Live After Death

Iron Maiden

Next to Judas Priest, Iron Maiden is probably the premier British heavy metal band of the “new wave” 80s and beyond. Their meteoric ascension culminated with 1983’s Powerslave, loaded down with shards of metal both accessible and complex. The World Slavery Tour that followed took the band throughout Europe, Canada, Japan, and the States. The stage resembled an ancient Egyptian city with Eddie, the group’s mascot, sitting astride like a Pharaoh presideing over his subjects. Maiden played a four-night stand at the infamous Long Beach Arena, recording and filming the run for eventual release. The resulting Live After Death was unveiled as a monster CD and killer VHS tape in 1985; today, it’s an expanded double DVD set.

Disc one contains the full 90-minute concert with two sound options: the original stereo soundtrack and a 5.1 surround mix. The footage, originally filmed on 35mm, doesn’t necessarily get a brand new lease on life, but it’s certainly watchable. Singer Bruce Dickenson commandeers the stage as he prances back and forth, spewing medieval indignities and other forms of mischief. Steve Harris rattles away on his bass, hunches over the stage monitors, and mouths the lyrics to each and every song. Guitarists Adrian Smith and Dave Murray lock in like co-pilots, maneuvering through layers of chunky riffs. Drummer Nicko McBrain monitors the frantic pace and fills in the gaps with rapid fire precision.

At the heart of the show are 13 high decibel tunes customized for arena-sized appetites. At this point in the band’s career, it was simply a matter of balancing out with the shorter, more commercial songs bringing in the masses with the longer, more epic pieces hardcore fans savored. "Aces High," "2 Minutes To Midnight," "The Trooper," "Flight Of Icarus," "The Number Of The Beast," "Run To The Hills," and "Running Free" all get a thorough scrubbing, while monumental pieces like "Powerslave" and "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner" keep things weighty and stimulating.

Disc two is really what makes this DVD worthwhile. You get Part 2 of the 'History of Iron Maiden,' which is a continuation of the band’s story from The Early Days DVD. There’s tons of extra footage in the hour-long Behind The Iron Curtain, a documentary of the group’s 1984 tour of Eastern Europe, along with Rock In Rio ’85, Ello Texas, and the obligatory photo gallery and promotional videos. With over three hours of nonstop action, the second disc definitely gives the first disc a run for its money. Either way, Maiden fans will surely want to add this package to their heavy metal arsenal.

~ Shawn Perry

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