Iron Maiden returned to the Rock In Rio this Friday, October 2nd, as the main headliners of Metal Day. Despite criticism surrounding the band's repeat appearance at the festival (they also headlined in 2019), the British band gathered the most passionate group of fans of the night and showed that they still have a lot to offer.
Despite sticking to the setlist they brought to Brazil for most of the show, Iron Maiden opened the night with three new tracks from their most recent album, Senjutsu . “Senjutsu”, “Stratego”, and “The Writing On The Wall” were performed energetically by the band, especially surprising with Bruce Dickinson on stage, hitting all the high notes flawlessly and moving quickly around the stage.
Fans who watched the performance via the Multishow broadcast encountered some technical difficulties. Janick Gers was off for most of the beginning of the performance and was only adjusted during "Blood Brothers". Despite the technical issues, however, it is through the online broadcast that it is possible to see in greater detail the grandeur of the visual spectacle that takes place on stage.
Beyond the strong auditory dynamism, Iron Maiden invests in creating a performance that goes beyond the musical experience, adding flamethrowers to Bruce Dickinson's outfit in "Flight of Icarus," a costume reminiscent of 17th-century London in "Fear Of The Dark," set design elements such as a cage and a rope of execution in "Hallowed Be Thy Name," and a sword fight between Bruce and the mascot Eddie in "The Trooper."
Despite following a script already familiar to longtime fans, Iron Maiden is far from disappointing its audience, delivering each show as if it were the first and making everyone sing with passion. With over 40 years of career, the band easily justifies why they continue to be invited as a headliner at Rock In Rio. Regardless of the members' age, they honor their legacy with great love and dedication to what they do, making clear the reason for so much devotion from their fanbase. Iron Maiden is traditional metal that still shows itself to be alive.
