Search - Iron Maiden :: Real Dead One (Vinyl Replica) (Dig)

Scream for me Helsinki!!!

Christopher Calabrese | Watertown, CT, USA | 05/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In my opinion, this is Maiden's second best live album, (Live After Death is the best). Even though there's no Adrian Smith, the basic point is that you're getting all early material being performed in various cities during the FEAR OF THE DARK tour.



My favorite aspect of this cd is that you get Bruce doing Paul DiAnno songs on "Prowler," "Running Free," "Remember Tomorrow," and "Iron Maiden." You also get a fast live version of "Transylvania," which has nasty solos all over the place performed by Dave Murray and Janick Gers. The high point is "Hallowed be thy Name." I've been a Maiden fan for a long time, and I think this is the best recording EVER of this song. Bruce holds the 'low' from "The sands of time for me are running low"...he holds that note for an eternity and Dave Murray tosses in a subtle 'hammer-on/pull-off' run during it.



The mix on this recording is also top-notch. The guitar harmonies are right on, but unlike other live Maiden, both guitarists are loud when it comes time to solo. There's other live Maiden, namely "Maiden England" that has a bad mix and one of the guitarists ends up getting drowned out by the other.



If you're new to Maiden, I definitely recommend this disc for an introduction to early material. If you're already a fan and you don't own this, then shame on you!"

Better than Rock in Rio (four and a half stars)

Chris Jordan | Surrey, B.C. Canada | 12/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This and "Live at Donington Park" are better than the "Rock in Rio" CD. Rock in Rio is really good but the sound quality in the mixing is not the same. It is ironic to me that people would comment that the sound quality on Real Dead One and Live at Donington are not good and that Rock in Rio is the better. Dikinson's vocals come through clearer on most of the songs than they do on Rock in Rio and the mix has more bass. Also, Janick Gers does not butcher the solos. He plays them slightly differently, and while Adrian Smith may be the more technical and good with the Michael Schenker style pentatonic scale, Gers is a faster player overall and has a cleaner tone. I even like this and Live at Donington over "Live After Death". I find the songs are played faster and Dickinson's vocal come through clearer in the mix and he sings better in the early 90's and even today than he did in the 80's. I am like the above reviewer, I have all the Maidens and these two are like rare gemstones. If I had to pick one of the two I would likely give the nod to "Live at Donington", however, because this has Transylvania and Where Eagles Dare, I would pick this up also."