Since Bruce Dickinson & Adrian Smith rejoined the Maiden back in 1999, the metal legends juggernaut has followed a familiar path. Greatest hits tour, studio album, album tour and finally to round the cycle off a live album. Death On The Road is the live album that rounds off the second of these such cycles chronicling, as it does, the road work undertaken by Maiden in support of the 'Dance Of Death' album released in September 2003.

The 'Death On The Road' tour was as much a visual and theatrical experience as it was a music event and having caught the tour as it passed through Newcastle I can testify that it was one of the best Maiden experiences in many a year. However given the whole emphasis on the visual props, in this respect 'Death On The Road' fails to capture the essence of the tour. Shorn of the visual element of the production the silences between songs, the poetry that introduces the otherwise quite excellent 'Paschendale' lose all context and to be honest make this a difficult album to listen to.

Highlights of the album are without doubt the newer material on offer. With the exception of 'Wildest Dreams', which is Maiden by numbers and not a patch on previous opening numbers such as 'Aces High', Moonchild' or even 'Be Quick or Be Dead', the Dance Of Death songs gain a momentum that was not always apparent on the studio recordings. This is nowhere more apparent than on Dance Of Death itself which turns from a turgid waltz into a fist in the air extravagance of a song with lightening guitar interplay between the three axe slingers Maiden now boast.

Overall highlights are the aforementioned Paschandale, which is as good a tune as Maiden have ever delivered and the quieter, yet no less powerful Journeyman. The inclusion of standards such as 'Hallowed Be Thy Name', 'Run To The Hills' and 'iron Maiden' itself complete the whole Eddie experience but to be honest they don't have the same impact as time goes by, familiarity perhaps breeding a slight case of contempt

Although not gushing, this review is not meant by any means to denigrate Maiden, the performances of the entire band are as superlative as ever and emphasis on the newer material from  Dance of Death makes this a must have in any serious Maiden fan's collection. However for any less than die-hards reading this review my advice would be to hang out for the upcoming DVD release where you can see 'Death On The Road' as it should be seen, as an all round sensory event and one that will stand proud in the lexicon of Maiden's work.

Steve Cummings