Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death, anyone's bought it?

[Minute Mirage]

Anyone else here in Apolyton who bought Maiden's new album? Heck, anyone here who listens to Maiden?

Now, I have all of their old studio albums, but I wasn't too sure whether to get this one because I hadn't been that keen in Maiden for a while. The dreadful single "Wildest Dreams" and the worst cover in rock history (a contender, at least) didn't help matters. However, I read some good reviews, so I decided to take the risk. Here is my current opinion of the album, for what it's worth:

The Great:

Paschendale.

No doubt about it, this is the best song of the album, and the best song after SSOASS. Definitely a Maiden classic and worth the price of the album by itself.

The Good:

Rainmaker, No More Lies, Dance Of Death, Face In The Sand, Journeyman.

The next single Rainmaker is a nice, melodic rocker and lightyears above Wildest Dreams.

No More Lies starts with a Clansman- like slow intro which is at least a minute too long. The song does kick into action after 2 minutes and features a memorable, if repetitive chorus. This sounds like a good live song.

The title track starts slowly once again but develops into an epic which reminds me of Mother Russia. One of the highlights of the album, despite the rather silly lyrics and the eery resemblance to Spinal Tap's Stonehenge at places.

Face In The Sand is a song that took a few listenings to open. Great, dark atmosphere in the song and good singing from Dickinson.

Journeyman is the first real Maiden ballad since Prodigal Son a few decades ago. A beautiful song and a great ending to the album.

The Mediocre:

Gates Of Tomorrow, New Frontier, Age Of Innocence.

Gates Of Tomorrow is an average rocker at best. Think along the lines of The Mercenary from Brave New World.

New Frontier is the first song which features writing credits from the drummer, Nicko McBrain. No great surprises here, this one is another rocker. I'd rank it slighly above GoT becuase of the better chorus.

Age Of Innocence reminds me of Dickinson's solo album Skunkworks, which isn't a very good thing. I'd take Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding over Skunkworks any day.

The Bad:

Wildest Dreams, Montségur.

Wildest Dreams is an annoying little song with an annoying chorus, but it's not as downright bad as Montségur. Maybe the reason I dislike Montségur so much is that song had potential before they decided to turn it into a happy pirate song. The chorus is enough to ruin any song.

[DaShi]

They still make albums?

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by DaShi
They still make albums?

So it would appear.

[DaShi]

I don't believe it. They've got to be 40 or something by now.

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by DaShi
I don't believe it. They've got to be 40 or something by now.

I think they're a bit under 45. Dickinson did say that he can't see himself touring when he's 55-60 because of the physicality of the shows.

[Monk]

Thanks for reminding me. I saw them for the second time at Roskilde this summer. At some point in the show just before they played the new song, frontman Dickenson asked if anybody has bought some kind of recording gear to the show (even though you aren't allowed to bring that stuff into the festival grounds). He went on to saying that if we recorded this song and passed it around on the Internet, it would be all right with Iron Maiden. In fact, he said that we could all go and download the new album on the one condition that if we really liked it, but only then, we'd go out and buy it. He must have said it at Helsinki, too. It's a fair compromise.

I'll check out the P-song at the very least.

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by Monk
Thanks for reminding me. I saw them for the second time at Roskilde this summer. At some point in the show just before they played the new song, frontman Dickenson asked if anybody has bought some kind of recording gear to the show (even though you aren't allowed to bring that stuff into the festival grounds). He went on to saying that if we recorded this song and passed it around on the Internet, it would be all right with Iron Maiden. In fact, he said that we could all go and download the new album on the one condition that if we really liked it, but only then, we'd go out and buy it. He must have said it at Helsinki, too. It's a fair compromise.

I'll check out the P-song at the very least.

That was a quite relaxed attitude from Dickinson. Very cool.

Anyway, I do recommend checking out Pachendale, but be aware of fake files. If you're content with a .ram file, a Finnish newspaper has the song available for listening here.

[St Leo]

/me mumbles something about Helloween's 2003 Rabbit Don't Come Easy
/me runs from the Maiden fans

[Dis]

I got their last album based on recommendations here at Apolyton. I was still a little dissappointed. The first 4 or 5 songs were good, but the second half of the album just didn't do it for me.

I am mainly a fan of their first 7 albums, though fear of the dark was a good album they put out in the 90's.

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by Dissident
I got their last album based on recommendations here at Apolyton. I was still a little dissappointed. The first 4 or 5 songs were good, but the second half of the album just didn't do it for me.

I am mainly a fan of their first 7 albums, though fear of the dark was a good album they put out in the 90's.

If you like their classic albums, you owe it to yourself to at least hear Paschendale. I'm still undecided as to how I'd rank the whole album, although I doubt it's the album of the year for me.

[Dis]

I'll definately have to check out their songs. Though I may not buy their cd.

I'm a serious Iron Maiden fan. So you can bet I'll check out their new songs

My favourite albums are Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (underappreciated album in my opinion), Killers, Somewhere in Time, Powerslave, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Iron Maiden, Fear of the Dark.

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by Dissident
I'll definately have to check out their songs. Though I may not buy their cd.

I'm a serious Iron Maiden fan. So you can bet I'll check out their new songs

My favourite albums are Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (underappreciated album in my opinion), Killers, Somewhere in Time, Powerslave, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Iron Maiden, Fear of the Dark.

Most people I know do appreciate Seventh Son and many list it as their favourite, as do I.

[Al'Kimiya]

I thought the album was okay. About every chorus was repetitive to the point of boredom and felt very inunspiring which is my big minus. The verses and instrumental parts are all good maiden though

[Sirotnikov]

I listen to them. didn't hear any of the new stuff though...

[Minute Mirage]

Originally posted by Al'Kimiya
I thought the album was okay. About every chorus was repetitive to the point of boredom and felt very inunspiring which is my big minus. The verses and instrumental parts are all good maiden though

Repetitive choruses? Not nearly as much as in Brave New World, thank God.