New Maiden DVD details

Spiff

I have the power
Apr 14, 2001
11,915
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Brisbane, Australia
From Blabbermouth:

IRON MAIDEN have confirmed they are to release a double DVD and live album titled "Death On The Road" through EMI Records on August 29, 2005.

The show was filmed at the Westfalenhalle Arena, Dortmund, Germany during the "Dance of Death" European tour in December 2003 and fully captures the magnificent stage production and electricity of the band’s performance. Steve Harris once again took weeks personally editing the footage, and like "Rock in Rio", this means thousands of cuts right into the heart of the action.

Says Steve Harris, "The shows on that tour were perhaps far more theatrical than some of our recent tours so it has a very different feel than that of, say, 'Rock in Rio', which was a massive festival environment. The 115-minute show was originally filmed by Viva TV in Germany to broadcast across their national TV network a few days afterwards. However TV and DVD are always very different, mainly owing to the time restrictions. So we've spent time starting from the bare bones to create a full-length concert feature that captures the excitement of the show but also the drama as well. I think when people see songs like 'Paschendale' and 'Dance Of Death' they’ll be blown away by the spectacle. At the same time there are some great moments in 'Journeyman' that I think will surprise a few people. IRON MAIDEN with acoustic guitars?! I'm really happy with the end result as it captures the dark and lighter moments perfectly."

The album and PCM Stereo / 5.1 Surround sound for the DVD has been mixed and produced by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley and co-produced, as always, by Steve Harris.

The double DVD also features a full 70-minute documentary directed by Matthew Amos charting the album's creation and then subsequent preparations for the following tour. The feature length program includes candid and personal footage of the band during the recording and writing of the album, which is the first time it's ever been filmed.

Says manager Rod Smallwood, "The documentary is something quite special for the fans as it really is a very revealing portrait of how MAIDEN work together recording and it took me hours to persuade them to let the cameras in the recording studio. Previously they'd never allowed any of that to be filmed but this time we decided to have a camera floating around to try and capture the MAIDEN recording process. A lot of it was filmed by the Kevin Shirley and the band themselves. I think it's a great representation of the talent, effort and humour of a MAIDEN recording session. The documentary also covers what it takes to set up a major world tour and has various interviews with our Killer Krew and hopefully it will be as insightful and interesting as the well received 'Early Days' documentary footage.

"As usual we have crammed as much as possible into the DVDs with a host of extras including all of the promo videos from the album, footage of the band performing in South America, background interviews with members of the production crew and fans along the tour, artwork and photo galleries. Many hours of MAIDEN mayhem.

"Like 'Rock in Rio' we have again decided to release a DVD and CD. Those who have DVD players will presumably opt for the DVD but we wanted to ensure all fans could get at least the audio of this tour and many countries of the world do not have widespread capacity to play DVDs."

The full set list from the show is:

01. Wildest Dreams
02. Wrathchild
03. Can I Play With Madness
04. Trooper
05. Dance Of Death
06. Rainmaker
07. Brave New World
08. Paschendale
09. Lord Of The Flies
10. No More Lies
11. Hallowed Be Thy Name
12. Fear Of The Dark
13. Iron Maiden
14. Journeyman
15. The Number Of The Beast
16. Run To The Hills

The release of the DVD and live album coincides with IRON MAIDEN's headlining performance at this year's Reading and Leeds Festivals which sold out within hours of going on sale. Reading Festival holds a special place in MAIDEN history. The band played their first headlining show there in 1980 and the following year a certain Bruce Dickinson was famously approached backstage for the job of vocalist before returning in 1982 for IRON MAIDEN's second headlining appearance, this time as the front man.

The Reading and Leeds appearances will complete their busy summer touring schedule that includes top billing at major European Festivals and their own headlining stadium dates like their record breaking show in Gothenburg at the 55,000-capacity Ullevi Stadium that sold out in a mere two and a half hours. Just prior to Reading and Leeds the band will be joining BLACK SABBATH on Ozzfest in North America, plus a handful of arena headline dates.
 
I listened to Dance of Death today. I never really cared for it much but it turned out that the one I listened to today was a top album. Wildest Dreams and Rainmaker are two of the best songs Maiden have done, IMO.

The weakest link on the album - Bruce Dickinson.
 
I think that in parts Steve or Bruce expected too much from Bruces voice, if it had the vocal production of BNW it would be without doubt personally the best Maiden w/ bruce album in fucking years. But it is sure as shit high up in the brilliant IM album stakes, I never have had any sort of real problem with the album
 
The only spectacle about Paschendale and DoD (the song) on that tour was Bruce turning Maiden into a pantomime. Putting on a WW1 coat, and having a pretend bunker on stage was just taking the piss out of what should have been a poignant song.

And then Bruce wearing a mask (like the ones on the cover) while singing DoD... fucking hell.

Saying that, I'll be interested in watching the doco.
 
I have said since I first listened to it, that Dance Of Death is their best Bruce-album since Somewhere In Time, and I stand by it. I think it is fantastic. I have heard a bit that Bruce's vocals aren't that up to scratch, and whilst I see what people mean as they are a little low in the mix, I think it still sounds fine and the vocals themselves still sound fine.
 
No, I'm not talking about Bruce being low in the mix, I'm talking about how he sounds a bit off. He sounds like he's straining through most of the songs and has to adjust his style accordingly. He's still a top singer, no denying that, but nowhere near the singer he once was. I think he was at the top of his game on Somewhere in Time.

Saying it's the best Bruce-Maiden album since Somewhere in Time isn't saying much. :) Not sure if it's as good as BNW (which I have very mixed feelings about), but it's close. But I like it more than Seventh Son and No Prayer and Fear of the Dark, none of which I'm a big fan of.
 
Maybe this will mean they will come to Australia now!*

:lol:

*apologies if this joke has already been done
 
I never managed to get into DoD.

I gave it another try in the car on the way to work a while back, and half why there I just thought "why the fuck am I listening to this?" and turned it off.

Having said that though, I remember it took me quite a while to really appreciate BNW as well, and now I think that's a great album.

Oh and all that talk about bunkers and masks and stuff just sounds.... camp.
 
I think I have only really noticed Bruce's vocal being out in one place on DoD, but I can't even remember where that was. He isn't a soaring as he was back in the day, but I think he still sounds fantastic.

I'm not a big fan of Seventh Son as an album, but it has stacks of great stuff on it. Not sure why I don't think much of it overall though. Hmm. I like both No Prayer and Fear Of The Dark, but obviously they are some of the bands weaker albums, and I am a big fan of BNW, but would rank it an album or two lower than DoD.