Let’s just get this out of the way. Heaven & Hell were supposed to be playing this O2 Dublin date alongside Iron Maiden. But of course the tragic passing of the great Ronnie James Dio meant that that wouldn’t happen. Unsurprisingly MCD took the easy route with this fill in and enlisted, once again, the services of Belfast’s NWOBHM residuals Sweet Savage – much to the dismay of punters who originally paid for two legendary metal acts. They plod through a set of weathered rock tunes. That said, the three piece are clearly enjoying every moment of playing this massive stage climaxing with a 'Whiskey In The Jar' rendition that connects the strongest with the crowd, obviously. The principal problem with Sweet Savage is that they’re not necessarily a horrendous band as some will have you believe, there’s just no solidity and vitality in them, simply put there’s nothing good just like there’s nothing bad and that’s almost worse.
But negativities aside this is a night about Iron Maiden, the most important metal act of well, ever. Like the US leg of the tour the set-list is dominated by material from Maiden’s last three albums – A Matter Of Life And Death, Dance Of Death and Brave New World. It’s pleasing to witness a band with a vintage like Maiden to have such confidence and belief in their recent output and not to rest on the laurels of triumphs past. 'Wicker Man' couldn’t be a better choosing for an opener, played with unruly conviction and thrusting all on hand into euphoria.
Bruce Dickinson leaps and bounds across the stage with the energy of a Duracell bunny and the fitness of an Olympian. It’s merely a reminder as to why he’s probably best frontman there is, shrinking the mass present and placing them all firmly in his hand. In fact the same can said for all the members, there’s not one moment in the set’s duration that the adrenaline and high octane wanes. It just climbs and climbs with each track whether it be 'Ghost Of The Navigator' or No More Lies'; each serving is as enthralling as the last.
The monolithic 'Blood Brothers' is dedicated to Ronnie James Dio and its life affirming chorus means it couldn’t be a better choice. They also unleash new tune 'El Dorado' from the swiftly approaching new record The Final Frontier. Its force and power is multiplied tenfold live and sounds more vigorous than the track released online.
While the vast majority of the evening is populated by fresher songs they don’t ignore their untouchable masterworks. 'Wrathchild' explodes with Steve Harris delivering that monumental bass-line and each person standing before these legends screams the words back. Of course 'Fear Of The Dark' is an otherworldly spectacle and so too is the flawless encore. 'Number Of The Beast' makes you wonder how Bruce is still standing as he glides across the various stage set ups. But it’s 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' that steals the show with its heart stopping crescendo and with 'Running Free' and Bruce thanking each person in attendance with a pint of Guinness in hand, it hits home: you saw Iron Maiden and it was indeed something very very special. But come on, were you expecting anything less?
But negativities aside this is a night about Iron Maiden, the most important metal act of well, ever. Like the US leg of the tour the set-list is dominated by material from Maiden’s last three albums – A Matter Of Life And Death, Dance Of Death and Brave New World. It’s pleasing to witness a band with a vintage like Maiden to have such confidence and belief in their recent output and not to rest on the laurels of triumphs past. 'Wicker Man' couldn’t be a better choosing for an opener, played with unruly conviction and thrusting all on hand into euphoria.
Bruce Dickinson leaps and bounds across the stage with the energy of a Duracell bunny and the fitness of an Olympian. It’s merely a reminder as to why he’s probably best frontman there is, shrinking the mass present and placing them all firmly in his hand. In fact the same can said for all the members, there’s not one moment in the set’s duration that the adrenaline and high octane wanes. It just climbs and climbs with each track whether it be 'Ghost Of The Navigator' or No More Lies'; each serving is as enthralling as the last.
The monolithic 'Blood Brothers' is dedicated to Ronnie James Dio and its life affirming chorus means it couldn’t be a better choice. They also unleash new tune 'El Dorado' from the swiftly approaching new record The Final Frontier. Its force and power is multiplied tenfold live and sounds more vigorous than the track released online.
While the vast majority of the evening is populated by fresher songs they don’t ignore their untouchable masterworks. 'Wrathchild' explodes with Steve Harris delivering that monumental bass-line and each person standing before these legends screams the words back. Of course 'Fear Of The Dark' is an otherworldly spectacle and so too is the flawless encore. 'Number Of The Beast' makes you wonder how Bruce is still standing as he glides across the various stage set ups. But it’s 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' that steals the show with its heart stopping crescendo and with 'Running Free' and Bruce thanking each person in attendance with a pint of Guinness in hand, it hits home: you saw Iron Maiden and it was indeed something very very special. But come on, were you expecting anything less?
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