Review/Photos by: Lizzy Davis

Iron Maiden has landed in America, kicking off their “Legacy of the Beast Tour” at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, on Thursday, July 18th. The band has come to be known as one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history and they were welcomed by nothing less than a sold out crowd of 20,000. The diverse group of fans spanned across all generations and gathered from all corners of the country, united and ready to “up the irons.”

The band wasted no time pulling out the full stops from the get go, as opening song “Aces High” featured a 90% to size replica WWII Spitfire plane propelling overhead. But the backdrops, stage effects and even renowned frontman Bruce Dickinson’s wardrobe were quickly cycled through. The “Legacy of the Beast Tour” pulls inspiration from Iron Maiden’s mobile game and comic book of the same name and the stage production and atmosphere rotate with nearly every song, mimicking a number of different “worlds.”

The spectacular stage setup and top tier production continued throughout the entirety of Iron Maiden’s set. During “The Clansman,” a new incarnation of Iron Maiden’s beloved mascot “Eddie” joined the band on stage while pyrotechnics and fireworks followed for “Sign of the Cross.” Stopping at nothing, Dickinson even dual wielded flamethrowers during “Flight of Icarus.”

With 16 studio albums under their belt, Iron Maiden has no lack of fan favorites to play. Their 16 song setlist covered a large selection from the 1980s, spanning across classics from no less than 10 albums in their discography. Fan favorites included, “Two Minutes To Midnight,” “The Trooper,” and “Fear of the Dark,” which got the crowd moshing throughout the remainder of the show.

After ripping through high notes and guitar riffs for nearly two hours, Iron Maiden returned to the stage one last time for a three song encore that included, “The Evil That Men Do” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name.” The show closed with a literal bang after “Run To The Hills,” as Dickinson directed the crowd in a familiar request, “Scream for me, Fort Lauderdale!” Responding to the crowd’s roar, he pumped a TNT prop that set off one final blast of pyro and fireworks. 

Iron Maiden will continue with 33 dates across North America. Their current tour is the most extensive production they’ve had yet and a true testament to the legacy that Iron Maiden has created for themselves.