Three things are certain in life-death, taxes and the fact that Iron Maiden always put on a ball- tearing live show, and on a drizzly Wednesday night in Adelaide, they did just that! After an absence of 8 long years (thanks to COVID) it’s an absolute blast to have the legendary metal band back in Australia for ‘The Future Past World Tour.’
With a focus on tracks from the band’s current album, ‘Senjutsu,’ as well as a celebration of the 1986 epic album ‘Somewhere In Time,’ there would be no shortage of brilliant material for the band to cover. Any Maiden fan worth their salt knows that when the riff for UFO’s ‘Doctor Doctor’ starts it’s only a matter of time before the boys hit the stage. A darkened stage and the intro to ‘Caught Some where In Time‘ gives way to a blast of pyro and we’re off and running.
As always, Bruce is the consummate showman. It’s astounding how much energy he has, leaping around like a cat on a hot tin roof, all the while managing to maintain enough breath to deliver an incredible vocal performance at the same time. Wittier than ever and as mad as a cut snake, Bruce sets the standard as a frontman like no other.
The band still sounds incredible live. Even with three lead guitarists, Nicko’s pounding drum fills and Steve’s galloping basslines, the mix was as clear as a bell. A highlight for me was watching and hearing Adrian, Dave and Janick trading solos, with every nuanced, melodic note as sweet and clear as the last. This was a masterclass performance from arguably the best live metal to ever grace a stage.
The set list was solid, albeit lacking a classic or two here or there. But given the band’s vast catalogue it was actually refreshing to see something fresh rather than another‘ greatest hits’ show. Tracks from ‘Senjutsu’ translate beautifully to the live stage, and actually gave me a new appreciation for just how well written they actually are. In particular, I found that ‘Death Of The Celts‘ and ‘Hell On Earth‘ fit perfectly into the live Maiden experience. Likewise, seeing ‘Alexander The Great‘ performed live was a massive treat. Although, ‘The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner’ could be another deep cut from ‘Somewhere In Time‘ that would be awesome to see included in the set.
Iron Maiden’s cross -generational popularity was on full display last night. It’s easy to forget that many of the fans in the crowd weren’t even at winkle in their parents’ eyes in the 80’s. In fact, many probably weren’t even around prior to 2020’s ‘Brave New World‘ album. But that matters little. Experiencing a Maiden show is like a rite of passage and it’s an experience that I, for one, never grow tired of. The crowd at the packed- out Adelaide Entertainment Centre got all it wanted and more. Iron Maiden was in town, and after 8 long years god damn it was good!
Highlights for the night: ‘Caught Some where In Time,’ Death Of The Celts,’ ‘Alexander The Great, ‘Fear Of The Dark, ‘Hell On Earth‘ and ‘The Trooper.’
Review and Photo Credit: Paul Tadday Music Photography. On behalf of Tattoo.com
