After a long afternoon of powerful performances by Zakk Sabbath, Primus and Volbeat - not to mention a ninety-minute rain and lightning storm delay - Metallica proved that they are still the kings of hard rock and metal with an exciting live set at Rock on the Range Sunday night.  You can check out our exclusive photos of the show above.

As the crowd either scurried for shelter or got pummeled by two separate waves of drenching rain on the last night of a long three-day weekend festival, we started to wonder how many fans would decide to call it a weekend and head home. Once the skies cleared, the referendum on Metallica's drawing power more than three decades into their career was crystal clear: seemingly every single person was still there.

They were rewarded with a tight, muscular set that strongly showcased the band's new LP Hardwired.. to Self-Destruct. Half of the show's first eight songs came from the new album. Current single "Now That We're Dead" featured an inventive jam section, with all four members of the group performing on oversized drums at one point.

The second half of the show leaned toward the obvious, expected and still very welcome classics: "Master of Puppets," "One," "Sad But True." While the (relatively) small soccer arena setting required the band to perform on a smaller version of their current video-screen dominated stage, the animated or filmed footage that played behind Metallica was always impressive.

Singer James Hetfield seemed to be in a particularly playful mood, taking extra care to make sure his microphone was working prior to "Moth into Flame," and later joking after a rare flubbed ending that "it's only been 36 years; we'll get there."

More From Ultimate Classic Rock