Iron Maiden is back with another live album. I love Iron Maiden, even if I am not the most knowledgeable with regards to their large body of work. One thing I have always wondered was why are there so many live disks out? Let's see, how many are there? Death on the Road, Beast Over Hammersmith, Rock in Rio, Live at Donington, A Real Live One, A Real Dead One, and Live After Death. Man, that's a lot of live recordings for one band. Not that it's a bad thing, Iron Maiden knows how to rock it live, and this album is no exception.
I don't recall when I first introduced myself to the absolute headbanging bliss that is Maiden. I do, however, remember ignoring them for the longest time during my early music years, before my taste actually developed. But once I did, I was sucked into the world of power metal that was complex, technically proficient, and just plain rocked. Listening to Maiden live, on this disk for example, you stop thinking about any of the music's technical merits, you start banging your head and raising your horns. I can sense many of you out there nodding your head in agreement, you know who you are. For you I reciprocate: \m/ \m/
Death on the Road is a two disk set featuring a mix of the old and the new across 16 tracks and totaling a little over 90 minutes of live metal. The most represented album is the 2003 release which inspired this set's title, Dance of Death, with 6 songs appearing mixed throughout the old standbys.
The album doesn't have the best recording quality for the music, but it does do a good job of getting you in the middle of the crowd. Bruce Dickinson isn't much for between song chatter and they keep the music going, but more than that there are plenty of "sing along with Bruce" segments, which really enhance that feeling that you are there, especially when you have the stereo cranked up.
Article comments
1 - Triniman
How does it compare to Live After Death?
There was a trend in the music business for bands that are past their prime to release an unusual number of live albums and compilations. This happens when sales of their studio albums begin to fall and when the creative juices begin to dry up.
Maiden are one of my favorite bands, although I lost interest in them when No Prayer For the Dying came out in 1990. I will likely buy this on DVD, though. Still, Maiden are one of the top metal bands of all time and achieved this status in the 80s - twenty years ago or so. Up the irons!
2 - Guppusmaximus
Considering "Live after Death" was released in their prime(Powerslave), I have to disagree with Triniman. The music industry had very little to do with Maiden seeing how Steve Harris had full creative control over the releases. (He does all the editing and producing for all of their newer works including DVDs) Granted, they stopped putting out great material after "Seventh Son...",The X-Factor still had huge distribution and generated plenty of sales in Europe and their homeland. "Brave New World" put them back on the charts on a major scale and since then,in my opinion, they have released newer material that holds up to their classics! I can say without hesitation that Iron Maiden is the BEST Heavy Metal band PERIOD!! They have been kicking ass for 25 years and can top anything that any band with the same amount time together could ever do...i.e; KISS,J.P.,Aerosmith,Ozzy(Metallica has yet to reach 25, but they suck now anyways)...I think DIO is the only real competition.
Great review Chris...
Here's to IRON MAIDEN!!! UP THE IRONS!!!
3 - Triniman
You disagree that there is a trend for bands past their prime to release an unusual number of live albums and compilations? Or you disagree that this CD should be compared to Live After Death? I believe it's fair to compare a band's recent output to their best output, to get a sense of how good the new stuff is.
I met and interviewed these guys on the tour for Seventh Son, which was the last album that I really enjoyed. I haven't listened to the last two albums a lot, but initial listens led me to conclude that they were, indeed, in the prime around the time of the Powerslave, as you point out, Guppusmaximus.
4 - Guppusmaximus
Triniman,
I disagree that Iron Maiden was a part of that "trend" because Maiden was never past their prime. I have to exclude my statement in the last post. All of their albums after "Seventh Son..." were in the top 10 in the UK. "Brave New World" put them back on the charts in the US but that never says much about Metal anyways. "X-Factor" wasn't a favorite of mine but if you compare it to the US Metal out at the time (like Metallica) then it definately becomes a better choice.As for comparing it to "Live After Death"... You really can't."Powerslave" isn't timeless and Yes, I feel the newer work stands up to the classics. They have progressed to stand the test of time and their new stuff feels more mature while still being heavy.I feel alot of their live releases were done to show where the band is. Plus, Steve Harris has always felt that the live work shows the true power and passion of Maiden. Kind of a purist...like me. Anyways, Interviewing Maiden must have been SWEET!! I haven't had a chance to meet them but I would love to...Someday!
I get passionate about Maiden because they don't get the credit they deserve!! They constantly put out better work than KISS,Aerosmith,Judas Priest,etc... But, because the US are a bunch of morons in the field of metal
(Avenging Sevenfold, should I say more?) we never give awards to bands based on merit just cashflow.
Oh well, I have over done it... I suggest you pick up "Brave New World" and "Dance of Death". I would even suggest picking up Dickinson's latest solo work...
5 - Triniman
What I enjoyed about meeting Maiden is that they are just a friendly, fun, down to earth group of guys. Dave Murray, especially, who always has a big smile on his face.
I believe Maiden became overshadowed by Metallica for the longest while, although I think Metallica's best material was their first five albums minus And Justice, which I didn't really care for. For me, Metallica have been disappointing for a long, long time.
It's probably safe to day that Maiden never sold out. Can't wait to see them on tour.
6 - edman
Death on the road is not particularly special when compared to Live After Death and RIR. The set list is brilliant but for the usual classics on disc 2. the classics don't sound bad but i would love to see maiden put out a live album with their b-sides. It's a solid but not outstanding album with some pretty poor sound recording. i think they should get martin birch back as producer and dump kevin shirley. The band itself are pretty tight but the real disppointment is Bruce's vocals. It's evident that he's struggling to hit the high notes that almost seem effortless in live after death. But, as with all maiden albums, a must for die hard maiden fans
7 - mission from 'arry
I havnt even heard death on the road, but i caught maiden in Paris on the same tour and Brucey nailed the high notes with ease and power..and also on rock in rio he hits 'em.. live after death has some atmospheric magic about it, but brucey boy is strugling from the word go (and even more on the maiden england video on seventh son tour)...anyway in summing up..maiden are still rocking, bruce is a great singer, who gives a toss, lick my love pump!
speaking of singing range, i have the led zep dvd and its frightening that plant couldnt sing the same after 1974