[.ca] Rock in Rio

From Amazon.com:
Recorded during Iron Maiden's headlining 2001 performance at the Rio Rock Festival, this double CD finds the legendary metal outfit in fearsome form. Revitalized thanks to the return of original singer Bruce Dickinson for 2000's Brave New World, the one-time East London bar band clearly relishes tearing through old and choice new songs in front of 250,000 people--the biggest crowd they'd ever seen. This is traditional metal at its squealing, pummeling best. Established classics like "Wrathchild" and "Two Minutes to Midnight" reemphasize all that is unashamedly great about proper heavy metal, including the rock-solid riffing, the brick-outhouse rhythms, and the outrageous solos. The early 1980s hits "Number of the Beast" and "Run to the Hills" prove that Iron Maiden can deliver a sing-along chorus that will rattle around the inside of your skull for hours, if not days. What really makes Rock in Rio, though, is the near studio-quality production and the rabid reaction of the South American throng, who do their best to drown out the band. Here is proof, if any is needed, that Dickinson and company are up there with the rock greats. --Ian Watson

nothing like live after death:
Don't get me wrong, Rock in Rio is a great live album. The fact that Iron Maiden can draw enough fans to drown out Bruce's voice on the Wicker Man (250,000+) after more than 20 years is amazing and a testament to how great they are. I just prefer Live After Death. The setlist on Live After Death is a million times better than the list for Rock in Rio. I was disappointed to hear so many songs from Brave New World and not enough classics. In general though, Rock in Rio is great... Rock in Rio = 4 out of 5 stars Live After Death = 5.5 out of 5, its that good

UP THE IRONS! 4.5 stars:
Iron Maiden's intensity and overall furosity are captured nearly perfectly on this CD. Bruce's voice seems somewhat weak in the beginning (noticable on The Wickerman, or maybe it's just because the 250,000 screaming fans drown his voice out). Either way it improves greatly by the 4th song so it really doesn't bother me. The musicianship is perfect, at no point is there is a mess-up. The guitar solos are awesome. I think it could have benefitted from a few tracks for solos. Like Heartbreaker and Moby Dick on How the West Won it would have been great to hear these guys no-holds-barred solo. But alas they do not and that is my only complaint.

Maiden is finally back:
After their last 2 live albums (A Real/Live dead one, and Live at Donnington) being completely dissapointing, Rock in Rio is where they totally redeemed them selves. With Bruce, and Adrian back again giving them their 3 guitar line up, and their great sound again. I recommend this cd, or Live After Death if anyone wants to hear them live.

Iron Maiden is still rocking!:
Iron Maiden still ripping it up after almost 3 decades? Indeed. Powering through nearly 30 years of hits and some newer cuts, these guys never seem to get tired. Although their new three guitar lineup slightly drowns out Steve Harris's monster bass skills, the return of Bruce Dickinson makes everything better. All in all, a fine album. I would also suggest getting the DVD. UP THE IRONS!!!

In 2002, heavy metal was alive and well in Brazil !!!:
"Rock In Rio" packs a lot of punch from a truly great band. Sound production is crisp, yet I do feel on some songs the guitars are simply not loud enough. Steve Harris and Dave Murray, the two original bandmates that have appeared on every Iron Maiden album, are still in great form and they remain the true core of the band. McBrain continues to pound the skins and provide a steady beat. Bruce Dickinson can still wail. Gers still pisses me off - and I wish that he and his flashy self indulging style of guitar picking would get the boot. While "Rock In Rio" is very good, it will never be what "Live After Death" is. "Live After Death" captured Maiden at their peak, playing all their (now) classic material... truly a LIVE metal masterpiece. Hence, "Rock In Rio" is years beyond the unimpressive "Real Live One", "Real Dead One", and "Live At Donnington"... not that Maiden was bad, but sub par song selection and dismal sound production did all three of these in. "Rock In Rio" concentrates heavily on the songs from "Brave New World". The band plays more than half the songs here from "BNW". Fans of the new Maiden will find this live performance essential to their collection. The best songs for me were "Blood Brothers" and "Sign Of The Cross" from disc 1; and the classic 1-2-3 punch to end disc 2 featuring "Hallowed Be Thy Name", "Sanctuary" and "Run To The Hills". This disc also features 2 enhanced videos for your computer. A sneak peak of the upcoming DVD... song featured is "Brave New World" and a look at the band on the road "A Day In The Life". Sound quality was okay, but the frame speed seemed "off" and it looked like Bruce was singing ahead of what you were hearing. The CD also comes with a 22-page booklet jam packed with band pictures and lyrics to all 19 tracks. In 2002, heavy metal was alive and well in Brazil.

• Intro
• The Wicker Man
• Ghost of the Navigator
• Brave New World
• Wrathchild
• 2 Minutes to Midnight
• Blood Brothers
• Sign of the Cross
• The Mercenary
• Trooper
• Brave New World (enhanced video)
• Dream of Mirrors
• The Clansman
• The Evid That Men Do
• Fear of the Dark
• Iron Maiden
• The Number of the Beast
• Hallowed be Thy Name
• Sanctuary
• Run to the Hills
• A Day in the Life (enhanced video)