Not their best live outing. (A Real Live Dead One - Iron Maiden)

Member Name: LordBonney

Product:	A Real Live Dead One - Iron Maiden
Date:	26/05/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Disc 2's not bad, and live versions of Transylvania and Where Eagles Dare are welcome.

Disadvantages: Bruce sounds pretty weak, theres far better live Maiden albums out there.

This is an odd album to review, as it was originally released as two different albums, which is how I have them, but it was released as one when all the albums were remastered in 1998. The first disc focuses on earlier tracks, all of them being from the first 5 albums, whilst the second disc is only tracks from the (at the time) 4 most recent albums. I've only given it 2 stars because the first disc does drag things down, and its nowhere near the standard of other live albums.

So as I said this album isnt anywhere near as good as Live Ater Death, or indeed any other live Maiden album. Out of all the live Maiden I've got, and including bootlegs we're well into double figures, this is the weakest. One of the reasons Bruce Dickinson left Iron Maiden was because he didnt feel the same passion he used to, and it shows. On some of the tracks, whilst not singing badly, he doesnt sound as good as he used to.

He sounds better on the second disc, with The Clairvoyant and Fear Of The Dark being standouts, but on the first disc he just sounds a bit weak to me. Prowler doesnt quite have the energy it should have, nor does Run To The Hills. Its not that its bad as such, just that for most fans theres no real reason to buy it when theres so many better Maiden live albums out there.

If you happen to find a copy of A Real Live One its worth getting it, but thats unlikely, what with it being out of print for over a decade! I'd only really recommend this to Maiden fanatics, for first timers go and get Live After Death or Rock In Rio.

Best Tracks - Fear Of The Dark, Transylvania and Heaven Can Wait.

Summary: By and large avoid unless its very cheap or you're a big fan.