Deep in the throes of the sequel to The Future Past Tour 2023, this time conquering the world with The Future Past World Tour 2024, the titanic Iron Maiden once again come stateside to dominate the USA from coast to coast after taking over Australia, New Zealand, and Japan just last month.
Opening for the tour are Mongolian sensations The HU, infusing their brand of rhythmic heavy rock with the bouncy folkiness of their East Asian home. With traditional rock instruments taking a backseat to the morin khuur and the tovshuur, the highlight of the group comes from the enrapturing dissonance of Gala, Jaya, and Enkush's throat singing. The eerie tones emanated from their respective mouths, creating an enrapturing combination of hypnotizing inflections accompanied by straightforward riffing.
My familiarity with Mongolian rock music had previously been relegated to Tengger Cavalary, having listened to their Mongolian-infused style of death metal for several years prior to the group's demise with band leader Nature Ganganbaigal's untimely passing in 2019. I will say I was taken aback by The HU's slower pace in comparison to my ill-fitted primer in Tengger Cavalary, as well as the renowned quickness of their legendary tour partners. Not unwelcome, however, as it served as a smooth and interesting appetizer for what was to come.
Reprising a well-practiced set of 15 songs spanning Iron Maiden's monstrous career, hits from The Number of the Beast, Fear of the Dark, and the band's self-titled debut blasted the massive inner walls of Kia Forum, with favorites from Somewhere in Time and 2021's Senjutsu serving as a backbone for the band's performance.
Exploding onto the stage with "Caught Somewhere in Time," you could easily mistake these seasoned heavy metal leviathans for more youthful musicians who have managed to ape Maiden's sound meticulously. Barring some nearly indiscernible aging to Bruce Dickinson's voice, the band sound as cohesive and full as they ever have. Even now with 300-some years of combined experience, these pioneers of heavy hold an unwavering command of stage and crowd alike. Having seen Iron Maiden a few times over the years, they still move as energetically as ever.
Choice tracks including "The Prisoner," "Can I Play With Madness," and "Fear of the Dark" fit perfectly alongside newer bangers in the likes of "The Time Machine" and "Days of Future Past" in a thoughtfully-crafted setlist with a playtime of a hair under two hours. Moreover, a giant-sized (or perhaps normal-sized for him?) Eddie took to the stage several times during the night, first appearing during "Stranger in a Strange Land," donning a Clint Eastwood-esque cowboy outfit, echoing the artwork of the 1986 single.
Not to be denied his own stardom, Eddie only became bolder as the music went on, culminating in a fiery duel with vocalist Bruce Dicksinson during "Heaven Can Wait." Outmatched and outgunned thanks to Dickinson's overwhelming firepower, Eddie retreated to the nether, allowing the band to launch into the back-to-back marathon of the monumental "Alexander the Great" and "Fear of the Dark."
Not one to stay down, Eddie took to the stage one final time donning a fearsome samurai guise and brandishing a formidable katana to duel it out with guitarist Janick Gers during "Iron Maiden." As many bands do, this signaled a cheeky false end to the evening, the lights dimming for a faux finish.
Oh ho, but we are quite familiar with your game, Iron Maiden. Lights aglow once more, the band reappeared to finish their conquering of Los Angeles. We were treated to a trio of delectable selections in an encore that included the ramping "Hell on Earth," galloping classic "The Trooper," and a lovely reminder to live in the present with "Wasted Years" to close out a finely curated set.
There are still dates across North America left on The Future Past World Tour 2024, so if you haven't seen Iron Maiden yet, don't miss your chance to do it.
To quote Bruce Dickinson from the night, "Not bad for a bunch of old fuckers."
The HU
The Fans
Iron Maiden
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