SPILL LIVE REVIEW: BRUCE DICKINSON w/ CROWN LANDS @ HISTORY, TORONTO

BRUCE DICKINSON w/ CROWN LANDS

@ HISTORY, TORONTO

SEPTEMBER 16, 2025

The Man, The Myth, The Legend. That’s right, I’m talking about Bruce Dickinson, a dude who single-handedly changed heavy metal music for the better back in the ‘80s and took Iron Maiden from a promising club band to stadium superstardom. Along the way he released multiple solo albums, embarked on spoken word tours, and got his pilot’s license to fly his various acts all over the world. He hasn’t slowed down since.

Dickinson and his band of gypsies descended on Toronto’s HISTORY Club on September 16 with Oshawa’s own Crown Lands as the opening act. This was a show that wasn’t to be missed.

Crown Lands really put on a solid show, with their own brand of ‘70s and ‘80s style prog rock. As a duo, they fill out the house PA system surprisingly well. The band is tight as hell, vocalist and drummer Cody Bowles hits unthinkably high notes on lead vocals while playing incredibly challenging drum parts, and Kevin Comeau, the hair-farming wizard of the strings, seems to play it all—foot-pedal bass, keyboards, bass guitar, lead guitar, vocals and more. Those two dudes have the swagger, the songs, and the chops to move a crowd.

After a quick stage change, Bruce Dickinson’s band graced the stage, building the tension for the man of the hour. As Dickinson leapt to centre stage and tore into the night’s first song, the crowd, heavily populated with Maiden fans, myself included, erupted into a deafening roar.

CROWN LANDS

The band kicked the night off with “Accident of Birth,” a serious chugger and perfect opener to rip the doors open for a killer show. As expected, Dickinson was in top form, pouncing and bouncing all over the stage like a hyperactive kid at recess.

The roadshow would be nothing without Dickinson’s killer band: Chris Declercq and Philip Naslund on guitars, Dave Moreno on drums, Maestro Mistheria on keyboards, and the stunning Tanya O’Callaghan on bass. Every band member brings the noise and energy at breakneck speed—hair flies, sweat pours and there’s not a dull moment from start to finish.

The guitar playing was first-rate between the individual soloing and the always complex harmony guitar parts. Axesmiths Declercq and Naslund tore the place up proper. The flying fingers didn’t end there. Mistheria, rocking a keytar, ripped solos left, right, and centre, adding his Alice Cooper–style persona to the stage and keeping the party bumpin’.

No Bruce Dickinson set would be complete without a nod to Iron Maiden, so with much teasing, the band tore into “Flash of the Blade” and once again, the joint went ballistic.

At the midway point of the show, the band took a quick break while the drummer ripped a proper solo. Then everyone jumped in for their own spotlights, including Dickinson himself on a theremin, which was honestly pretty entertaining. And it’s right up his alley with all the hand-and-arm motions, something he’s famous for and only he could make a theremin solo feel so metal.

The final act of the set got into more sinister tracks like “The Alchemist” and “Book of Thel.” Saving the best for last, the encore included the killer tracks “Tears of a Dragon,” “Gods of War,” and “The Tower.”

The overall show was a hot ticket, from the power-packed set to the killer visuals backing the stage. If you’re not familiar with Bruce Dickinson’s solo work I strongly suggest digging in, as he brings the same power to the mic that he’s so well known for in Iron Maiden. I would definitely see this band again on the next run.

(Photography by Andre Skinner)

Photos

Artist Links