There was some debate about Trivium on a forum I frequent recently and the general consensus seemed to be that they “appeal only to 13 year olds”. It’s certainly fair to say that a large proportion of their fan base is from the teenage demographic and so the tour with Iron Maiden will do their chances of getting across to the older Metal audience no harm at all. Touring in support of a new album that contains more than a passing nod to Metallica should also help. 

Mid-way through the frantic 45 minute set Matt Heafy takes offence at one too many (soft) plastic cups heading in the direction of the stage and brings things to a halt, singling out one of the culprits and demanding he be removed before they continue. After a protracted rant it’s something of a hollow victory…….These colours don’t run – they just call security. 

The set closes impressively with ‘Anthem (We Are The Fire)’ and ‘Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr’ and if I was 13 again Trivium would no doubt be one of my favourite bands. As it is, whilst I can tolerate them I’m not really sure whether they are the real thing or simply riding on the back of the renewed interest in Metal over the past couple of years.  

On the other hand the majority of Iron Maiden’s audience have been here for the long haul and will have seen them live at least once before. So, for me, the decision to play all of ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ and rest some of the older material is the right one. After all, you can be sure that ‘The Trooper’ etc will all be back in the set on the next retrospective tour. It also helps that the current album is one of the most consistent they have released for years and stands up to repeated listening. And besides, which tracks would they leave out? This is an album so good that it simply demands to be played from start to finish. 

With the tour now drawing to a close they are firing on all cylinders and tonight’s performance is simply flawless, oozing confidence right from the opening salvo of soon-to-be single ‘Different Worlds’ via the majestic ‘For The Greater Good Of God’ to the epic closer ‘The Legacy’. Steve has already described the show at some length in his review of the Stockholm gig (http://www.hardrockhouse.com/gigreviews/BruceAir.htm), together with some excellent pictures, and so I can only really add that this is one of the most enjoyable Maiden gigs I have ever seen. The older material, which kicks off with an outstanding ‘Fear Of The Dark’, is greeted like a long lost friend, Eddie making his obligatory appearance during ‘The Evil That Men Do’. The gig of the year is rounded off with ‘Hallowed Be Thy Name’ and the band exit to thunderous applause. 

Bruce dropped a strong hint that they will back in the summer of 2007 for a gig in a “corner of a field that will be forever Maiden”. On this form, book those Donington tickets now…

Dean Pedley