Iron Maiden Revisit Their Heavy Metal Roots at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium [Photos]

When Iron Maiden announced the Run for Your Lives tour, I got really excited. The concept of playing stuff exclusively from their first nine albums sounded like a dream. Not that I don’t love the rest of their discography but I saw this as a rare chance to hear some deep cuts for the first time in decades (and maybe the last too). I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear “Afraid to Shoot Strangers,” “Infinite Dreams,” or “No Prayer for the Dying” again?

So, as you can imagine, when the setlist was revealed, I felt a bit let down. It was packed with all the usual classics that have been staples of every tour for as long as I can remember, plus just a handful of songs that hadn’t been played in 15–20 years. On top of that, the majority of the setlist was dominated by just three albums not to mention that a whole album was ignored. But still, that didn’t stop me from making a short trip to Vienna to see my favorite band. No matter how indifferent I felt about the song choices, there’s no such thing as a bad time at an Iron Maiden show.

Thankfully, the weather was on our side that night, it stayed dry, unlike the rainy days before. The stadium was packed, and everything ran like clockwork as the opening act, Avatar, hit the stage right on schedule.

This was my first time seeing Avatar live, and even though I was skeptical by their use of makeup and theatrical appearance (call me old fashioned), I had a great time. Their sound is a strong mix of old-school and modern heavy metal. Their set focused on material from 2012 onward, including their two latest singles, “Captain Goat” and “In the Airwaves,” both of which I really enjoyed. Special mention goes to frontman Johannes Eckerström, who managed to connect impressively well with a crowd that’s famously indifferent to support acts. His excellent use of the German language certainly helped, and the audience was surprisingly responsive. After eight songs, Avatar thanked us and walked off to a well-deserved round of applause.

Then came the moment we were all waiting for.

The lights dimmed, UFO’s “Doctor Doctor” blasted from the speakers, and the whole stadium went ballistic. It was Maiden time and I had long forgot my grumpiness regarding the setlist.

“The Ides of March” followed, soundtracking animated clips showing the band’s history from 1975 onward on the newly upgraded stage now featuring wraparound screens. Then came the intro to “Murders in the Rue Morgue”, the final piece of pre-recorded music for the night before the band exploded onto the stage. And explode they did! Everything happened so fast, I barely had time to register it. Suddenly all six members were on stage, running around, instruments swirling in the air.

“Wrathchild,” “Killers,” “Phantom of the Opera” one after another, the band tore through the early material with almost no breaks in between. It wasn’t until “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” that Bruce finally addressed the crowd. He gave a short speech that led into the famous line from Coleridge’s poem: “Water, water everywhere!” signaling the band to start their second epic of the night. Bruce’s vocals were in excellent form by any standard. I’ve been following the band closely for a little over 20 years and knew what to expect, but the pace and intensity of the set left me surprised.

Yes, the songs are carefully arranged to give Bruce breathers, but from the audience’s perspective, it’s relentless. One song after the next, each performed not just enough to do them justice but with passion.

Speaking of passion, I have to mention the band’s energy. You might think that, at their age and after two months of playing the same songs night after night, they’d start to feel or seem a bit dull on stage. But no! Everyone looked genuinely happy to be there especially Janick. I was standing on his side of the stage and got to observe him more than the others. There’s no other way to put it: the guy was just enjoying himself. Every move, every note, his expressions, it all radiated joy. That kind of emotion makes a difference in the final output of any effort.

As for the newest member, drummer Simon Dawson, I now understand what Bruce meant when he said it feels like having Clive Burr back. Simon brings a raw touch that suits the early Maiden catalogue really well. That said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel at times that I missed Nicko’s drumming, his precision and the unique way he fills space within the music added a depth that is now no more.

Nonetheless, Simon, to his credit, is his own drummer that doesn’t try to replicate someone else’s playing style and that contributes a whole lot to the overall vibe.

Approaching the finale, the show wasn’t going to end with a whimper. No Maiden show ever does. It ended with a bang, to paraphrase T.S. Eliot. The encore featured the trifecta of “Aces High,” “Fear of the Dark,” and “Wasted Years.” What a way to finish. The visuals throughout the concert were stunning, but they reached another level as the show progressed especially “Hallowed Be Thy Name,” which remains one of the most powerful live songs in heavy metal history.

Even though the chosen songs didn’t quite satisfy my ideal setlist, Iron Maiden delivered an unforgettable night. No matter how much you might have grown bored of certain classics, hearing them live is a whole new experience that takes you back to your roots, to the first time you heard and fell drawn to these notes, lyrics and themes. It makes you reflect on your own life’s journey as the band revisits theirs, only to realize how deeply intertwined both are.

Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in what wasn’t played. But being there, in the middle of it all, reminded me why this band still matters so much to so many people.

Until we meet again!

Check out George Krikos Photography’s photo gallery from the show here.

Iron Maiden (w/ Avatar) @ Ernst Happel Stadion (Vienna, Austria) on July 17th, 2025

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