Just two weeks after the monumental Metallica concert, we found ourselves once again at the Olympic Stadium of Athens (OAKA), this time for another legendary heavy metal event: Iron Maiden, with special guests Anthrax. Much like Metallica, Iron Maiden also chose Greece as the starting point of their European “Run For Your Lives” Tour, celebrating 50 years of the band’s incredible history. From early in the afternoon, thousands of Iron Maiden fans had already gathered outside the stadium. Everywhere you looked, you could see Maiden t-shirts, flags, battle jackets, and fans of all ages waiting patiently at the official merchandise stands to grab a souvenir from what promised to be a historic night. As the gates opened and the crowd slowly filled the stadium, the atmosphere became increasingly electric. You could immediately feel that this was not just another concert — it was a celebration of heavy metal culture itself. At exactly 19:00, Anthrax took the stage and kicked off the evening in explosive fashion. Scott Ian, Joey Belladonna, and the rest of the band delivered 45 minutes of pure American thrash metal energy, reminding everyone why Anthrax remain one of the legendary “Big Four” alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth. Songs like “Caught in a Mosh”, “Madhouse”, and especially “Indians” turned the arena into chaos, with circle pits and nonstop crowd participation throughout their set. The band themselves looked genuinely happy to be there, constantly interacting with the audience and clearly enjoying the warm welcome from the Greek crowd. After Anthrax finished their set, anticipation inside OAKA continued to build. More and more fans poured into the stadium, and by the time the lights dimmed for the headliners, the venue was packed with over 50,000 fans ready to witness Iron Maiden once again. At around 20:45, the familiar intro of “Doctor Doctor” by UFO echoed through the speakers — the unmistakable sign that Iron Maiden were about to take the stage. The entire stadium erupted immediately. Moments later, the lights went out completely and the giant LED wall came alive with dark animated alleyways in a graphic-novel style atmosphere that hinted at the “Killers” era. As “The Ides of March” began playing, the excitement reached another level before the band exploded onto the stage with “Murders in the Rue Morgue”. Absolute madness followed. From the very first song, Iron Maiden proved once again why they are considered one of the greatest live bands in music history. Bruce Dickinson was in outstanding form — energetic, theatrical, constantly moving across the stage, and vocally flawless. The entire band sounded incredibly tight, almost as if you were listening to the studio albums themselves. The production was spectacular. The massive LED wall visuals changed constantly depending on the song, creating a cinematic experience throughout the night. Every era of Maiden’s history came alive through animations, stage props, lighting, and of course the multiple appearances of Eddie, who thrilled the audience every single time he appeared on stage. Classics like “Wrathchild”, “Killers”, and “Phantom of the Opera” transported the audience back to the band’s early years, while “The Number of the Beast” sent the stadium into another frenzy. One particularly memorable moment came when Bruce Dickinson addressed the crowd and mentioned that they were about to play a song they had not performed live in many years. Most Greek fans instantly hoped for “Alexander the Great”, a song deeply connected with the Greek audience over the years. Instead, the band surprised everyone with “Infinite Dreams”, a rare and emotional inclusion in the setlist that delighted longtime fans. The momentum never slowed down. “Powerslave”, “2 Minutes to Midnight”, and the epic “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” showcased the band’s incredible ability to combine storytelling, musicianship, and theatrical presentation into one unforgettable experience. “The Trooper” was naturally one of the highlights of the night. Bruce Dickinson waved the iconic British flag across the stage while Eddie appeared dressed as a soldier, recreating one of the most legendary visual moments in heavy metal history. The main set closed with the timeless “Hallowed Be Thy Name” and “Iron Maiden”, but nobody truly believed the show was over. Iron Maiden and encores simply go together. After a short break, the sounds of warplanes and explosions filled the stadium while Winston Churchill’s historic speech introduced “Aces High”. The encore had begun, and the crowd responded with incredible energy once again. Then came one of the most emotional moments of the night: “Fear of the Dark”. From the very first notes, the entire stadium sang together in unison, creating goosebumps everywhere. It was one of those magical live moments that remind you why concerts like this are unforgettable. Finally, Iron Maiden closed the night with “Wasted Years”, a perfect ending to a concert that celebrated decades of heavy metal history. As the band took their final bows and “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” played through the stadium speakers, thousands of smiling fans slowly made their way out of OAKA. What made the night even more special was the diversity of the audience. You could see fans in their 50s attending with their children, younger generations discovering Maiden live for the first time, and everyone united through the music. Iron Maiden once again proved that they are more than just a band — they are a living heavy metal institution. The “Run For Your Lives” Tour started in Athens in spectacular fashion, and everyone who attended this concert witnessed a truly unforgettable night. Μόνο Maiden!!!! Up the Irons! Anthrax Setlist – Athens 2026 Among the Living Madhouse Caught in a Mosh Metal Thrashing Mad I Am the Law Antisocial Got the Time Indians Iron Maiden Setlist – Run For Your Lives Tour 2026 Murders in the Rue Morgue Wrathchild Killers Phantom of the Opera The Number of the Beast Infinite Dreams Powerslave Two Minutes to Midnight Rime of the Ancient Mariner Run to the Hills Seventh Son of a Seventh Son The Trooper Hallowed Be Thy Name Iron Maiden Encore Aces High Fear of the Dark Wasted Years Read the full article

