When someone says they’ve got two tickets to Iron Maiden on a Friday, you don’t say maybe! Especially not when the show’s lineup also consists of two out of the Big Four of thrash metal. Anthrax and Megadeth, whom are giants in their own right, took the opening slots on Iron Maiden’s current ‘Run For Your Lives’ tour rounding out what is arguably many a metalhead’s dream lineup.
Gates at BMO Stadium opened quite early, right before 5pm. Outside, a legion of loyal Iron Maiden fans awaited within serpentine lines wrapping around the venue walls. Once inside, the first act of the night, Anthrax kicked things off with a rousing performance of “Caught In A Mosh.” After launching into “Madhouse,” the band got mosh pits and crowd surfers going with their classic track “Metal Thrashing Mad” featuring Joey Belladonna’s soaring vocal delivery. The band broke out the lead single from their latest album Cursum Perficio, “It’s For The Kids” to much fanfare. Their set also consisted of covers including renditions of Trust’s “Antisocial” and Joe Jackson’s “Got The Time.” After hyping the crowd up with a mid-song pause to ask for attendees to get on their feet, the band closed their set with an impassioned performance of their 1986 hit “Indians.”
Anthrax Setlist
1. Caught In A Mosh
2. Madhouse
3. Metal Thrashing Mad
4. Antisocial (Trust cover)
5. It’s For The Kids
6. Got The Time (Joe Jackson cover)
7. Indians
Next up were the Dave Mustaine-led thrash legends Megadeth who recently released their final self-titled album ahead of their planned retirement. The record reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, marking a first for them and cementing their rightful place in the Big Four. Despite a patch of roughness (or perhaps some sort of mic issue) towards the beginning of the set, the band picked up the pace with fan-favorite “Sweating Bullets” which had the crowd singing along with palpable enthusiasm. “Tipping Point” from the newest album was also well received and Mustaine thanked the crowed for their support in making both the album and the song top the charts. Mustaine then introduced the song “Tornado Of Souls” as being about “an ex-girlfriend of an ex-friend.” Back-to-back hits followed with the final three songs of Megadeth’s set including a keen sing-a-long during “Symphony Of Destruction,” a Vic Rattlehead sighting during “Peace Sells” and a truly fervent performance from drummer Dirk Verbeuren during “Holy Wars.”
Megadeth Setlist
1. Devil’s Island
2. Take No Prisoners
3. Hangar 18
4. Sweating Bullets
5. Tipping Point
6. Tornado Of Souls
7. Symphony Of Destruction
8. Peace Sells
9. Holy Wars… The Punishment Due
For the main event of the night, Iron Maiden pulled out all of the stops. Their lighting? Intentional. The backdrop? Immersive. Their stage presence? Electric. Bruce Dickinson’s voice? Operatic and every bit as powerful as it was all those years ago. It is beyond impressive and it is truly a testament to why the band is held in such high regard by metalheads and non-metalheads alike. Before the band even took the stage, a cinematic montage played on the big screens and virtually everyone was on their feet. Setting the scene, the cameras panned about an animated neighborhood, creating an unmistakable theatrical atmosphere. And by the time the live music started, they needed no introduction. The band skillfully ripped through “Murders In The Rue Morgue,” “Wrathchild” and “Killers” with mascot Eddie joining onstage for a playful, engaging bit. Then came “Phantom Of The Opera” where their very best musicianship took center stage, the winding guitars, the deliciously catchy bassline and Dickinson’s opera-primed vocals working together like a symphony. After a stellar playthrough of “The Number Of The Beast,” Dickinson spoke to the audience about the fact that Iron Maiden has been a band for 50 years and then introduced “Infinite Dreams” as a song that hadn’t been performed for over 35 years (it received its first proper performance during a show in Athens, Greece back in May.) After a brief intermission, Dickinson returned wearing a mask to play “Powerslave,” taking on the role with all the charisma and showmanship deserving of the iconic song. “2 Minutes To Midnight” came next with a massive stadium-wide sing-a-long and fists raised in the air. One of the most atmospheric performances of the night came in the form of “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” which saw visuals of a grand ship, icy waters and ghostly spirits. The stage mimicked a foggy sea, obscuring the band within the smoke as they performed the epic track. “Run To The Hills” was yet another staple that broke out into circle pits in front of the stage, delivered in all its grandiose glory. “The Trooper” received theatrical flag waving on both the British and American ends while Dickinson led with the grit of a military commander. After back-to-back dynamic performances of “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “Iron Maiden,” the band returned for an aviation-themed encore with “Aces High,” showing visuals of fighter jets with mascot Eddie manning his own fleet. Dickinson dedicated the song to the American and Canadian military personnel who fought alongside the British in the Second World War. Things took a spooky turn when the band returned to the stage for “Fear Of The Dark,” Dickinson held out an oil lamp while traversing the stage’s dark forest backdrop singing about nyctophobia, uncertainty and paranoia. While they finished off their truly mammoth set with “Wasted Years,” it became clear that Iron Maiden aren’t just a band, they are a revered pioneer of metal music who have cemented their place in the cultural cannon through top notch musicianship, songwriting and performing. The amalgamation of the three make them masters of their craft and that is something recognized by generations of fans both old and new. Despite the naysayers, metal is alive and well and will continue to be thanks to Iron Maiden’s far-reaching inspiration and influence.
Iron Maiden Setlist
1. Murders In The Rue Morgue
2. Wrathchild
3. Killers
4. Phantom Of The Opera
5. The Number Of The Beast
6. Infinite Dreams
7. Powerslave
8. 2 Minutes To Midnight
9. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner
10. Run To The Hills
11. Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son
12. The Trooper
13. Hallowed Be Thy Name
14. Iron Maiden
15. Aces High
16. Fear Of The Dark
17. Wasted Years
Photo credit: Boston Lynn Schulz
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