Review: Nev Pearce
Photography: JD Garrahy

When it comes to the titans of metal, a few names instantly come to mind: Metallica, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and of course, Iron Maiden. With 17 albums, thousands of shows, and nearly 50 years of history, the British heavy metal legends have well and truly carved out their names in the book of rock and roll.

After the unfortunate postponement of their 2020 tour due to the thing that shall not be named, Maiden have finally returned down under for a string of sell-out shows as part of their ‘Future Past World Tour’.

Tonight’s show is being held at The Brisbane Entertainment Centre, a venue with personal nostalgia for me (I remember being a kid watching Russian bears on motorcycles there back in the ’80s, wild times!), and a place where I have seen many massive acts in the past of different genres.

Opening tonight is metalcore legends Killswitch Engage who I am luckily catching for the second time this week.
The KSE boys are no strangers to massive venues or opening for legends like Maiden and can hold their own even though these types of shows can be tough for supporting bands even at their level but do a great job at warming up the crowd for the British Legends.

Ripping into their set with My Curse, Killswitch are tight and a hell of a lot of fun, even with their minimal stage setup they make use of what they have and give 100% to those there early enough to see them.
Frontman Jesse Leach is a much loved and respected figure in the metal community and it’s great to see him fronting the band again and vocally sounding incredible, especially in tracks such as Rose of Sharyn and My Last Serenade.

Closing out with DIO’s Holy Diver, you can’t help but respect that these boys have come a long way in their careers and continue to inspire a new generation of fans much like the legends who preceded them.

As the lights dimmed and UFO’s “Doctor Doctor” reverberated through the venue followed by The opening notes of Vangelis’ “Blade Runner” theme set an atmospheric backdrop, and then Maiden hit the stage with a one-two punch of “Caught Somewhere in Time” and “Stranger in a Strange Land” from their iconic Somewhere in Time album.

Iron Maiden’s setlist was a masterful blend of classics and new material, proving their ability to cater to both old-school fans and younger ones starting their metal journey.

Tracks like “The Prisoner” and “Can I Play with Madness” had the crowd singing along while newer cuts like “Death of the Celts” and “Writing on the Wall” from their latest album Senjutsu demonstrated that Maiden’s creative fire is still burning brightly.

At 66, Bruce Dickinson remains a force of nature. His energy and stage presence are unmatched, moving with a vitality that belies his age. His voice, while carrying the marks of countless tours, still cuts through with clarity and power, making classics like “Fear of the Dark” and “Heaven Can Wait” sound incredible.

The band’s three-guitar attack—featuring Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, and Janick Gers—was in full effect with the band’s legendary rhythm section of Nicko Mcbrain and bass player/founder Steve Harris ramping up the energy that the band are renowned for live.

The stage show, as always, was a visual feast, complete with elaborate backdrops, Eddie making his customary appearances along with a pyrotechnic firefight between Bruce and their famous mascot.

And while there were a few much-loved Maiden tracks like Run to the Hills, Aces High, Number of the Beast and Hallowed Be Thy Name missing from the set tonight there were plenty to keep the fans satisfied.

Closing out with a powerful run through “Alexander the Great,” “The Trooper,” and “Wasted Years,” Iron Maiden proved once again why they are not just legends, but living legends—capable of delivering a performance that both honours their storied past and embraces the present, further cementing their place as not just icons of metal, but as a band that continues to inspire and thrill fans around the world.

Up the Irons indeed!