Metal Reviews

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whilst whilst whilst

anyway, good review zaddy. got to the point without making it too short.

as for the mission edition, I got it on amazon for 5$ cheaper than the regular version. so I am not complaining.

now as for my opinion on this, well, I have yet to hear it all, only a few songs from youtube. but I really like what I hear and I can not wait to have this in my hands followed by it blaring in my stereo.

up the irons bitches!

As with the two previous albums, the production bothers me. I thought DoD was muddy. AMOLAD was stale, with this one being very bottom heavy. The writings there, but the sound seems to diminish the overall effect. I also wish they'd shorten or mix up the long intros. WHWWB is a great song! I just wish they used the riffs in the middle of the song, towards the end where the song gets very mellow. Oh well. Yeah, I'm disappointed. But Maiden will always sound different than most of the metal I pick up....and better. Just wish the album overall was better.

First listen was really disappointing but it is starting to grow on me. This was the case with all Maiden albums post-2000 for me, so I'm sure I'll love it.

I like it, I wasn't expecting their best album but I think it's a good effort at this stage of their career. If anything though I do wish Nicko would find some new drum fills.

Agreed, I like their post-2000 stuff well enough, and this one sounds promising from first listen - but damn, if Nicko wasn't so damn likeable, well, I don't think I'd like him much anymore. Still can't wait to see 'em live in March though.

I love Nicko's playing and his tone when recorded. He's one of the few drummers I can immediately pick out by his sound and style. He has a great snare tone too. Love it.

I agree with you guys that all post-2000 Maiden albums are growers, this one is definitely pulling me in more with each listen.

Coming Home and When the Wind Blows are most certainly the highlights for me.

Btw, if anyone wants a good read, check out When the Wind Blows. One of the best graphic novels I've ever read! Truly heartbreaking.

There was also an animated movie made in the same style as the graphic novel. It came out around the same time as the graphic novel. It's a sad movie. Very well done. The only complaint is that the movie soundtrack can be cheesy. The music is courtesy of David Bowie.

Finally got time to pick this up and listen to it. Was constantly distracted though. But from what I could listen, I like this album more on the first spin than I did AMOLAD. I didn't find it repetitive barring the first track. I liked the unconventional opening of The Final Frontier, but that along with El Dorado are the weakest tracks. Right now, the track that I is stuck in my head is Coming Home.

Listened to it 3 times now and the first half still drags but like with the review once Isle of Avalon hits I find the album becomes alot more enjoyable.

I'd add Sister of Mercy to the weakest tracks. I love the combo of The Alchemist, Isle Of Avalon, Starblind & The Talisman. These 4 are the better tracks imo, closelly followed by coming Home & When The Wild Wind Blows.
Up the Irons & Good review, Zad.

After about 10 listens of the Final Frontier, I do agree with you that the band played it (too) safe on this. The potential to push the prog elements even further was there but they chose not to embrace it. I wish they'll do it on their next album if they ever do another.
Anyway, this is still a lot better than Dance of Death and A Matter of Life and Death and, thus, a welcomed addition to their catalogue but I don't see myself rating it higher than a 70/75.

I guess you meant Mother Of Mercy. I found that track wierd, especially the chorus, "Moooooother of Mercy." It's a little cartoonish. Maybe if some other words were used during that part of the chorus instead of the title, it would've sounded better. I've listened to this album just once though and I did not find any repetitive choruses which is a good thing. Agree with you on the latter part of the album. Pretty good. I'm a happy Maiden fanboy.

I'm loving Coming Home (bit of a guilty pleasure, I suppose, given it's ballady). That said, the chorus in that song is slightly overly repetitive towards the end. Still, second fav track on the album.

The killer track for me is the Talisman - ferocious performance from Bruce on that, and one of Maiden's better tracks ever.

The rest is...solid. I like Final Frontier and El Dorado.... they're not killer, but good. I'm not really getting what's so special about Isle of Avalon so far (it's rather slow and boring to me)...but I'm going to give it a few more listens.

I was painfully bored with When the Wild Wind blows the first listen, but with each subsequent listen, I'm liking it more and more. I'm finding it to be very nice, knee tapping, almost ambient music.

And so far, I'm not really getting anything out of the Man who Would be King.

I rate this slightly ahead of DOD and AMOLAD. Very, very exciting to have a new Maiden album, in general. There is nothing like it.

Interestingly I liked the first half more than the 2nd half.

I found the songs on the 2nd half to be ok but overlong and lacking in memorable bits.

I have a limited attention span (remember I like Pantera ) so a long song has to be something truly rivetting ala Paschendale or Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

I gave it a 75.

Yeah, Slip of the tongue (a la Whitesnake).

It's definitely a grower. Needs subsequent listens to fully comprehend its depths, but so far it hasn't been disappointing at all. Up The Irons

Still listening to this in an attempt to give it a proper chance.

I agree with the score. The Final Frontier, the Alchemist, the Talisman, and When the Wild Wind Blows are tracks that I immediatly liked. The rest are growers and takes repeated listens. I hear a ot of classic Maiden riffing. The soloing is where the music truly shines. Most of it sounds new and intriguing. The vocals suffer when there is no catchiness. A good album but there needs work to be done to bring each piece together to make one whole progressive masterpeice.