IRON MAIDEN

Nights of the Dead, Legacy of the Beast: Live in Mexico City

Legendary British heavy metal pioneers Iron Maiden have released several live documents over the years and we should all be fucking grateful for that since they are generally of exceptionally good quality and possess staying power. Also, Maiden is unarguably one of the greatest live acts of all time, so the fact that 2020 sees the release of this 2-disc set, which was captured for posterity in Mexico City last year, is a most joyous occasion for yours truly.

Kicking things off with "Aces High" where Bruce is simply phenomenal, it sounds as if the rapturous audience is having a collective musical orgasm and I can totally understand why. Steve Harris and his talented cohorts are as hungry and downright ferocious as ever throughout the entire thing and it is an inspired listen. Apart from the many crowd-pleasers and rabble-rousing classics, the real gems are the majestic renditions of "For the Greater Good of God" and the brilliant Blaze-era epics "The Clansman" and "Sign of the Cross". The fiery takes on "The Trooper" and "Flight of Icarus" rule too, and "Iron Maiden" is utterly explosive. The only minor negatives are the absence of songs from the fantastic "The Book of Souls" record and the inclusion of the dreadful track that is "The Wicker Man".

Overall, this raw and punchy offering is a vigorous and riveting output and a fabulous reminder of just how sublime Iron Maiden's glorious tunes come across in a live setting. Fans of the band and all of you out there who miss going to shows obviously ought to check this beautiful thing out. I cannot wait for the continuation of the "Legacy of the Beast" tour in 2021!

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