Iron Maiden: Visions of the Beast

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DVD Reviews of Iron Maiden: Visions of the Beast

DVD Review: Half-vision of the Beast
Summary: 3 Stars

In disc one is where the good stuff really is, or the good years. Women in Uniform is their first video, that strangeously was never included in an album. We can appreciate the original lineup, including original guitarist Dennis Stratton and dynamic drummer Clive `Burr. Then we have Wrathchild from Live at the Rainbow, right after Adrian Smith joined the band. Unfortunately, no more videos with Paul Di'Anno. They should have included more tracks from Live at the Rainbow, since it is in Betamax version only. I'm sure it is great document of the early years.

Then we have the promotional videos from the Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, and Powerslave, which received good MTV exposure. Although these videos were not that good, it is the music where the meat really is, and looking at the performers is really enjoyable, especially the guitar interplays between Adrian Smith and Dave Murray, the twin guitars, and, of course Steve Harris masterful bass playing. Nicko McBrain drumming was quite elaborated, just look at The Trooper, and Flight of Icarus. And you all know how great is Dickinson as a singer/frontman.

Sadly, they did not include anything from Live After Death, their most successful live album and tour, with the band at its musical peak. I hope this means that a DVD version of that is coming.

Then we have Wasted Years, which is my favorite video, from Somewhere in Time, where you can appreciate all Eddie's covers up to that date (1986), changing with every note of Adrian Smith's dazzling solo. In Stranger in a Stranger Land, you can have a slight idea of what that tour was, when the band mastered their sound and show after the Powerslave tour. Can I play with Madness is actually a bad video, sort of Two Minutes Two Midnight, which I dislike as well. But as album and performance, things got better with Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, just look at The Evil That Men Do, The Clairvoyant, and Infinite Dreams. The latter is a real live video, taken from Maiden England, just great.

In these two last albums they started using guitar synthesizers, which I don't think is a bad thing. The new sound was really enhancing the power of the songs. What I don't understand is why they did not play guitar synths live. This made the unnecessary addition of a sixth hidden member, Michael Kenney, for the live keyboards.

Up to this point the band was on the top of their career, showing a constant evolution from album to album, in performance, songwriting, production, and the show itself. Then Adrian Smith left the band for a solo project. Bruce Dickinson went to a solo career as well, but still being in the band. His guitarist, Janick Gers joined the band, and things changed for Iron Maiden. It seems they wanted to go for a rawer sound, sort of revival of their early albums, but not quite. This "new" sound was really bad, just look at Holy Smoke. Tailgunner, although not that bad, doesn't show much of that outstanding guitar interplay of the twin guitars. Certainly, Janick Gers' playing doesn't come close to Adrian Smith's. Janick Gers' contribution to the band has been more as a showman than a guitarist. Musically, Janick Gers provided more distortion than actual playing, sort of Eddie Van Halen's style, but without talent. Check Tailgunner, Bring Your Daughter, and Hallowed by Thy Name. The latter, filmed at Donnington, shows the guitar solo completely ruined by Janick Gers. Of course, he was too busy shaking his head and jumping all around the stage instead of playing good notes! Any other live version of this song (without Janick), especially from Live After Death would have been better.

In the disc two, the videos were more developed, but the music quality declined. Things got worse after Bruce Dickinson left. I don't understand why Blaze Bayley was chosen, he can't sing! Nevertheless, Blaze era is rewarded with six videos. The Angel and the Gambler is a neat video with so-so music.

Fortunately, Bruce Dickinson returned to Maiden, so did Adrian Smith. But they kept Janick Gers, Why? It did not make sense having three guitar players. You can see in the last three videos, that the guitar rhythms are really redundant, as well as the solos. Twin guitars are two, not three!! This louder guitar sound made Steve Harris' incredible bassplaying unlistenable. This becomes more obvious in the two Rock in Rio cuts. With three guitar and a keyboardist, the band became with seven members (!?). Now it should be named Steve Harris' Big Band.

This would have been the perfect combo: all the videos from Women in Uniform to Infinite Dreams, the videos from Brave New World and Rock in Rio, and the addition of some videos from Live at the Rainbow and Live After Death. Ok, if you want (if there is enough memory in the CD), The Angel and the Gambler as a hidden track. All these probably fit in one disc. Wouldn't that have been great?

If you're a fan, just buy it and don't complain (like me).

Description of Iron Maiden: Visions of the Beast

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