In 2008 Iron Maiden went somewhere back in time. In 2010 it’s all about the future, or at least the recent past.
The British legends returned to Winnipeg Wednesday night for the second time in two years as part of the Final Frontier World Tour. When they were here last it was a blast from the past, a greatest hits set of the 1980s material that made them one of the most beloved bands in metal; this time around it was a heavy dose of the new, or more specifically, the 2000s when vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith returned to the fold after leaving the group in the 1990s.
The three albums they have released in the decade all have some great moments, but have yet to take on the classic status their earliest albums have.
You have to hand it to the band for not simply rehashing their last tour and offering some treats to the die-hards, but in terms of pacing it lagged a bit in the middle and the energy among the 10,000 fans that filled the MTS Centre ebbed and flowed. The show could have used an injection of any number of older songs such as the
Trooper,
Aces High,
Run to the Hills or
Flight of Icarus (to name just four that didn’t make the set) at some point to inject some extra life into the proceedings.
The six-piece opened the 100-minute, 16 song show on a futuristic set that looked like the interior of a space port with a double shot of the
Wicker Man and
Ghost of the Navigator, both off 2000’s Brave New World. It was clear from the opening numbers the band is still at the top of their game 30 years after the release of their debut album.
Dickinson has lost none of the power of his distinct operatic voice and possesses the energy of a man half his 51 years. The three guitar lineup of Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers is a blast to watch as they trade off solo after solo while roaming the stage.
Bassist Steve Harris – the band’s main songwriter and the man responsible for Maiden’s trademark gallop – was in his familiar position with one leg up on the monitor mouthing out the lyrics and aiming his instrument at the crowd like a gun while hard-hitting drummer Nicko McBrain was hidden behind his massive kit keeping everything together.
They threw in the Paul Di’Anno-era anthem
Wrathchild three songs in before settling into highlights from the last decade.
Dickinson threw in a plug for the release of the band’s forthcoming album, The Final Frontier, and urged fans to get it the week it comes out to ensure it’s the No. 1 album in Canada.
"We have to make a deal with you because you do kick the USA’s ass when it comes to heavy metal," he said before launching into the new song,
El Dorado, a mid-tempo track driven by a melodic bass line that built to an explosive chorus with Dickinson and Harris harmonizing on vocals.
Of course, all three guitarists each got a chance in the solo spotlight.
The backdrops changed frequently as the band offered up newer tracks like
Blood Brothers,
These Colours Don’t Run and
Wildest Dreams, the latter one of their best songs written since
Powerslave in 1984.
They ended their main 80-minute set with 1992’s
Fear of the Dark and their self-titled theme song, which featured a giant green version of their mascot Eddie lumbering on stage to strap on a guitar. They returned for a three-song encore from 1982’s
Number of the Beast: the title track,
Hallowed Be Thy Name and the rock ‘n’ roll anthem
Running Free, which turned into a giant sing-along.
It was a perfect ending that left the crowd wanting more.
Opening act, Toronto hard rock band Automan, got the biggest cheers of their short set when they took their banner down.
