Death on the Road (CD - 2005)

Personnel: Bruce Dickinson (vocals); Nicko McBrain (drums).

Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley.

Recording information: Westenfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany (11/24/2003).

Photographers: Ross Halfin; Simon Fowler.

Recorded in December at the Westfalenhalle Arena (Dortmund, Germany) during the band's 2003 Dance of Death tour, the two-disc Death on the Road deviates little from Iron Maiden's countless other live albums. While blissfully heavy on the group's excellent -- and suitably theatrical -- new material, longtime fans do not need any more live versions of "Number of the Beast," "Hallowed Be Thy Name," "Run to the Hills," or "The Trooper." All that said, Iron Maiden do not disappoint, laying to waste any notions that they can't hold themselves to the performance standards of their younger days. Even Bruce Dickinson, despite a voice that's now often more choked than feral, can barely keep himself from leaping into the crowd, and it's that kind of enthusiasm that makes each and every live release -- and there are a lot of them -- worthwhile to some degree. ~ James Christopher Monger

Although there is no shortage of Iron Maiden live albums on the market, DEATH ON THE ROAD presents the iconic heavy-metal band at a stop on its 2003 tour in support of both DANCE OF DEATH and the best-of collection EDWARD THE GREAT. Consequently this two-disc set mixes songs from both of those releases, as tracks from DANCE are masterfully mixed with Maiden classics. Although the newer tunes fare well (especially the opening barnstormer, "Wildest Dreams," and the urgent "Rainmaker), nothing compares to the British group tearing through "Can I Play with Madness," a showcase for Bruce Dickinson's soaring vocals, or launching headstrong into "The Trooper," which highlights Maiden's potent three-guitar assault. minimize