Nearing the end of the 2022 leg of their world tour that commenced six months ago in Croatia, East London heavy metal legends Iron Maiden landed at the Prudential Center (affectionately known as “The Rock,” a reference to the Rock of Gibraltar corporate logo) in Newark, NJ this past Friday night, October 21.
Iron Maiden’s Legacy of the Beast Tour, inspired by the 2017 video game of the same name, is an all-encompassing retrospective of their history, complete with a visually stunning stage design featuring jaw-dropping, thematic backdrops and stage props. Dating to the first leg of the tour consisting of European dates in 2018, Iron Maiden have played nearly 150 shows to more than 3 million fans, their biggest world tour since their formation on Christmas Day 1975.
Taking over support duties from Trivium, who departed the tour at the end of September after opening eleven shows for the heavy metal icons, Within Temptation took the stage promptly at 7:30 pm. Formed in 1996 in the Netherlands, the symphonic metal band are led by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. The Dutch sextet is rounded out by Ruud Jolie (lead guitar), Jeroen van Veen (bass), Mike Coolen (drums), Stefan Helleblad (rhythm guitar) and Martijn Spierenburg (keyboards).
Within Temptation performed three tracks (“Raise Your Banner,” “Supernova” and “The Reckoning”) from the latest of their seven studio albums, 2019’s Resist (Spinefarm Records), which found the band exploring new genres such as industrial and electronic dance music. The remainder of their 8-song set included single offerings from their discography, albeit their 1997 debut album (Enter) and their third studio album, 2004’s The Silent Force. Nearing the end of their set, Within Temptation presented “Don’t Pray for Me,” the fourth and most recent independently-released single in a series that is a precursor to their next studio album – expected for release in 2023.
At approximately 8:45 pm, as “Doctor Doctor” by UFO played over the house PA, the lights went dark and it was game on! To thunderous applause from the 20,000 capacity crowd, the heavy metal icons appeared before us – the 64-year old Bruce Dickinson known for his legendary, operatic-style vocals, bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain and the trio of guitarists comprised of Adrian Smith, Janick Gers and Dave Murray.
Maiden’s 15-song, nearly two hour set kicked-off with the three lead tracks from their most recent studio album and 17th overall, Senjutsu, including the title track, “Stratego” and “The Writing on the Wall.” The opening trifecta of songs was accompanied by a magnificent stage production that matched the Japanese theme of the record’s visual graphics, including an early appearance by their mascot Eddie as a samurai warrior. Eddie would make another appearance later in the night as “The Trooper” to do battle with Dickinson.
The setlist was a retrospective of their voluminous, four decade discography celebrating their biggest hits (“The Trooper,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” and “Fear Of The Dark”), while also including some deeper cuts such as “Revelations” (Piece of Mind, 1983), “Blood Brothers” (Brave New World, 2000) and “Sign of the Cross” (The X Factor, 1995). Maiden played two encores consisting of “The Trooper,” “The Clansman,” “Run To The Hills” and the closing number of the night, “Aces High,” as a life-size replica Spitfire plane swayed high overhead.
In the closing moments of the show, before Monty Python’s “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” Dickinson addressed his audience for the last time of the night:
We’d like to take you home with us, but you won’t fit through the front door. Have a great weekend, have a great week, have a great month, have a great year. In fact, have a great fucking life, because you only get one. Live every fucking day you can of it. We’ll see you again, thank you everybody.
Maiden’s 24-date journey across North America culminates at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on October 27, followed by a much-needed rest for this band on the cusp of their golden years. Lord knows they sure haven’t wasted any, especially with 2023 dates already announced for The Future Past Tour that will launch at the Sweden Rock Festival in early-June. And hopefully, by then, these metal behemoths will finally be on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s list of new inductees.
Within Temptation Setlist: The Reckoning > Paradise (What About Us?) > In the Middle of the Night > What Have You Done > Supernova > Don’t Pray for Me > Raise Your Banner > Mother Earth
Iron Maiden Setlist: Senjutsu > Stratego > The Writing on the Wall > Revelations > Blood Brothers > Sign of the Cross > Flight of Icarus > Fear of the Dark > Hallowed Be Thy Name > The Number of the Beast > Iron Maiden > Encore: The Trooper > The Clansman > Run to the Hills > Encore 2: Aces High
Within Temptation
Iron Maiden
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