According to NME.com, Metallica brought flamethrowers, explosions and fireworks to their headline set on the Main Stage at Leeds Festival tonight (August 22).

The metal legends, set to release their eighth album Death Magnetic on September 12, also revealed from the stage that they are set to return to the UK for an indoor arena tour in February 2009.

The band played a hit-packed set, which included '…And Justice For All' and 'Master Of Puppets', and also previewed a brand new track, 'Cyanide', from their forthcoming album.

Before the song, frontman James Hetfield told the crowd: “September 12th is a big day for Metallica. September 12th – 'Death Magnetic' is in your face! We're gonna play a new song, is that ok with you?”

As well as using elaborate pyrotechnics, most prominently on the songs 'Fuel', 'One', 'Enter Sandman' and 'Seek And Destroy', Metallica used two stages, one raised above the other, which Hetfield and lead guitarist Kirk Hammett regularly walked up to.

Before performing final track 'Seek And Destroy' and revealing their tour plans, Hetfield said: “Who cares about you? Who cares? Metallica does, that's who.”

The four-piece last headlined Reading And Leeds Festivals five years ago, after first performing at the event in 1997.

Metallica played:

'Creep', 'Fuel', 'Ride The Lightning', 'Harvester Of Sorrow', 'Welcome Home (Sanitarium)', 'Cyanide', '...And Justice For All', 'No Remorse', 'The Day That Never Comes', 'Master Of Puppets', 'Motorbreath', 'Nothing Else Matters', 'Sad But True', 'One', 'Enter Sandman', 'Last Caress', 'So What', 'Seek And Destroy'.