"This live recording comprises 15 songs captured during The Book of Souls World Tour, which covered 39 countries across six continents during 2016 and 2017, and was seen by over two million fans. Produced by Tony Newton and Iron Maiden founder member and bass player Steve Harris, the album is based on this tour’s set list and is a faithful record of the epic show, including six songs from ‘The Book Of Souls’, the band’s most recent studio album, along with many other classics and fan favourites...
The band is one of the absolute best live acts in the world. Their stage production is second to none and the bands energy creates so much hype and excitement.
From a musical standpoint, the skill of the band cannot be questioned and would be ten out of ten each and every time. The newer material from 2015’s epic 'Book of Souls' album is superb. 'The Red & The Black' is Iron Maiden at their most incredible; a thirteen minute epic with glorious galloping tempos and quick tempo changes throughout. Opener, 'If Eternity Should Fail' is also a huge highlight of this live set.
The finest addition to the Iron Maiden repertoire from 'Book Of Souls' was the title track. It is terrifically heavy in parts and has all the hallmarks of a Maiden classic. The acoustic introduction is unnerving and the crashing in of the main riff is astounding; Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers trade of furious solos throughout whilst Steve Harris’ bass thunders the song along at a breakneck pace.
With the latest album obviously making up most of the set, the rest is made up of Maiden classics and some omissions. For the first time in my memory following the band, 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' is missing (due to legal wrangles over the song) and hits like 'Run To The Hills' are rarely aired. However, there are the staples of 'The Trooper', 'The Number of Beast', and 'Fear Of The Dark'.
The highpoint of the album however, is reserved for 1984’s 'Powerslave' though. Since the song made its reappearance as part of the live set when Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith re-joined the band in 1999, it has stood the test of time as an unheralded metal classic. Nicko McBrain’s drumming is phenomenal throughout and this is one area that the production should be commended; it is clear to see how good a drummer the bands elder statesman is as he traverses the abundance of tempo changes with aplomb.
One of the surprises of the last tour was the inclusion of 'Blood Brothers' as a part of the encore. As one of the bands best songs the band’s reunion in 1999, 'Blood Brothers' is another song of grandeur with a message of love, life and unity; it rightfully takes its place as part of the set here and shows just how strong Maiden’s output has been on a consistent basis. Set closer, 1986’s 'Wasted Years' is arguably the bands most commercial moment, but again, the positivity of the song is life affirming…
It was also a tour that saw Bruce Dickinson bouncing back from defeating throat cancer. To see him back on stage was and is an absolute joy – and his vocals on this album, especially 'Children of the Damned', show that he is as strong as ever and living up to the moniker of ‘The Air Raid Siren.’" - Louder Than War
Double Compact Disc
Tracklisting
CD1:
1. If Eternity Should Fail
2. Speed Of Light
3. Wrathchild
4. Children Of The Damned
5. Death Or Glory
6. The Red And The Black
7. The Trooper
8. Powerslave
CD2:
1. The Great Unknown
2. The Book Of Souls
3. Fear Of The Dark
4. Iron Maiden
5. The Number Of The Beast
6. Blood Brothers
7. Wasted Years
