Maidenfans.com has posted a review of the upcoming IRON MAIDEN Early Days DVD at this location. It was written by Sweden Rock's Martin Forssman, who gave the package a 9 out of 10. It reads as follows:

"It would be easy to see this release as yet another proof of Iron Maiden’s and Sanctuary’s infamous hunger for profit. Nothing but old material and some of it has been seen before. But these Brits are not just good at making money, they almost every time delivers good value for the money. This is no exception.

The Early Days is the first part of a series of DVD’s where concert films are mixed with both classic and more obscure live videos. The first of the two discs begins with Live At The Rainbow, one of the first long concert documentations ever been released on VHS, recorded Dec 1980. These 35 minutes are probably the closest, for us that had barely begun to learn how to walk, get to experience a young Maiden at its best with Paul Di’Anno on vocals. There is an even earlier video of a gig at the Ruskin Arm as a bonus on the DVD, but the Live At The Rainbow recording is superior as its almost perfect in both sound and visually.

The slightly primitive framework makes a sharp contrast to the Iron Maiden we know from Live After Death (which will be included in the next part of the series) and similar recordings. Funny note: three tracks from the then not yet released record Killers are included – among them the title track, 'Killers', with different lyrics than the released version.

Live At Hammersmith, of which 45 minutes is on this DVD, was recorded in Feb 1982, about a before the album The Number Of The Beast reached the record stores shelves. The single, 'Run To The Hills', was out a couple of days before the concert, but the audience hears 'Children Of The Damned', '22 Acacia Avenue', 'Hallowed Be Thy Name' and the title track for the first time.'.

It remains a mystery how a large part of the fans and media representatives at that time could loathe the new vocalist Bruce Dickinson after having witnessed this recording.

Di’Anno may have been charming in a way, but when compared neck by neck its obvious that Dickinson is superior in every aspect. Unfortunately the picture is too dark, which is a pity since everything else is absolute world (top) class. Also fun to see the sadly forgotten gem 'Total Eclipse'.

The second DVD contains a larger part of a newly produced documentary about the early days of the band career. Unnecessary one could think – the same line of evens was documented in the 1986 12 Wasted Years. However, the new production is much more professional and thoroughly worked out. No less than 39 persons are interviewed, from early members like Samson, Burr, Stratton, Dave Sulivan, Di’Anno and Ron Matthews to journalist, managers, record company representatives and technicians.

The TV recording of Live at Rock & Pop Festival from Dortmund 1983. The sound is somewhat blurry and that makes this as fillers compared to the rest of the material, although that the band is doing a better-than-usual performance and that there is the historical importance in “the killing of Eddie.

In one and a half hours the story of Iron Maiden is told by the people that were a part of it, from the start when Steve Harris decided to start play bass, via industrious 'pub-gigging' and struggling during the end of the 70's to the Dortmund concert before millions of TV-veiwers in 1983.

And even though a large part of it has been seen before it is very interesting, much thanks to that we are given some of Steve Harris diary notes and pictures from the band members private photo album. But, if you want to get full info of the Iron Maiden history one should read the bio in book form instead, because it contains much more detail than what this media allows.

As extras on disc #2, there is yet another documentary; the 25 minute long 20th Century Box – Heavy Metal, plus the band's two Top Of The Pops performances ('Running Free' and 'Women In Uniform'), and all promo videos produced during that time, yet another German TV-performance, a discography, a list over the tourdates and an extensive photogallery.

Is there anybody who is not convinced that this is an absolute must-have?"

Early Days is due to be released through Sanctuary on November 8th.