Paul Di'Anno - Hell Over Waltrop (Live in Germany)

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The name of Paul Di’Anno will always cause controversy and politics. Some will say that he lives off the name of his former band (is there the need to remind that Paul recorded the two first IRON MAIDEN’s albums?), and the older ones will remind the excellent albums released by BATTLEZONE and KILLERS (two bands formed by Paul in the past). Anyway, his name is written on Metal history, and his shows always are full of fans, and “Hell Over Waltrop (Live in Germany)” shows that the Iron Man is in great shape.

Yes, it’s a live album, and to cause disappointment on the fanatics that still insist on insulting Paul (they do the same with Blaze as well), it has material from IRON MAIDEN, but many songs from his works with other bands. Obviously, the band tries to put some new musical arrangements and energy on the songs (and they fit, without destroying their original outfit), and Paul’s voice still sounds great, and the public really reacts with the songs, creating an amazing synergy. Yes, it’s a great live album! Obviously that the recordings files received digital treatment on studio before are ready to be released (but without endless overdubs), but not in a way that could tear apart the live feeling that and album must bear. It sounds alive and honest, a feature that marks the entire career of the Iron Man. Everything can be understood, and with the essential energy of a live show.

Well, songs as “Prowler” (the reception of the public is amazing, the guitars are really great), “Murders in the Rue Morgue”, “Remember Tomorrow”, “Phantom of the Opera” (where Paul shows why this song doesn’t work perfectly on other voices), “Transylvania”, “Running Free” (a classic song that can’t be absent of any show of Paul) and “Sanctuary” are tokens from IRON MAIDEN’s days, but “Impaler” and “Marshall Lokjaw” (both from KILLERS’ times, from “Murder One”), “Children of Madness” (from BATTLEZONE age, with an amazing aggressiveness arising from guitars), “The Living Dead” and “The Beast Arises” (from his solo career, from the album “The Living Dead”, which he was promoting on the time when this live album was recorded), “Faith Healer” (a cover from ALEX HARVEY BAND cover that appears on KILLERS’ second album, “Menace to Society”), and the unexpected version for RAMONES’ “Blitzkrieg Bop” (remembering that Paul was a Punk back in the 70’s) form the setlist of a great show, indeed, with energy and a great attitude from Paul and his band.

Yes, “Hell Over Waltrop” is an excellent live album, indeed, and a fine show that Paul doesn’t live off his past. Hear it out loud!

Musicianship: 9
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 10
Production: 8