IRON MAIDEN – Visions Of The Beast

This is the brand new DVD from Iron Maiden, and it’s a stunner! Soon to be released any day now, Metal Express Radio gives you one of the first reviews of this great package. The band is currently on tour, and their new album will hit the shops in September. But let’s turn attention to Visions of the beast!

It is a double disc, featuring every promotion-video ever made by the British giants of heavy metal. 31 to be exact. Other features and extras include, special new cartoon instalments in some of the videos, a biography, special versions of some of the videos, a cut from Live in Rio, a football video, and probably the best presentation segment that’s been done on a rock ‘n’ roll DVD so far. I don’t want to give anything away, but Eddie and the mean streets of London Town, play an important part on this release…

It will take you more than three hours to watch the whole program, so this is definitely value for your money! From “Women in Uniform” to “Brave New World” – Live in Rio, it’s been long and eventful ride, both for the band and the viewer. Check out the youthful aggression of the first couple of videos, to the extravagant productions made in their prime with Dickinson, to the low-key (and dare I say, low budget..) years with Blaze Bayley , and back again on the top with the returning Bruce Dickinson. It is by creating great music( and videos), they have achieved their legendary status, and Visions of the beast salutes this fact.

Having grown up on their music (and videos) throughout the eighties, it was a thrill to be able to watch the first couple of videos. Seldom shown, “Women in Uniform” and “Wratchchild”, are an important part of this package. Paul Di’Anno left after the first two albums, but they feature some of the best songs of Maiden. Of course the majority of Visions of the beast feature Bruce Dickinson, and rightfully so. What a voice, what a front man, and his contribution to the classic Maiden sound can not be doubted. Even the Blaze Bayley videos are fun to watch now, although I were extremely disappointed at the time. By the way; we should not be on Blaze’s back, because who in their right mind would turn down singing with Maiden?? So, let’s give the guy a break, and a well deserved pat on the back for a job well done.

If you just can’t wait for the new album, or an in-concert appearance in your town, this will satisfy your needs…for a while.