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre.

As much of a thrill ride as the band’s last tour was with its elaborate staging and pyrotechnic finale, the music hit home just as hard this time without all the special effects--the live energy pumping up the lesser tunes and resurrecting the classics.

The two-hour set reflected the depth and breadth of Metallica’s repertoire--which has expanded greatly over the years, from grinding symphonic splendor (“Master of Puppets,� “One�) to raucous blasts from the past (“Creeping Death�) to an unplugged mini-set that was equally powerful, if not as loud as the rest of the selections.

The back-to-basics approach also underscored why the band continues to inspire such a loyal following. No matter where Metallica’s studio ventures roam, the musicians maintain a perfect balance on stage between larger-than-life rock-hero gestures and a down-to-earth persona.

At a certain point in its erratic career, Alice in Chains might have developed a similar relationship with its audience, but the band’s self-absorbed gloom (and singer Layne Staley’s much publicized drug problems) have undermined its musical potential. With the band in limbo, guitarist Jerry Cantrell struck out on his own this year with a promising solo album, “Boggy Depot.�

On Friday, he proved to be a charismatic frontman. Undaunted by the booming, bottom-heavy sound that undermined opener Days of the New, he led his band through a vibrant set of “Boggy� material, peppered with Alice in Chains selections.