Taken from the their Metal 2000 tour, this live-album was recorded in front of 250.000 ecstatic fans at the Rock In Rio festival in January 2001. Being the last show on the Brave New World Tour, the band decided to record the show for a future CD/DVD release.

This is one of the best sounding live albums I have ever heard! The production is simply outstanding! The sound of the drums and bass, give that extra something. Three guitars could have been a mess to listen to, but Kevin Shirley has done an outstanding job at producing this album. And Bruce is sounding better than ever! The intro ends and A. Smith starts off one of my favorite Maiden tracks, The Wicker Man. Just by writing this, I can feel the small hairs on my neck rise, and an urge to hear it over and over again. Maiden has always known how to kick off a show, and this is no exception.

If anything negative has to be said, then the set list could have been a lot different. There are way too many long tracks. If they took some of them out and substituted with a couple of shorter tracks, it would have been close to a masterpiece. Take out Dream Of Mirrors and The Clansman and replace with them with 3-4 shorter tracks. The Fallen Angel, The Prisoner, Revelations or perhaps the ever popular Powerslave could perhaps do it. This gives a better flow in the concert. It's hard to stay focused when the songs are 7-10 minutes long. I know that the songs mentioned are also approx. 7 minutes, but they have a much better flow than e.x. The Clansman.

The band play as if their lives depended on it. A ripping performance from Nicko McBrain. He doesn't set a foot wrong! (ha ha ha. Come on! You thought that was funny!). Truly awesome!
Highlights on the album has to be the Intro, going right into The Wicker Man. Bruces' performance on Sign Of The Cross. The twin-lead-solo on The Evil That Men Do. And of course the drums on the entire album. Note the hi-speed pedal in 2 Minutes To Midnight and The Trooper.

Written by Ulrick
Monday, July 15, 2002
Show all reviews by Ulrick

Ratings

Ulrick: 9/10

Members: No members have rated this album yet.

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Comment by 7thSon (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 5, 2003

This is a classic! Id on't agrrw with Sir Ulrick about the track selection. I think it's very good! If I could change songs, I'd rather have the Clairvoyant in the place of Sanctuary.

Comment by Grantos (Anonymous) - Thursday, December 4, 2003

Most excellent live album ever!!! Although they could have taken out Sanctuary, the crowd didn't seem too happy with it... Would have to be either Clairvoyant or Only the Good Die Young instead of Sanctuary.

Comment by The Wicker Man (Anonymous) - Tuesday, April 6, 2004

A quality Maiden album. If only Futureal was on it, perhaps instead of Sanctuary.

Comment by prem (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Maiden rocks man.. the more and more u listen to them, the better they get.. but i just have a question and i want some of the readers of this site to answer.. I personally have the opinion that 3 guitars is a mess as pointed out by ulrick in his review... now y would maiden go on with 3 guitars???? was it becoz adrian smith wanted to come back and they could neither send either janick or murray out?.. did maiden themselves ask adrian to come back or so?.. could someone please throw more light on this issue..

Comment by RH (Anonymous) - Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Yeah Prem there is no way that Murray would get the door he is #2 in all of maidens glory and taught Smith most of what he knows growing up, so you have a better chance of kicking Hetfield out of metallica. and 2nd Gers took over from Smith and in many ways improved on Smith, for some sentimental reason they decided to get Smith back in for his songwriting ability and came with the dickinsomeass package, they said that they would not play again in maiden (unless they were together)TRUE STORY, in fack I dont think Smith even intends on staying for another 3 albums, just goes to show who in Maiden is only in it for the money and glory only. and if you think im full of shit.then why is it that ONLY the most commercial im songs were written by either Smith OR Dickinson (22 acacia ave, flight of I, The evil that men dont, wasting love, hooks in you, bring your daughter, etc), you see the pattern. good so there is your answer.

Comment by RJ (Anonymous) - Friday, April 29, 2005

RH, Bruce and Smith have never been in Maiden for the money moron.

Comment by HAGEN OF VALHALLA (Anonymous) - Tuesday, June 13, 2006

SIMPLY GREAT I SAW THIS SHOW LIVE IN RIO AND I STILL GETS SHIVERS DOWN MY SPINE JUST BY REMEMBERING. I AGREE WITH THE REVIEW BUT ULRIK I THINK YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN THEY PLAYED THA CLANSMAN I STILL HEAR THE PEOPLE SCREAMING FREEEEDOOMMMM... GREAT SONG AND GREAT PERFORMANCE, NICKO IS FUCKING AWESOME HE STILL KICKS ASSES AND BASS PEDAL LIKE NO ONE ELSE AMAZING SHOW FOR HIM, DICKINSON VOCALS WERE SUPERB AND THE GUITARS ALONG WITH JANICK GERS PERSONAL SHOW DANCING AND KICKING WERE OUTSTANDING, GREAT SOUND FOR THEN TOO AND HARRIS BASS, COME ON MAN I DON'T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT BUT HE PROVED ONE MORE TIME HE IS THE GREATEST BASS PERFORMER IN ALL METAL EXISTENCE. ROCK IN RIO WAS A GREAT SHOW, THE BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER EVER SAW. THEIR STATUS AS A PERFORMERS SHOULD NOT PUT ON DISCUSSION SIMPLY AMAZING. 15/10

Comment by Chubs (Anonymous) - Tuesday, January 23, 2007

You guys fucked up bad on THE # OF THE BEAST.