This is Volume 2 of the 2001 A Tribute To The Beast album, using the same approach of asking big names of the Metal scene to cover Iron Maiden songs, and with the same success. The bonus disc of the 2-CD version contains songs that could already be found on the 2000 Slave To The Power album, so it may not be necessary to those who already own it, unless they really want to complete their Maiden collection.
DESTRUCTION
– Killers (Di'Anno, Harris)
This version of "Killers" retains the power and aggression of the original song, and is excellently performed.
Too fast and hectic, this cover of "The Trooper" is a complete flop, some would say a total massacre of a great song. Sentenced are usually much better with their own compositions....
Note that this cover can be found on the Internet with Children Of Bodom as the artist. Well, this information is wrong, although Children Of Bodom did cover other Iron Maiden songs (and much better than Sentenced did!).
PRIMAL
FEAR
– 2 Minutes To Midnight (Smith, Dickinson)
Did they include a real Iron Maiden track on this tribute album? Well, no. But Primal Fear deliver here an almost note-for-note rendition of "2 Minutes To Midnight", including a voice that's an exact replica of Bruce Dickinson's. Not really original, but the perfect musicianship really has to be praised here.
"Wrathchild" is definitely a song that can easily be adapted to more extreme styles, and Devin Townsend's vocals perfectly match the whole mood. Very good cover.
Anthrax is not usually a very "subtle" band when it comes to high-energy and aggressive music, but their offer us a great rendition of "Remember Tomorrow", with all the feelings and power that characterise the song. Brilliant job.
With a funny little piano intro, the song bursts into a rapid Death Metal-like rendition that's also quite funny, provided that you see the – certainly unintended – humour in it. The ending's also quite interesting, done in the same style as 'Powerslave'. All in all, this is only for fun and simply cannot be taken seriously.
Starting with a nice violin intro (well, it's synth, I know) and closing the same way, we get here a great Death Metal version of "Fear Of The Dark". The bagpipes sound of the solo is also really original and enjoyable. Those who are not into this style of music may not like it though.
Once again, like for Sentenced's cover of "The Trooper", the cover band has been confused with another. This is indeed Graveworm, and not Cradle Of Filth, as some have stated.
This version of "Revelations" by Therion is much better than the cover they did of "Children Of The Damned" on the 1997 Made In Tribute album, which wasn't hard to achieve. This is the only live song on this album, and it is also very well performed.
This is an absolutely fantastic cover of a fantastic song. Iced Earth manage to make it sound almost better as the original studio version, and Barlow's voice, full of power and feeling, is incredible. This is definitely the best song on the whole album.
