Search - Iron Maiden :: Live at Donnington

Turn the bass down!!!!!

Metal Guy | 01/04/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"THis is a great live record with many maiden classics for you to enjoy(read the track listing).Some people argue that the production is not as good as the production for the "Live After Death " CD,but I thing they are dead wrong.If you are listening to this CD with the bass turned up really loud the Production seems a bit out of whack.Steve Harris must have wanted to make shure we could hear every note he played.If you just turn the bass down the production is every bit as good as "Live A.D." The only problem I have with Live Maiden records is most of them have the same songs .How many Versions of "Number of the Beast," "Two minutes to midnight," and "Wrathchild" do we really need? I wish they would change up some. Maybe play some songs off of the "Somewhere it Time" Album.I would really love to have a live version of the song "Alenxander the great" (who wouldent.) THis is a MUST HAVE for any maiden fan ...Put it in the cart."

"Some problems,But A Good Live Maiden Album"

Tommy Morais | New Brunswick, Canada | 06/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After releasing the Fear of the Dark album in 1992 Iron Maiden headlined once again the Donington show.This show was recorded that same year but "Live At Donington" during Maiden's Fear Of The Dark tour,but it was only released in November of 1993.This was to be Bruce Dickinson's final tour with Maiden wich can explain some its flaws.Yes this is not the greatest live album they've done I'll be the first to say that,the honor would have to go to 1984's "Live After Death" but it's still a very good show.Live at Donnington was re-released in 1998 on a double compact disc wich made it much easier to find,also to note is the album's artwork has been changed to the Donington poster used back in 1993 wich looks much better than the original plain white one they used.



There are some problems with the audio.Steve Harris's bass sounds too loud here,and it shouldn't.It makes me wonder if Steve did this on purpose to have his parts heard!The other thing is that while this doesn't always happen,Bruce sounds like he doesn't want to be there and dull.What could explain this is that at the time Bruce really wanted to be a solo artist and do his own things.He had previously released Tattooed Millionaire his first solo album back in the late 80's and now wanted to have a solo career full time wich is why he sometimes sounds that way,he had enough of Maiden and was about to leave.



On the good side Live At Donington has a great setlist,over 20 songs on two discs,the song choices are interresting.There are five songs from their last album(*FOTD at the time)who are all good.The live versions of "Fear Of The Dark" and " on this album might just be my favourite of all,"Be Quick Or Be Dead" opens the album with a bang!The crowd's reaction was quite positive."Afraid To Shoot Strangers" and "Wasting Love" are both very well done and it's nice to have some slower songs in the set.Some songs make their first appearance on a live Maiden album such as "Can I Play With Madness","The Clairvoyant" and "Heaven Can Wait"(the crowd really participates on that one at the end it' s great!)wich surprised me!Those ones I didn't expect to hear are there and they sound great.Along with all those are the regulars as "The Number Of The Beast"(the crowd even does the churchill intro by heart wich amazed me!),"Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "The Trooper" who are great as always.



The crowd participates on a lot of songs,"Two Minutes To Midnight","Heaven Can Wait" and "The Number Of The beast" are very good exemples and a couple others.At the end of the show Bruce asks the crowd if they liked the show and the reaponse was quite good.This show featured a lot of interaction with the crowd by Bruce wich is great to hear,its nice to hear the crowd give more life to the show but they don't overshadow the band,it sounds great.



Overral its not their best live album but it's a good one,don't expect too much and you'll like it.Its unfortunate that Maiden released two other live albums around the same time as this one,earlier and with many of the same songs wich makes this look less appealing.To its credit,this one sounds better than either of A Real Live One or A Real Dead One.It has some flaws but some high points too,If you are a fan I really think you should get this.Consider buying the 2002 remaster edition however,that version is just better.I'd say the album's strong point is the track listing,its far from being the best but its different and some tracks sound very good.I'm not disapointed by Live At Donington,in fact Im pleased with it,its a satisfying live album by one my favourite bands."