Iron Maiden

"Rock In Rio"
(Columbia Records) 

If you look back only a few years ago, the Metal scene was fledgling; struggling to maintain its identity and the cause for which it championed twenty years strong. With fans confused and confounded at the lack of media coverage and their many heroes seemingly disappearing or disgracing themselves trying to keep up with the fickle hand of fashion, to say the scene was in a state of flux was understatement. Iron Maiden themselves, one of the biggest bands in the world throughout the eighties were struggling for acceptance and survival. Having gone through unwelcome personnel and directional changes that culminated in two decent but poorly critical records, one of Metal's most triumphant acts might have been dangerously close to their own extinction. And something unexpected and spectacular happened. Longtime vocalist Bruce Dickinson and the rest got back in contact and without warning, this new "Maiden" which also saw the return of guitarist Adrian Smith, was about to be resurrected, sights set on no less than complete worldwide domination. The result of their new reformation was the widely acclaimed "Brave New World" epic which featured a dynamic new sound and single-handedly signaled a Metal resurgence was about to begin. Almost two summers ago, Iron Maiden, brought back together by a united vision of the future, put together a massive arena tour, leaving sell outs and smiling faces in their wake. The masses came out in droves. Part of that tour culminated with Brazil's incredible Rock In Rio III festival, from which "Rock In Rio" is based, and that saw Maiden headline before an incredible 250,000 fans, that also bore witness to the likes of Sting, REM, and Britney Spears! Such reveals a little about the magnitude of this band. "Rock In Rio" is essential in capturing all the live energy and powerful presence of one of the world's most influential bands, whether you were in attendance for the tour or not. The throngs in attendance know the songs word for word and to hear all of them screaming in unison, is simply unbelievable-keeping in mind of course their Brazilian-and you are in fact right there in the middle of it all. And unlike late-coming American fans, it seems new songs don't have to go through that two or three year long trial period before acceptance or rejection. "Rock In Rio" is representative of the second coming of a terrific success story that widely documents the "Brave New World" release by including six of the album's tracks, opening with "The Wicker Man," "Ghost Of The Navigator," and "Brave New World," right off the top and all meeting with instant approval. The songs were made live to be played live and it's onstage where those, as well as proven commodities as "2 Minutes To Midnight," "The Trooper," or "The Evil That Men Do" really prove their might. Imagine an endless sea of onlookers in every direction, you're facing front and center, there's this massive stage cloaked in the midnight blue of Eddie's foreboding presence and you know when you allow a band such as theirs this kind of free running space, it's going to be a audio/visual spectacle second to none. Overall, the video enhanced two-disc collection (featuring "Brave New World" and "A Day In The Life") covers everything necessary from the Maiden catalog-nineteen songs worth of gauntlet running precision burning through two decades and three singers' worth of material that even includes the Blaze Bailey fronted works like "Sign Of The Cross" and "The Clansman." Culminating in their all-time classics "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Sanctuary," and "Run To The Hills," to name but a few, "Rock In Rio" captures the spirit of Heavy Metal as exhibited by the worldwide leaders whose influence knows no boundaries. Sure there are a few mysterious clips and overdubs here and there for continuity purposes, but overall "Rock In Rio" is the next best thing to being there and a professionally drawn product for a band that we've come to expect nothing less from.

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