Iron Maiden in Dublin: All Killer(s), No Filler in a Near-Perfect Set List That Hits the High Notes Every Time…

Iron Maiden in Dublin: All Killer(s), No Filler in a Near-Perfect Set List That Hits the High Notes Every Time

 

Last night, Dublin’s 3Arena was transformed into a searing temple of heavy metal as Iron Maiden delivered a thunderous, unforgettable set that had fans raising devil horns from the opening riff to the final roar. On their ongoing The Future Past Tour, the legendary British rockers proved once again that age is just a number, delivering a tightly constructed, near-perfect set list that celebrated both the band’s future vision and their glorious past.

Opening with the explosive “Caught Somewhere in Time,” a rarely played gem from their 1986 album Somewhere in Time, Maiden immediately signaled to the crowd that this was no nostalgia-driven greatest hits show. Instead, this was a carefully curated journey through the decades, packed with thematic weight, technical brilliance, and sheer theatrical spectacle.

Lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson, a ball of energy despite being in his mid-sixties, was in top form, his operatic wail soaring over a crowd that matched him word for word. Whether sprinting across the stage in “Stranger in a Strange Land” or delivering an impassioned “Fear of the Dark,” Dickinson’s voice never faltered. He remains one of metal’s greatest frontmen — part singer, part storyteller, part ringmaster.

The band’s classic lineup — Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Janick Gers, Steve Harris, and Nicko McBrain — played with the precision and fire of musicians half their age. Harris’ galloping basslines anchored songs like “The Trooper” and “Can I Play With Madness,” while the triple-guitar assault gave older tracks a fresh, muscular edge.

Visuals were as stunning as ever. Eddie, the band’s ever-evolving undead mascot, made several appearances — from a samurai warrior to a towering cyborg — while the stage design morphed between dystopian sci-fi and gothic grandeur. Pyrotechnics lit up the arena, but it was the musicianship that truly set the night ablaze.

The set list leaned heavily on Somewhere in Time and their more recent Senjutsu, proving that Iron Maiden is not content to coast on old glories. Yet classics like “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “Iron Maiden” still thundered through the arena, drawing deafening chants from the thousands-strong crowd.

Perhaps the most striking thing was the energy in the room — not just from the band, but the fans. Multi-generational metalheads packed the venue, some bringing their kids to witness the spectacle. It felt like a communion of old-school passion and modern power, bound by soaring solos and the epic storytelling that Maiden has made their trademark.

As the final notes of “Wasted Years” rang out, there was a palpable sense that those lucky enough to be in attendance had witnessed something special. No gimmicks, no fluff — just a set list that hit hard, ran deep, and delivered with ferocious precision.

Iron Maiden came, saw, and conquered Dublin. All killers, no filler indeed.