The scene setting “Gothic Power” introduces Blaze Bayley as he launches into a gig at the Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland during December of 2008. This concert has now been released on a double CD set, The Night That Will Not Die.
Last year I reviewed his studio album The Man Who Would Not Die and his world tour in support of it has seen him take in Brazil, zig-zag across Europe, travel up into Scandinavia, and go into Russia.
In May this year he arrived in the UK. and this summer sees him playing several dates in Italy, then Slovenia, Romania, and Paris, before going back to the Z7 again. That night will round off something of a whirlwind time for the former Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden frontman.
Tragically amongst these triumphant nights, the year has also been a traumatic one and Blaze has dedicated this release to the memory of his wife and manager, Debbie, who sadly passed away last September. Somehow, he has managed to pick himself up and keep his show on the road and in the process has delighted fans of metal the world over. This set is a fitting tribute indeed.
This same concert will also be released as a separate DVD, filmed and directed by Kris McManus. Not content with that we also have a book covering the life and career of Blaze which is due to be released towards the end of the year.
His high octane band consists of the twin guitars of Jay Walsh and Nico Bermudez, drummer Lawrence Paterson, and bass player David Bermudez.
They kick off with the first three from the album in a triple blast of metal power. “The Man Who Would Not Die,” “Blackmailer,” and “Smile Back At Death” all get the blood pumping nicely.
Above all of this, Blaze’s voice still manages to dominate and proves that he has lost nothing of that deep, raw, yet dramatic force that earned him a slot fronting Maiden a few years back. There is little doubt, however, that he sounds far more comfortable working through his own material than he did when he bravely took on that role. It's that now familiar low octave power that really grabs the attention.
Article comments