It’s impossible to talk about the foundations of heavy metal without mentioning Iron Maiden, one of the most legendary bands of all time. And it’s equally impossible to talk about Iron Maiden without mentioning Bruce Dickinson, one of metal’s most iconic vocalists. Dickinson’s creative energy has long extended beyond Maiden, fueling a successful solo career as well.
Nearly two decades after his last album, Tyranny of Souls, Dickinson returned in March 2024 with his seventh solo release, The Mandrake Project. Now, for the first time in nearly three decades, he’s back on the road as a solo artist, showcasing the new album while giving fans the long-awaited chance to hear his classics live. The tour stopped at Brooklyn Paramount on Wednesday night, with local legends AnAkA opening the show.
ANAKA needed no introduction when they walked onstage. This was their home borough, after all, and the crowd greeted them with a roar of homecoming applause as the band launched into their set at full throttle.
Performing with raw energy and clear excitement, ANAKA looked right at home on the Brooklyn Paramount stage — especially alongside their self-proclaimed hero, Bruce Dickinson.
Now in their 25th year as a band, ANAKA has followed a similar arc to Dickinson, returning to the studio after a long stretch away to release The Oblivion Call in 2024. The new record took center stage in the first half of their performance before they shifted into fan favorites like “Doomsday Divide” and “Erase.”
It was a powerful hometown showing, one that set the bar high and perfectly primed the room for the legendary frontman who would follow.
Bruce Dickinson’s solo tour has taken him in every direction—just last week hitting Florida, making a quick detour to Brazil, and then returning stateside for this show. The band was more jet fuel than jet lag as they blasted off with “Accident of Birth.”
Bruce Dickinson’s multi-talented musicianship was on full display as he opened “Shadow of the Gods” with a beautifully haunting theremin solo, later adding bursts of hand percussion throughout the set.
Most impressive, though, was his iconic singing voice—truly an irreplaceable force in metal. His a cappella rendition of “Revelations” carried the kind of grandeur worthy of Lincoln Center, and it led straight into the Iron Maiden classic “Flash of the Blade,” making its first-ever appearance on a tour setlist.
The super-heavy riffs of “Resurrection Man” were a personal favorite of the night, as was the band’s cover of “Frankenstein,” which showcased the immense talent of every member.
After closing their set with “Road To Hell”, Dickinson and his band returned for a three-song encore that tore the house down. It was a triumphant reminder that, nearly five decades into his career, Bruce Dickinson still commands the stage with the power and presence that made him one of metal’s most iconic voices.
Their tour continues through the top of next month, wrapping with an appearance at Aftershock Festival in Sacramento and The Wiltern in LA.
