(Rated this album with 10 out of 10) Reviewed by
An Amazon.com Customer
In the early eigthies, while most of America listen to dumb radio songs, a metal band from East London, England, quietly began its rise to glory. That rise resulted in an apex known as "The Worldslavery Tour" of 1984. Along time ago, but classics always withstand the test of time much like Beethoven is still heard, and appreciated today, five hundred years after his time. This album not only presents some of Maiden's best songs ever - their live versions are well preserve here. They are mainly taken from a four-night stint at the Long Beach Arena which Maiden became the first recording artist to sell out four consecutive nights1 An amazing accomplishment since they had no media attention, no radio air play, no true MTV support (thank God!), and did not fit the mold of a major band by the standards of the press. So they were ignored, and to this day they are mainly forgotten in this country. Fans here are goo-goo for the new sound of Metallica which they think brings new stuff to the front, but in reality Maiden has been doing it, and playing it since their club days at the Ruskin Arms (a place that has been made the spiritual representation of the NWOBHM as Maiden's legend has grown). More importantly they've been doing it with much more originality and heaviness than any current Metallica release. Songs like "Powerslave" and the epic "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" showcase the then line-up's ability to change tempos, play smooth rythmn sections, imaginative guitar playing, and above all, a lead singer with singing ability! These are not your run-of-the-muck metal cohorts. This is the band that has delivered musical quality for years. Sticking to their promise of giving their fans value for money. And indeed, you get lots of value here. The songs average a running time of at least five minutes, and "The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner" is a whopping thirteen minute opus. Now there is a sure sign of willingness! Willing to push the envelope to go where few fear to tread. On the ECD there are added bonus tracks on a second disc which include "Children of the Damn", "Phantom of the Opera", "22 Acacia Avenue", "Wrathchild", and "Die with your boots on". These only add to the fine experienced already provided with the re-released titled that also icludes a different live verison of "Running Free" not available on the original release. In this version Bruce, the frontman, has a little shouting contest with the crowd which is what playing live is really all about. An interaction with the fans preserved here for all etenity or until some nuke falls from the sky on top of our heads! If you seek music to a higher standard, this album is a definite for you. The rich textures of each song will become very apparent and you'll be asking yourself "This band is from the eighties?". After Sabbbath, this is the next signifiacant band in metal history. The rythmn sections: melodic and heavy at the same time - what Metallica is trying to accomplish, but really have become a band that sounds like any other band. This is the sound they are after. This is the complete package of metal music. If there's talent, there's an ocean of it here!!
