Yet another Maiden live album. (Rock In Rio: Live - Iron Maiden)

Member Name: LordBonney

Product:	Rock In Rio: Live - Iron Maiden
Date:	25/05/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It sounds incredible on a high-end system.

Disadvantages: Not as many 'classic' sings as on Live After Death

Recorded in front of 250,000 people at the Rock In Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, this was (by my count) Iron Maidens 6th live album, the first one since Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith returned.

The first thing that you should notice is just how good this album sounds. Even if you dont like the music on a high-end system, with the volume turned up to 11 this album sounds very good indeed. Bruce is clear, all 3 guitars have their own little space, Nicko thunders out, and the clank of Steves bass is there for within a 3-mile radius to here.

The show was recorded in Rio on the tour supporting the Brave New World album, and so its no surprise that six of the tracks are from that album. What is surprising is that two of the tracks are Blaze Bayley era songs - The Sign Of The Cross and The Clansman. There arent too many tracks from the 'classic' era of Maiden, but the biggest ones like The Number Of The Beast and Run To The Hills are here.

Iron Maiden have always been a live band forst and foremost, and so if this is your first foray into the world of Iron Maiden well done, you made a wise choice by heading straight to the live albums. For first-timers Live After Death may be a better choice, but this doesnt come far behind. For others the fact it has Bruce singing some Blaze songs is nice, and this version of Fear Of The Dark is my favourite from any Maiden album. All in all this only comes a close second, behind Maiden Japan, for my favourite live album, and its fully deserving of all 5 stars.

Best Tracks - The Clansman, Fear Of The Dark, Blood Brothers.

Summary: One of their best albums, and a good starting point.