Regarded by many as the definitive Metal live album and just looking at the track listing its easy to see why, as they basically play all their best material from the last five albums. Recorded during the 'World Slavery Tour 84/85' at two venues 'Hammersmith Odeon' (London) and 'Long Beach Arena' (L.A.). The quality of the recordings is nothing short of top notch and way above anything else Metal wise of the time, plus the band are at the height of their career and perform every track with a passion and energy that has to be heard to be believed.

What better way for 'Iron Maiden' to start the show than with 'Churchill's' speak, one of the defining 'British' moments of the last century, this leads perfectly onto cracking versions of 'Aces High' and the '2 minutes to Midnight'. The pace is really picked up with a fast and furious performance of 'The Trooper', 'Bruce Dickinson' does especially well to keep up, as the lyrics need to be sung at break-neck speed. The tempo is brought back down to earth with the 'Piece of Mind' classic 'Revelations' and as with most of these live versions they are improvements on their studio counterparts, continuing with the aforementioned album 'Maiden' blaze into 'Flight of Icarus' and don't disappoint. Next up is the epic 'Rime of the Ancient Mariner', and stands as a testament to their abilities to play such complex pieces live and so faultlessly. Other phenomenally performed tracks, include a hard hitting 'Powerslave', an ultra heavy version of '22 Acacia Avenue', a gutsy rendition of 'Die with your Boots On' and a thumping run through of the classics 'Number of the Beast' and 'Run to the Hills'. 'Paul Di'anno' covered tracks include 'Iron Maiden', 'Running Free' and 'Wrathchild', all sound great with 'Dickinson's' vocals behind them, especially 'Running Free' which includes some superb audience participation. But for me it's the emotion displayed on 'Hallowed be thy Name' that really hits home how spectacular this album is, as the performance comes across so commandingly. The only track that doesn't really impress is 'Children of the Damned', but even this is far from poor. Closing this epic is a superlative rendition of ''Phantom of the Opera', which sounds just magnificent live with crisp guitar work that combines with the meticulous rhythm work that drives the whole track- quite brilliant.

Undoubtedly one of the best live album of all time and a masterpiece that has set itself in stone as a definitive overview of 'Maiden's' glory years.