I don't know... Not that he sings badly or anything close (to be fair I'd rather have this version of him than anything post 2008, which is perfectly rational). But his performance sounds disengaged. He doesn't hit those notes with the power and conviction he did one or two years prior. Don't get me wrong: it sounds nice yet a bit sloppy for his standards, that's all.
For me he sounds like balls to picasso
Mmmm... he sounds fine in Maiden England (although there's something that's holding his massive output to come even nearly what he is capable of, resulting in some songs sounding a bit strained) and to a lesser degree he sounded a bit off during the various gigs from that tour I listened to. Which once again is strange to say the least: I think Bruce sounds way better performing many of those tunes during the following tour. But I think LAD is Bruce on another level. Ah! Not to mention RIR 1985! Bruce is on fire, and it's a broadcast! What that guy does on the second chorus of Aces High is jaw dropping!
This! One thing is noticing stuff now that he's older and his voice somewhat eroded (which, once again, is perfectly normal), yet not compromising what I consider to be his former prime the majority of times. Another thing is saying anything Bruce did up to roughly 2010 sounds "strained" or "bad". There are levels and yes, one can be a bit nitpicking on this or that era, and that's fine. But I simply can't comprehend how people find huge dips on quality standard during those nearly 30 years (perhaps the Somewhere on Tour decrease - which I think is his least achieved 80's live era - was the most noticeable, but even so there are still many songs he really nailed during 1986 to 1987).
Totally agree with this. As he gets older his voice has eroded a bit but not too a huge degree to me.
I don't know if it's the best... As I said before, during the first three tours it was godlike mode for me all the way. However, last week I was listening to 22 Acacia Avenue live in Dortmund 1983 (broadcast) and man... That thing is scary. IMO the best version of the song I've ever listened to. Not to mention To Tame A Land in Ipswich.
IMO Bruce sounded great in 2010 overall. Now, 2015/16 is when I think his voice started to dip. Perhaps due to chemo. To a point that he sounded way better to me during The Future Past Tour than on The Book Of Souls Tour or Legacy Of The Beast (not to mention the solo tour where his voice is also on a really high level). Turning back the clock a decade is mind blowing... I don't know how Bruce managed to achieve it, but IMO he did it.
2014 he sounded worse than 2016 IMO, but that is probably because of a huge lump in his throat.
For me, Bruce’s best tour post-cancer was 2018. He was on fire! He was excellent last year, but 2018 was something else. It came out of the blue, considering he was hit and miss in 2017.
I absolutely agree!!
Because they realized that Wacken is an entirely overrated beer fest. It doesn't differ much from Oktoberfest actually: Both at Wacken and Oktoberfest people wearing leather clothing in their own traditions, drink incredible quantities of beer and clap their hands to some music.
IMO the Ullevi 2005 concert is the peak of Bruce. (And maybe the band as a whole)
I agree.
And the best of them that night was Dave.