The new Iron Maiden album, released about two weeks ago, has reinvigorated my interest in the band and it has given me hope that older metal bands can age with some class and intelligence. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any other metal band, save the reunited Judas Priest, who have been around for so long and yet have produced such a satisfying, mature album.
Iron Maiden has actually put together a solid collection of music filled with long epics, time changes, and guitars, guitars, guitar — even some nice acoustic playing. There are some recurring themes, including war, salvation, faith, and (of course) death.
This album is meaty enough to cause me to listen to it several times before attempting to write my thoughts down. It's not the type of album you can easily digest in one sitting, and thank goodness for that.
The opening track, "Different World," has what sounds like some of the band members joining lead singer Bruce Dickinson for the friendly sing-a-long chorus. It's an uplifting way to begin the album. No one sings metal quite like Dickinson, who injects so much passion into his stylings you believe you are being told an important tale by a seasoned storyteller. You can hear he's not quite hitting the heights he used to, but then again, he is 48 years-old, having joined Maiden when he was 24-ish.
You don't hear Maiden gallop a whole lot on A Matter Of Life And Death, but they do so in the superb third track, "Brighter Than A Thousand Suns," which references a Robert who is most certainly Robert Oppenheimer, widely known as "the father of the atomic bomb." The music varies from solemn quietness to the sound of a freight train barreling down at you.
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Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Nice Review...
" and I appreciate the obvious craft that Maiden has put into making a most uncompromising, quality album."
The rare craft of recording without using cheap editing tricks to cover up poor musicianship. The mere fact that the band members share a room to record live just goes to show that Maiden will always release killer metal albums!!
UP THE FUCKING IRONS!!
2 - Triniman
Thanks. Can't wait to see them on tour!
3 - Steve
Saw the show 10/4/06 in Hartford. Sixth time seeing Maiden. Extremely disappointed. They played for 1 hour & 40 mins. Only 3 "classics"...'Iron Maiden', '2 minutes', & 'Hallowed be thy name'. Music was decent, just expected more of the good shit. Save your $50 bucks.
4 - Triniman
One of the compromises that happens when veteran bands tour is that they often can't play as many of their classics. Still, with only 3 classics, I think a lot of Maiden fans would be surprised. I just saw The Who this week and they played 25 songs, including ten new ones. Maiden should consider playing a show longer than 100 minutes. The Who played for 125 minutes and fit in that much more famous material.
5 - Sunny
They cant really play a long set because you have to keep in mind no one sings like bruce. he runs around the stage all night jumping and singing those high notes. i can bet that the people in the who arnt as mobile as iron maiden on stage.
6 - kurt
they had just been here on an India tour.....
wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! amazing experience..........though wish they had played for more than 1.5 hrs....
7 - Frank
Hell yeah .. Maiden this tuesday in INGLEWOOD!