Finally! After months of waiting, the day has come. Iron Maiden in Poland! As if that was not enough, they played in Wroclaw, so not that far from me. Excellent show!
After several hours of walking around the city, we arrive at the stadium. Gray, rather unintresting object. How could anyone suppose that this gonna become the final destination of Polish Heavy Metal fans?
As we showed up early, there were not so long queues. Weather rather favorable. Warm and sunny but not hot weather. After less than an hour of our arrival, the gates of the stadium were opened.
After a few minutes we were at the stadium. The pitch was covered with a specially prepared layout, which proved to be excellent during the concert. After taking a convenient place, the waiting began. The scene was already impressive, even though we saw only the upper part of the decoration. The fascination with the Mayan civilization, (which was the main theme of the present tour) manifested accordingly chosen details such as hieroglyphics and styled ruins. During the waiting, sounds of Black Sabbath (who apparently, played day before in Krakow!) were quietly coming out of the speakers.
And the moment has come. Recording coming from speakers went off and the first support - The Raven Age - came on stage. Although their did not carry away the crowds, but the fact that Steve Harris son was in band, led a rather enthusiastic welcome.
Another support had much greater interest. One of the four icons of thrash metal, an American group Anthrax. They had a very warm welcome, since the last show in Poland, passed almost two years. Their short but lively show promoted the new album "For All Kings" from which they performed few songs. I do not know as much Anthrax discography, so apart classics like "Indians" or "Cought In a Mosh" I could not really recognise many other tracks. Too bad they did not play all-time hit - "Madhouse"
And there was this moment. Suddently, out of speaker we could already hear UFOs "Doctor, Doctor" which could mean only one thing - time for Iron Maiden! After a short introductory cutscene, showing a group plane (a Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet named "Ed Force One", playing a pun on US Presidents plane) Bruce began mystical speech, which was intro of the powerful "If Eternity Should Fail". Shorlty after, the band played "Speed of Light" from the single promoting the latest double CD of the group. Orginally, I was closer to the stage, but the pressure of the crowd, crush and rather poor visibility (paradoxically, the closer to the stage You could see less, because of its size) made me go few meters back. It was a great idea, and from that moment I could fully enjoy the show without losing the fun! In the picture, "Tears of the Clown" dedicated to Robbie Williiams.
After the next premiere song, melodic "The Red and the Black" the vocalist put on well-known red uniform, grabbed a British flag and it was all clear - "The Trooper," which is one of the biggest hits of the group, constantly warming up the audience since the 80s! There were also another classic "Powerslave"!
After these two classics, the band returned to promote the new album. Iron Maiden can not exsist without something related to Dickinsons greatest passion - aviation. They performed brand-new "Death or Glory", song about the world war ace - Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the "Red Baron". Bruce hung on the neck-monkey mascot, thrown by the public for some time across the tour, due to his new stage movement presented on the current tour.
The culmination of the promotion of the new material was the title song "The Book of Souls." Powerful, epic song was introduced by a short speech, about the passing of various empires over the centuries, including the mysterious collapse of the Mayan empire - the main album theme. After difficult vocal parts, there was a varied instrumental part, "Tres Amigos" (Gers-Smith -Murray) exchanged solos and band leader, in his characteristic movement, pointed his bass at the crowd, acting like a shoting series from machine gun.
Another integral part of Iron Maiden show, is the moment when Eddie - the famous band mascot - appears.
Depending on the tuor, the character takes many forms. He was already pharaoh, demon, cyborg or an alien. The current incarnation is a undead Mayan warrior with tomahawk and tribal face painting.
The emergence of Eddie is always accompanied by the enthusiastic crowd response... and the forest of cellphones.
Bruce, after ritually ripping Eddie heart out, sacrifices it at a specially prepared, stylized burning altar. Nearly theatrical show is a great element of each Iron Maiden concert.
Traditionally, "Fear of the Dark" and following immediately after it, punk-rock band anthem"Iron Maiden" ending the main part of the show. At the farewell, a giant Eddie head is emerging from behind the stage and guitarists show off all sorts of tricks, tossing and spining their guitars. Bruce says goodbye to the audience, with words "Thank You and Good night. From Iron Maiden, from Eddie and from the Boys ..."
... only to return right after for an encore! In the background can be heard intro "Woe to You on Earth and See ..." which for years starts iconic "The Number of the Beast" - although bit controversary, undoubtly still one of the biggest hits! Behind the scenes a great, mist shrouded Baphomet emerges and Bruce in a classical jump starts the performance!
Full of pyrotechnic effects, melodic classic, is one of the most spectacular moments of the concert. "Hell and fire was spawned to be released!"
Second to last, the ballad "Blood Brothers" is usually preceded by a speech about unity and brotherhood in currently growning anxious times like gaining greater significance. This is the quietest moment. Stage changes into the stars sky and a giant image of Edie emerges from the ceiling. The lights begin to fade and the audience starts to gently swing with the music.
This is the end. "Wasted Years" definitely end performance, remembering that you need to enjoy life as much as possible, because fate is unpredictable. In this case, these are not just empty words, I think that the selection of this particular song has something to do with the recently Bruce Dickinsons fight with his throat cancer. In the background appear all previous incarnations of Eddie. After leaving the stage, the only recording of Monty Pythons "Always Look at the Bright Side of Life" accompanies the audience when leaving the stadium.
SETLIST:
If Eternity Should Fail
Speed of Light
Children of the Damned
Tears of a Clown
The Red and the Black
The Trooper
Powerslave
Death or Glory
The Book of Souls
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Fear of the Dark
Iron Maiden
ENCORE:
The Number of the Beast
Blood Brothers
Wasted Years
The boys, despite being 60 years old, still can rock hard, showing that after 40 years on stage, there is still nothing that can come even close to their overgrown british leged, the IRON MAIDEN! So far the best live concert show I have ever been.
------------------
Sorry for mistakes, text loosly written with little help of google translate, which isnt always right.
I would be glad to show me my writing mistakes, so can know what I should improve next time.
