This album was recorded over 2 days at Longbeach arena. I got the CD of one of the shows. This was the first live album by maiden that I heard.
BTB does any one know who coined the title ’’LIVE after death?? Simply awesome!!
Aces High (5:29) 10/10
The song and the show start with Churchill?s famous speech in WW2. Pretty apt for the song about fighter aircrafts. The song is slightly faster than the album version. Bruce pulls of this song like no one else. The song is relentless in the pace with the guitar works in the middle of the song that?s the signature of maiden sounding gorgeous.
Two Minutes To Midnight (6:06) 10/10
this song like its predecessor is faster than the studio version. Actually I heard this song before the studio version and that sounded really slow!! The lyrics are pretty dark (no pun intended). ’’To kill the unborn in the womb...? anybody?
The Trooper (4:28) 10/10
The greatest thing about this album is that it made me a great fan of this particular song. I rarely listened to The Trooper, shadowed by great songs in that ultimate metal album POM. Really tight work by the maiden guys on such a fast song. Steve Harris makes his mark esp. in the late half segment.
Revelations (6:11) 9/10
Revelations is one of the very rare slow songs by maiden. In this show, they have started with the song sounding somewhat like a dance version!! Things reach normal state by the middle of the song. Usually I don?t care whether the song follows the studio version or not but I didn?t give the full points coz the song being my fav as a slow one. The guitars sound somewhat synthesized also.
The final stanza by Bruce ...well, had room for improvement let?s say
Flight Of Icarus (3:49) 9.9/10
Yet another song from POM. Bruce sounds a bit struggled to keep up to the pace.
The chorus is not as subtle as I would like. But the signing off work esp. by Steve made up to that
The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner (13:09) 10/10
One hell of a song. The longest by maiden I believe. The best song in the album for me. After 5 minutes, the song pauses and there are only the guitars and some sounds of ships grating and some mutterings. Cynics can pretend that the song has ended and the next song has begun after this! The picking up of the song after this is one not to be missed though. The guitars at 10:15 are really good.
Power Slave (7:34) 10/10
Somehow this and the Rime sound really closely related. The best performance by Bruce in this album. Grand closing off the song also...
The Number Of The Beast (4:35) 10/10
Like the trooper, this song also made me listen the studio version more carefully. How did maiden manage to cut the time without affecting the flow of the song is a mystery to me. The chorus in the studio version is missing though.
Hallowed Be Thy Name (7:31) 10/10
I would have bought the album even if there was only this song in it. Really I haven?t heard a bad version of this song (at least by maiden) anywhere. The mixing is somewhat poor with Bruce?s wail shadowed by the guitars. Sadly this is where I usually stops the CD or go to the next track.
The Iron maiden (4:21) 8/10
OK I am being honest; I don?t like this song and most of the songs in the first two albums. Still this song is capable of kicking some serious but* at any show.
Run To The Hills (3:51) 8/10
This was one harsh song about the invading English in America looting the Indians there. The live version lacks the charisma of the studio version though
Running Free (3:24) 9/10
Very different drums and bass sound characterize this song. Usually I don?t reach here coz someone might have complained about the sound long before this!!
Overall Impression
You might have noticed that my choices are up to the one hour mark. But leave that. This album gets a 10/10.
And I am really happy that only three songs are there from killers and iron maiden. Usually the live albums of maidens are saturated with tracks from these albums.
This is meant for any maiden fan who haven?t got this album yet, anyone who is ready to plunge into the brave new world of maiden.
As for those who listen to indipop, go and buy those shitty mixes with titles like girly X or something... You need to spend only around 100 bucks and as a bonus can get to drool at some scantly clad girl!
Maiden Fans go and buy this album. I will guarantee that this won?t disappoint you.