Well it's yet another live release from 'Maiden' and coming only three years and one studio album after 'Rock in Rio' is perhaps “milking” it a bit. Thankfully this is in the same league as the aforementioned album and head and shoulders above those three live releases from '93. Production wise this is just top notch (this is how I wanted 'Saxon's' 'Eagle has Landed III' to sound) in fact the sound and performances to my ear are very close to 'Rock in Rio'. What sets this apart from 'Rock in Rio' then? well I personally don't think the set list is as striking, the song selection from 'Dance of Death' could be better, while there's too many songs duplicated from the predecessor and did they really have to include 'Number of the Beast', 'Run to the Hills' and 'Hallowed Be Thy Name', brilliant songs though they are, but how many live version have you heard by now?

After a foreboding epic style intro it's into the opener 'Wildest Dreams', personally I think a strange choice, as it's undoubtedly one of 'Maiden's weakest singles, that said still an energetic rendition that all told fails to disappoint. Much better is a vibrant run-through of 'Wrathchild', the fret work is sublime throughout and in all honesty is perhaps the best version of this early classic I have heard. In complete contrast is 'Can I Play with Madness', this definitely isn't 'Bruce's' best singing and the backing vocals are frankly lacklustre, while 'The Trooper' is executed superbly (But hey they've played it enough times to get it right). Making it's first but probably not it's last appearance on a 'Maiden' live album is the epic 'Dance of Death', I really liked the studio counterpart and this rendition certainly doesn't disappoint, the foreboding intro is also a nice touch. 'Rainmaker' ensues in fine form, following the studio version closely, while 'Brave New World' could have been taken straight from 'Rock in Rio' and I wouldn't have known. The first disc closes with two epics, in my mind the first and more recent is by far the stronger. After a moody intro the powerfully penned 'Paschendale' commences flawlessly, 'Bruce' delivers with his usual gusto and is supported admirably throughout. The second 'Lord of the Flies' is the only 'Blaze' era song making an appearance, personally I really enjoyed 'The Clansman' and 'Sign of the Cross' from 'Rock in Rio', this is ok but a shadow of the aforementioned, 'Futureal' might have also been a better choice?

Disc two opens with the epic 'No More Lies', personally I think there are better songs from 'Dance of Death' but all said this is superbly executed, 'Bruce' again delivers impeccably while the three guitarist really come across well in the mix. The outstanding 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' follows and despite being a classic, I've heard it so many times I can't really appreciate it here, while to some degree the same can be said about 'Fear of the Dark' which was released as a single live, despite this it's still a cracking run-through. Contrary to some opinions I always think 'Bruce' works the 'Di'anno' material extremely well and this working of 'Iron Maiden' fails to alter my opinion, fast, rigorous and a proper tribute to their NWOBHM roots. It's back to the more recent material with 'Journeyman', a more subtle melodic number than you would expect from 'Maiden' but it works very well live, 'Bruce' as always fails to disappoint, while the audience participation further enhances. The album winds down with the classics 'The Number of the Beast' and 'Run to the Hills', needless to say great songs and here they are performed excellently but ultimately it's nothing we haven't heard before.

Another great live album from 'Maiden', occasionally it's a bit too similar to 'Rock in Rio' but if you love the new stuff from 'Dance of Death' this is well worth picking up.