Description

Picture disc with cover sleeve The importance of Iron Maidens resurgence with Bruce Dickinson might be missed by a hard rock public that has survived these last several years on acts like Marilyn Manson, Korn and any number of pseudo-heavy bands but to be sure, this is real deal metal. This show from La Cubierta Leganes in Spain proves the point. The show had to moved from its original venue as it was sold out in a short time and there were so many people desperate to see them that couldnt get hold of tickets. The promoter switch to the much larger La Cubierta and even this venue were crammed pack when the band hit the stage. 19 000 screaming fans were up for it and boy were they up for it and so was the band. Bruce was in great form as he climbed high on the stage like a trapeze artist. To promote their upcoming Ed Hunter PC game and best of album the band went through a greatest hits set. It was incredibly exciting to hear these renditions with both Dickinson and long missed guitarist Adrian Smith back into the fold. At times stomping, prancing or rolling around the stage this new three guitar Iron Maiden was a virtual guitar army and an imposing vision marching in front of the expansive medieval castle backdrop. A short video introduction to Ed Hunter preceded the main set and gave the fans a taste of the game and its many worlds and then, just as silently as they had appeared, the video screens rose until the opening chords of Aces High bled through the mist. The thunder claps, both barometric and man made, shook all nineteen thousand in attendance who, when recovered from the concussion, were blinded by a battery of lights that haven't shone this brightly since the great arena overkill of the eighties. This is metal, now and forever. The entire length of the set seemed to pass in a moment despite the fact that the band had trooped the stage for the better part of two hours. Understandable given that the fans themselves chose the set list for the band via the official Iron Maiden web site. The barrage of classics included something from every album including the ones both before and after Dickinson's original tenure with the group. Wrathchild, 2 Minutes 2 Midnight, The Clansman, Wasted Years, Killers, Futurereal, Man on the Edge, a full on take of the epic Powerslave, Phantom of the Opera, The Evil That Men Do, Fear of the Dark and main set closer, Iron Maiden were all performed and received as if some holy catechism was involved. Iron Maiden featured the return of Eddie to the stage after his earlier banishment by the band only this time Eddie had grown to over forty feet and looked as though he would swallow drummer Nicko McBrain whole. During the entirety of the pre-encore set Dickinson rallied the crowd round the flag of metal observing that the scene had become fragmented and that it was the mission of this new Maiden machine to be the biggest metal band on the planet. With the bulk of the evening over the band left the stage for a few minutes before the ever predictable yet still energizing intro to The Number of the Beast crept from the speakers and all energy conserved was expended in an instant. The pressure truly was more than some could handle as medical personnel seemed to swarm through the crowd, extracting unconscious patrons in every row. One can only hope that they regained reality long enough to hear the incredible live versions of Hallowed be Thy Name and Run to the Hills. Then it was done and the faithful filed out knowing that in a years time the band would be back with a brand new album and more metal mayhem for all. If there is truly to be a commercial and spiritual resurgence for heavy metal, I can think of no group more qualified to lead the onslaught than this new and improved monster that is Iron Maiden. Up the irons, again! This album features 8 tracks from this evening Track listing: 1. Intro 2. Aces High 3. Wrathchild 4. The Trooper 5. Two Minutes To Midnight 6. Wasted Years 7. Killers 8. Man On The Edge 9. Powerslave