Sea Of Tranquility



The Web Source for Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal & Jazz-Fusion
  Search   in       
Main Menu




Bayley,Blaze: The Night That Will Not Die (DVD)

This one disc DVD is a companion to the recently reviewed double CD set and is the final part of The Man Who Would Not Die saga as the Blaze Bayley band are currently in the process of winding down their touring schedule and beginning preparation for their next studio album. This is very much a no frills package and what you get is the complete show without any extras or bonus features, albeit a limited edition two disc set has also been made available. That said, the one disc version it is still a fine release as the band deliver an energy sapping set at the Z7 in Prateln, Switzerland at the end of 2008.

The presence of the cameras doesn't prove to be a distraction and the band are all clearly fired up throughout. Striking an immediate rapport with the audience, Blaze proves to be an engaging frontman and the set takes in all aspects of his post-Maiden career in addition to including "Futureal", "Lord of The Flies" and "Man On The Edge". There is plenty of clarity to the footage, even if at times the camera angles are somewhat one-dimensional which is a reflection of the budgetary constraints. The best word to sum up the bands performance is intensity as they seem entirely focused on the job at hand with every riff and solo delivered with aplomb. The last couple of years have seen Blaze Bayley the band really deliver when it mattered most and their next studio release will be a real indication of just how far they have progressed.


Track Listing
01. The Man Who Would Not Die
02. Blackmailer
03. Smile Back At Death
04. Alive
05. Identity
06. Kill And Destroy
07. Ghost In The Machine
08. Ten Seconds
09. Futureal
10. Lord Of The Flies
11. Leap Of Faith
12. Edge Of Darkness
13. Crack In The System
14. Voices From The Past
15. Stare At The Sun
16. Born As A Stranger
17. Man On The Edge
18. While You Were Gone
19. Samurai
20. Robot

Added: October 16th 2009
Reviewer: Dean Pedley
Score:
Related Link: Blaze Bayley Website
Hits: 2309
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend Send to a Friend ]

  

[ Back to the Reviews Index | Post Comment ]

» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Bayley,Blaze: The Night That Will Not Die (DVD)
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2014-11-24 17:54:07
My Score:

Having recently reviewed the CD version of this fantastic concert, which was recorded at Z7 in Prateln, Switzerland last year, it was with much enthusiasm that I sat down to watch the gig that I had enjoyed hearing so much on CD. Whilst it does come across on the audio version of the show, Blaze's fantastic rapport with his audience is even more apparent through every track on this version. It's a joy to watch his intensity as he delivers every line, for this is one guy who means every word of what he is singing. I know that some critics have issues with Bayley's voice, however I have never had any problems with his delivery, and especially live it's the character behind the voice that is so captivating. He also has the knack of holding the attention of every person in the room and while he maybe isn't the most energetic performer on stage, he still manages to engage superbly with the audience.

What is also hugely apparent on the DVD is just how accomplished Blaze Bayley the band is. Nico Bermudez and Jay Walsh on guitar are superb, riffing like demons and soloing for all they are worth. David Bermudez looks like he's got six fingers as he pounds his bass strings, however for me the stand out is drummer Larry Paterson. His contribution seems to stand out in a way that the CD never highlighted, his drumming doesn't over shadow any of the other instruments, however every snare hit, tom roll and cymbal crash delivers a knockout blow. It's to Blaze's credit that he has put together such an effective, efficient group of musicians who deliver the tracks with class and skill. As I stated in the CD review, I would go as far as to suggest that the Blaze era Maiden tracks in the set are given a breath of life that Maiden themselves never quite managed to achieve, "Futureal and "Man On The Edge" in particular sound fantastic. Don't think though that you will be waiting for the Maiden tracks to come round for a step up in class, in fact nothing could be further from the truth. When Blaze has songs with the ferocity and potency of "Smile Back At Death", "Crack In The System", "Ghost In The Machine" or "Voices From The Past" then the standard never drops below excellent and instead of trying to live up to his past Blaze Bayley surpasses it with ease.

As with the CD, the sound on the disc is excellent, Blaze's ex Wolfsbane mate Jase Edwards doing a tremendous job getting a sharp, punchy mix, making every note and beat crystal clear while retaining the vibrancy that can only be found in the live arena. The only down side to the whole DVD package is that it was obviously filmed on a tight budget, there are not many camera angles and some of the camera work itself can be a little amateurish, with the odd wobbly pan, or shot not quite in focus. However it is thoughtfully and entertainingly edited and never does the camera-work detract from the sheer enjoyment of watching the band in full flow.

There is a two disc limited version of The Night That Will Not Die which contains a documentary about the show filmed, sound check clips, interviews and an exclusive track called "Endless Sleep", which unfortunately I haven't heard, so can't pass comment on. However with twenty tracks and a running time just a little short of two hours, disc one alone is value for money.

With any live concert DVD there is always two questions I ask myself after my first time watching it; "Do I wish I was there?" and "Will I revisit it regularly?" and with this release I can answer both questions with a definite yes.



© 2004 Sea Of Tranquility
For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.

All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all other content © Sea of Tranquility

SoT is Hosted by SpeedSoft.com