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Rating: There's a corpulent woman lying on the ground, Maiden shirt, smoking ecstatically and relaxing in the hot afternoon, waiting for 9 p.m. Another, a few steps away, shows off a back fully tattooed with the frightening face of Eddie. Every T-shirt tells a story: Gods of Metal 1998, the 1988 tour, 2010, 2018. There are evidently many fathers with their children, as if this music were a verb to be passed down, an unavoidable tradition.
Because the people at the Iron's concert seem to communicate above all a fact, judging by the infinite variety of shirts, tattoos, and even the emphasis of the moment that transpires from their attitudes: the songs we are about to listen to are not just a pastime, a background. They are an identity, something that has partially shaped the lives and imaginations of those who today defy Milan's tremendous heat to hear them live. It is no coincidence that this identity is almost displayed like a flag, on their clothes and skin, because everyone here is proud of it, like a tribe of Normans claiming their strength, consistency, and perseverance in following and spreading that verb. If in 2023 they are still here with all this enthusiasm to play for two hours, recklessly, it means that the emotions and thoughts invested in this band over the decades were well-placed.
Two albums in the foreground, and they are not among my favorites, but the show still works perfectly. The latest “Senjutsu” and “Somewhere in Time”, along with some unmissable classics like “Can I Play With Madness,” “The Trooper,” “Fear of the Dark,” “Iron Maiden.” Sure, many others are missing, but I don't feel like criticizing them; after more than forty years of touring, it's understandable to want to change.
They play like gods, there's not much to add. Bruce is the absolute showman with many introductory speeches between songs, some jokes (“What if the DeLorean was a Fiat?”), screams, and jumps. It feels like standing in front of a group of 65-70-year-old kids, playing and having fun even messing around with giant dolls dressed as Eddie.
The occasion is a good one to rediscover tracks like “Caught Somewhere in Time” and “Alexander the Great.” From the latest album, especially “Hell on Earth” and “The Writing on the Wall” stand out. It’s just a shame that some non-essential tracks from the most recent album could have left room for bombs like “Powerslave” and “Seventh Son” which I have personally never heard live. No big deal. Up the Irons!
A side note. Field 106 euros, T-shirts 45 euros, beers 8. Inhuman heat and a setting that does not help, very little shade and not even a jet of water. The invasion of mosquitoes towards evening and, to top it all off, Stratovarius arrived late and played only two songs. They missed their flight, blah blah, it's not the end of the world, but the guy who came on stage almost preaching to us because there was some grumbling... not cool.
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