I still don’t think Bruce is “butchering” Aces High, at least in the videos from Bucharest. I agree that he is not performing it to his usual, insanely high standard. I think it would be better to move such a challenging song earlier in the set where his voice is fresher, down tune, or drop it.
Aside from straining on certain phrases, he still sounds fine. The changed melody in the chorus is disappointing but technically sound. Of course the strain is not great for his voice, and I wish they’d adapt to protect his instrument.
I just think butcher is too strong a term to describe how he’s performing. I’ve seen waaaaaay worse from singers in other bands lol. I think it sounds fine. Not great, not terrible, but fine and acceptable to me. Now if it turns into a mumbling, spoken word performance of the song by the time I see them in Charlotte, I will change my stance lol
I’m not at all saying we need to lower our standards as fans. What I am saying is I think we are all just doing what fans do, and maybe we are exaggerating the reality a little bit.
Fan is short for fanatic after all