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
