Artist: Bruce Dickinson
Title: Tyranny Of Souls
Genre: Metal-Progressive
Label: Sanctuary Records
Bruce Dickinson Website
I think 2005 is the year of Metal. It is more popular than ever and with great lead vocalists that have made their mark long ago such as Bruce Dickinson, pumping out great solo albums like Tyranny Of Souls, it seems to be the norm. The Metal and Progressive idioms continue to take hold and capture the imagination of the music buying public. Bands like Iron Maiden have not lost their appeal and Dickinson has capitalized on his band’s success in big way with superior solo work. The remastered version of his first solo recording Tattooed Millionaire (1990) is phenomenal and this new album carries on the practice of the heavy crisp sound that metal heads will devour.
Roy Z kicks up some dust with his six-string throughout this progressive metal workout. “Believil” and “A Tyranny Of Souls” are the most powerful examples of Mr. Z’s meaty razor sharp playing. His playing rivals his peers in all aspects. Dickinson needs right on time musicianship to pull off his commanding vocals to perfection and he gets that kind of support consistently throughout this session. I have listened to this album repeatedly and it is as good as any Iron Maiden material I have ever heard, which really comes as no surprise because Dickinson plays for keeps and he would have nothing but the best to give his fans. The man sounds as strong as ever on this outing and I am sure once Iron Maiden gets back to the studio to record the momentum of this album will spill over into those sessions.
Something caught my ear while listening to “Navigate The Seas of The Sun,” Dickinson sounds like the deceased Uriah Heep lead vocalist David Byron. He achieves a similar pitch to Byron’s when he tones it down and delivers his vocals in a softer way. I heard the song enough to recognize the similarities and because I have always been a big fan of UH, it was that much easier for me to pick up. This may come as a surprise to some folks but the comparison is there for you to hear.
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