Rockers Iron Maiden have been doing their stuff since the 1970s - flying the flag for British metal around the world - and their return to the North-East proved they are as popular as ever with their fan base. A sell-out audience, consisting mostly of men in their 40s, packed the Metro Radio Arena.

The evening opened with supporting band Trivium, relatively new kids on the block. They could arguably have been the headline act. Among their set were songs Detonation, Anthem (We are Fire) and old favourites like Light to Flies and Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation.

Iron Maiden many be getting on in years but still have the passion of younger bands and came bounding on to the stage. To the delight of the crowd they opened with A Matter of Life and Death and went on to play their new album in full.

The numbers, with themes on war and religion, had mellow introductions but soon built up to the heavy technical guitar work Iron Maiden is known for. Their set included old favourites The Evil That Men Do and Hallowed Be Thy Name. Main man Bruce Dickinson played the audience like a conductor leading an orchestra. The stage set included an impressive tank, complete with smoking gun. An evening to tell the children about - or grandchildren, for many of those who were there.