Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Iron Maiden
Label: EMI Records
Release date: 2012
Running time: 108:16
Rating: 4/5
South American devotees of the metal gods Iron Maiden have long been known as the biggest fanatics when it comes to unconditional faith in their idols, and perhaps only a few Japanese fans can match them for loyalty. So it’s no big surprise that after Brazil, where they recorded the double live album »Rock in Rio« (2002), the Iron Maidens picked Santiago, the capital of Chile, to record their new live document, which they simply titled »El Vivo!«. The decision to put out another live release came during the ‘The Final Frontier’ world tour, on which they were presenting their then-current studio album of the same name. That way, ever since singer Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith returned, Maiden have kept up the nice tradition of following every new studio effort with a new double live album, which makes all the longtime fans happy and, at the same time, brings in a fat stack of cash.
Iron Maiden have been the biggest heavy metal corporation for a long time now, and there’s no point kidding ourselves about that. The main difference from other ‘corporate’ bands, though, is that in return for their fans’ money they can still deliver top-quality music. They’ve pulled it off again here, creating a live treat that’s a pleasure to listen to from start to finish, even if the setlist is (once again) pretty predictable.
The atmosphere on »El Vivo!« is, fittingly for South American temperament, incredibly loud and hyperactive, so it’s not hard for the listener to picture an endless sea of people in the middle of the gigantic Estadio Nacional, eating out of Dickinson’s hand at his every gesture, while Steve Harris, with his Fender bass, stands with one foot on an amp and fires up the already red-hot, thoroughly convinced metal maniacs even more. The triple-guitar team of Dave ‘the Curly One’ Murray, Mr. Adrian Smith and the eternal hard-rock whirlwind Janick Gers is, especially for younger fans who never lived through the era when Maiden had ‘only’ two guitarists, with its technical contrast another one of the main live attractions. And of course you can’t overlook the presence of the ever-lovably-nutty Nicko McBrain, who, besides his drumming stampedes, diligently takes care of the ever-welcome dose of humor. The production, once again handled by Harris and Kevin Shirley, is superior in the long-standing Maiden tradition, so there’s no unnecessary noise or any slip-ups to be heard on »El Vivo!«.
Iron Maiden can justifiably be proud of their current studio album »The Final Froniter«, from which they played a whole six songs a night on average on the tour. »Satellite 15«, »The Final Frontier« and the excellent single »Eldorado«, which open the first disc of »El Vivo!«, showcase their freshest work and prove that even after the first decade of the 21st century, the Iron Maidens are still the leading metal superpower when it comes to songwriting innovation, constantly renovating the old tricks. The fans’ main attention, of course, still goes to the longtime classics like »2 Minutes To Midnight«, where the atmosphere, with the help of the hyperactive crowd, jumps up at least two more notches. With excellent performances of »The Talisman« and Coming Home«, they return to the current studio effort, steeped in a futuristic ambience, which has rightly earned a heap of praise for its quality.
»Dance of Death«, the best track from the album of the same name, with its orchestral arrangements pushed into the background, is a nice chance for touring keyboardist Michael Kenney to shine briefly with some synthesizer artistry. The »Piece of Mind« (1983) classic »The Trooper« undoubtedly marks the peak of the first half of this live document in terms of sheer intensity of the concert atmosphere. »The Wicker Man« remains the most popular classic of the newer (post-2000) Maiden era, so it’s here again this time too. Interestingly, they didn’t play a single song from the album »A Matter of Life and Death« (2006). Also, with the exception of the evergreen »Fear of the Dark«, almost the whole of the nineties was ‘forgotten’. They stay ‘forgotten’ mainly because Iron Maiden were raking in far less money commercially back then than after Dickinson and Smith came back.
The second disc, which opens with the anthemic »Blood Brothers«, a song always meant above all to stoke the spirit of ‘brotherhood and unity’ within the metal community, mostly holds the longtime Maiden classics like »Iron Maiden, »The Number of the Beast and »Hallowed Be Thy Name«, which of course you can’t do without, even though over the years they’ve become so predictable that some fans would have long ago happily swapped them for something they’ve never heard live before. Don’t get me wrong, every one of them is played to perfection. The epic »When the Wild Wind Blows« pleasantly breaks up the predictability of the old classics. »The Evil That Man Do« is one of those Maiden classics they pull out of mothballs every once in a while, so it’s more than welcome again this time. The NWOBHM gem »Running Free«, which turns up right at the end, is the only Maiden classic where you can find the name of original singer Paul Di’Anno in the songwriting credits. Iron Maiden, when they can, tend to avoid mentioning contributions from former members, as if the current lineup had been around since the very beginning and they wanted nothing more to do with their old comrades, most of whom are plagued by one problem or another.
The only thing about »El Vivo!« that jars a bit on the eyes, that is, not the ears, is the pretty generic cover in the style of »Rock In Rio«, where you really miss Derek Riggs and his monumental artwork (Melvyn Grant does follow nicely in his footsteps), along with the unpleasant fact that Eddie has degenerated to the point of being unrecognizable, so much so that many people can fairly wonder whether he wasn’t swapped out for a mutated offspring on the last studio release, one that only vaguely resembles him.
Every new Iron Maiden live release is a feast for the faithful fans, so »El Vivo!« is a very welcome official document of the ‘The Final Frontier’ tour. It doesn’t come anywhere near the cult status of »Live After Death« (1985), of course, but it can still sit comfortably alongside their other live releases, which, with a few exceptions, are mostly excellent.
Lineup
Bruce Dickinson – vocals
Adrian Smith – guitar
Dave Murray – guitar
Janick Gers – guitar
Steve Harris – bass guitar
Nicko McBrain – drums
Production
Kevin Shirley
Tracklist
CD1:
1. Satellite 15
2. The Final Frontier
3. El Dorado
4. 2 Minutes To Midnight
5. The Talisman
6. Coming Home
7. Dance Of Death
8. The Trooper
9. The Wicker Man
CD 2.:
1. Blood Brothers
2. When The Wild Wind Blows
3. The Evil That Men Do
4. Fear Of The Dark
5. Iron Maiden
6. The Number Of The Beast
7. Hallowed Be Thy Name
8. Running Free
