Maiden Oz: The Iron MaidenTribute @ Transit Bar ,Canberra (17/12/11)

Mon 26th Dec, 2011 in Gig Reviews

The tribute show can be a tricky conundrum, especially when paying homage to one of metal’s most cherished and beloved mainstays Iron Maiden. Whether choosing to recreate faithful renditions of dearly loved standards or taking artistic license and exploring new territories, disappointment is almost always on the cards when tackling a band so crucial and integral to metallic rock’s heritage.
The Iron Maiden Tribute that took place on Saturday at a packed and sweaty Transit Bar not only proved the most cynical of doubters wrong, but made for a night of utterly stunning live music, courtesy of Maiden Oz, who delivered a performance that could easily have stood up to the real thing.

The sheer mass of punters on the night donning black shirts that sported Maiden’s eponymous mascot, Eddie the Head, proved a clear indication of the unwavering popularity of Iron Maiden, a remarkable phenomenon, given the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement took off nearly three decades ago. Fans both young and old crammed themselves into Transit’s modest space as the horns were raised for a near flawless and intimate performance that covered a selection of the most beloved Iron Maiden tunes – 2 Minutes To Midnight, The Trooper, The Number of The Beast, Fear Of The Dark and Run To The Hills all enjoyed a strong reception, whilst thankfully the decision was made to skim over the more lacklustre moments in Maiden’s diverse oeuvre (namely the forgettable Blaze Bayley fronted era).

Some good old fashioned head banging was obligatory as Maiden Oz tore through each number with ease, Maiden’s trademark galloping riffs and harmonised leads faithfully reproduced verbatim, catalysing some spirited moshing and excited yelps. A fantastic mix that was almost beyond reproach gave the vocals plenty of room to soar over the instrumentals – vocals which, if you closed your eyes, could have easily been mistaken for Bruce Dickinson’s. A particular highlight was an engrossing rendition of Rime of The Ancient Mariner. an epic sprawling ballad, played complete with a haunting ambient interlude that evoked Coleridge’s tale of despair and hubris.

Seeing Iron Maiden live is an enthralling, exhaustive experience. With all their ridiculously hyperbolic props and theatrics, there can sometimes be a missing sense of intimacy with the music, something unexplainable that is lost. By taking Iron Maiden’s music out of the stadium and back into the most potent of settings, Maiden Oz managed to create a startling tribute to some of heavy metal’s greatest songs. No small feat at all.