Scream for me Quebecois!! 40,000 people happily obliged to Bruce Dickinson’s commands, as the five other men on stage who make up Iron Maiden gave a performance worth remembering at their recent tour stop in Montreal’s Parc Jean-Drapeau. The hours leading up to the heavy metal titans’ triumphant return to Montreal felt special, not only on the show grounds, but around the city as a whole. Plenty of metalheads of all ages, sporting their Maiden tees and battle vests, were spotted in Montreal streets, bars, and restaurants. Catching up with old friends or exchanging stories with new ones. There was a palpable energy in the city that afternoon. All of which was leading to an evening we won’t soon forget.
Excited fans meant for many people funnelling into the concert at the same time, causing a 40-minute queue from the Parc Jean-Drapeau metro station just to enter the grounds. I unfortunately had to miss the first few songs of Anthrax‘s set, but the back half that I did catch was very solid. The New York City thrash metal legends played all the classics, with Joey Belladonna’s trademark vibrato on full display. A short-but-sweet set has me wishing they’ll be back soon for a proper headlining show. I dig the hits, but their deep cuts are just as good. I’m excited to check out the band’s first new album in a decade once it releases on September 18. Personally, I believe Anthrax’s 2010s output far outshines everything else they’ve released. I hope this new record can keep their streak going.
Next up was Megadeth, for what very well may be our last time seeing them live. After the release of their final album earlier this year, feelings were undoubtedly bittersweet for most of us in the crowd that evening. Still, they put on a great show without any mention on stage of them hanging it up. Dave Mustaine’s trademark snarl was present in classics like Sweating Bullets, and of course, the tour debut of A Tout Le Monde, which, without a doubt, goes over incredibly well with the French-speaking crowd. Fast-paced ragers like Peace Sells and Holy Wars… The Punishment Due were met with some small but enthusiastic moshpits in multiple areas within the large general-admission crowd. A fun visit from the band’s straitjacket-ridden mascot, Vic Rattlehead, set the tone for the night’s theatricality, as well. Teemu and Dave’s dueling lead guitar soloing moved along like clockwork, and was an awe-striking display of masterful shredding performed so casually. I can only hope Dave and the boys come back to Montreal for a proper send-off as headliners, but if not, their 50-minute set was a satisfying end to a thrash metal giant’s legendary career.
Finally, with the sun having fully set, the main attraction was moments away. Iron Maiden played what I consider an absolutely perfect setlist. So many classics, all of my favourites, and a couple deeper cuts that went over incredibly well. A literal 10/10, no notes. I loved hearing so many iconic Maiden songs that were omitted from the setlist when I last saw them in Manchester 9 years ago. As expected, frontman Bruce Dickinson was an absolute class act. He chose to speak in French to the audience every time he addressed them between songs. It was a gesture that went a long way, and engaged the Quebecois audience to listen attentively, laugh along to the funnier moments, and be enthused about the next songs he was about to introduce. He did also apologize for his voice not being as strong as it usually is, which remains one of the night’s biggest disappointments. His screams sounded great, but Dickinson did noticeably struggle with hitting long sequences of higher notes throughout the entire night. Big hits like Aces High, Number Of The Beast, and The Trooper lost a lot of their power as he was finding passable notes in a lower range in real time, to mixed results. As a consolation, it was entertaining and even endearing to hear a crowd full of thousands also struggle to hit those same original notes. The man’s range is unparalleled, even on an off day. I can only hope it wasn’t an age issue, but something different, and only temporary.
The instrumentalists of the band more than held their own, however. Janick Gers still bringing manic energy to the stage as he’s pushing 70, the absolutely iconic guitar duo of Dave Murray and Adrian Smith trading masterfully-woven solos and harmonized riffs, and Steve Harris’ galloping bass carrying the rhythm forward alongside his British Lion bandmate, Simon Dawson. Dawson’s proved a worthy replacement for Nicko McBrain, who stepped down after a 42-year tenure in the band. As with any Iron Maiden show, the theatricality was second to none. Costume changes, some guest appearances from a 10-foot-tall Eddie, great stage design and some striking animated video visuals all contributed. I absolutely hate that we’ve collectively reached the point where I now question whether or not any band’s animated concert visuals were made with generative AI, but regardless, they did integrate quite creatively into the songs’ mood and lyrical themes across the night. The band also didn’t hesitate to bring the mood right down with long drawn-out instrumental passages in their lengthier songs. Rime Of The Ancient Mariner, and Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, for example, gave us some appreciated breathing room, with accompanying light and visual changes that attempted to distract from the increasing number of crowd members who wanted to drown out the music in these quieter moments with their own personal conversations. It doesn’t matter if it’s with the young city-living Osheaga crowd, or the older metalheads travelling from afar, Parc Jean-Drapeau concerts seem to always welcome these distracting moments of reconnection.
Iron Maiden’s set was just over two hours of pure textbook theatricality, capped off with a promise to return in about two years. I can only hope the city of Montreal will be beaming with as much heavy metal energy as it did now. The entire experience served as the perfect end to another incredible summer in Montreal.
Review – Mathieu Perrier
Photos – Ryan Rumpel