On Saturday, May 9, 2026, the Olympic Stadium of Athens transformed into a massive temple of heavy metal. More than 80,000 fans gathered at OAKA to witness a historic night with Metallica as part of their monumental M72 World Tour. For many of us, this was not just another concert. It was a return to our youth, an emotional journey through decades of memories, and a reminder of why Metallica remain the biggest metal band on the planet. Knocked Loose: An Explosive Opening Opening the night were Knocked Loose. For those experiencing them live for the first time, their performance served as a powerful introduction to the modern hardcore sound. With endless energy, intensity, and genuine passion, the Americans proved they enjoy every second they spend on stage. The only downside was the sound, which unfortunately did not allow the audience to fully experience the power and detail of their compositions. Even so, they succeeded in warming up the crowd perfectly for what was about to follow. Setlist – Knocked Loose - Blinding Faith - Don't Reach For Me - Mistakes Like Fractures - Piece By Piece - Moss Covers All - Take Me Home - Hive Mind - Suffocate - Counting Worms - Deep In The Willow - Everything Is Quiet Now Gojira: The Ultimate Force of Modern Metal After a short break, it was time for Gojira. The French giants once again proved why they are considered one of the most important modern metal bands in the world. We had already witnessed their incredible performance at Release Festival in the summer of 2025, where they delivered a stunning headline show. At OAKA, they appeared massive, technically flawless, and filled with intensity. Unfortunately, just like with Knocked Loose, the sound did not fully capture the magnitude of their performance. Still, those familiar with their music, especially fans standing in the arena, experienced a truly crushing live set. Setlist – Gojira - Born For One Thing - Backbone - Stranded - The Cell - Flying Whales - Love - Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!) - Another World - Silvera - L' Enfant Sauvage - Amazonia And Then… Metallica Moments before Metallica appeared, the legendary “It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)” by AC/DC echoed through the stadium speakers. A symbolic message about the road to greatness — a road Metallica have traveled like very few artists in music history. Immediately afterward, Ennio Morricone’s iconic “The Ecstasy of Gold” filled the stadium, and everyone understood that the moment had finally arrived. Creeping Death and a Storm of Classics With the opening riff of “Creeping Death,” OAKA exploded. Without giving the audience a moment to breathe, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” followed, instantly placing the night among the most memorable live experiences Athens has ever hosted. The set balanced classic and newer material perfectly with tracks like “Moth Into Flame,” “King Nothing,” “Lux Æterna,” and the emotional “The Unforgiven,” which turned the entire stadium into one massive choir. “Fuel” raised the temperature once again before one of the most emotional moments of the evening arrived. The Greek Moment: Zorba and Trypes During the traditional “Kirk & Rob Doodle,” Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo paid tribute to Greece in a unique and unforgettable way. They began with the legendary theme from “Zorba the Greek,” receiving a deafening reaction from the crowd, before transitioning into “Δεν Χωράς Πουθενά” by Trypes, with Robert Trujillo singing in Greek. It was one of those rare moments that go beyond music and become a genuine connection between artists and audience. Emotional Peak “Fade to Black” brought chills throughout the stadium, especially for older fans who grew up with these songs. “Wherever I May Roam” followed with imposing force, while “Nothing Else Matters” transformed OAKA into a sea of lights from thousands of mobile phones. “Sad but True” reminded everyone why The Black Album remains one of the most important records in rock history. The Final Attack With “One” from ...And Justice for All, the audience witnessed yet another monumental moment. “Seek & Destroy” turned OAKA into an endless singalong, while “Master of Puppets” created absolute chaos and euphoria throughout the stadium. And of course, the finale came with the untouchable “Enter Sandman,” a song that continues to unite entire generations. Setlist – Metallica (Athens, May 9, 2026) - Creeping Death - For Whom the Bell Tolls - Moth Into Flame - King Nothing - Lux Æterna - The Unforgiven - Fuel - Kirk & Rob Doodle (Zorba the Greek / Δεν Χωράς Πουθενά) - Fade to Black - Wherever I May Roam - Nothing Else Matters - Sad but True - One - Seek & Destroy - Master of Puppets - Enter Sandman A Night That Went Beyond Music When the lights finally went down and the last notes disappeared into the Athenian sky, nobody wanted the night to end. Chants of “We want more!” echoed throughout the stadium, but Metallica had already delivered more than two hours of pure musical history. As tens of thousands of people slowly left OAKA, one feeling united everyone: gratitude. For some, it was their first time seeing Metallica live. For others, it was another precious reunion with the band that shaped their lives. But for all of us, regardless of age or gender, it was an experience that will remain unforgettable. And as we walked away from the stadium, one thought remained: Up the Irons. See you again at OAKA for Iron Maiden.   Read the full article