Metal Reviews

I actually think Mother of Mercy is a pretty good track with one of the more memorable choruses out of all the songs. How is this song any different from all of the other shit Maiden has done over the last decade or so?

Id have to say When the Wild Wind Blows is the jewel in this crown.

I don't know. I just find this song weak (for the rest of the album and Iron Maiden standards)

I think the song is so so, but Bruce's voice is so awesome, it makes it better.

I guess I have to share my thoughts on this album, seeing as how I was going to review it before I passed it on to Zadster..

I think I would've scored this album a couple of points higher. The title-track sounded very weak at first, but when I listened to the album for the first time as a whole with my ear-phones it sounded a lot better than on the first listen. The solo part is great and it just has this rocking vibe to it that is impossible not to enjoy. The same goes for Eldorado, though I have to admit that I didn't really like it until I saw it live, where it kicked a lot of ass. After that it's been love.

Mother of Mercy isn't too bad, and I actually like it better than Isle of Avalon to be honest. The Talisman is maybe the best song they've done since the eighties, maybe except a couple off of Brave New World. Loving the old-school riffing after the intro.. Starblind is also very cool. The Man Who Would Be King is the only song I haven't listened to repeatedly yet. I don't know why but something about it bothers me. The finisher is pretty damn awesome though, and maybe the best track on the album except The Talisman.

I think that this is a natural progressor from AMOLAD, and that they've dared to mix things up a little here, at least more than they did on AMOLAD. So I obviuously disagree with those of you who think it lacks prog...

But yeah, just my two cents.

87 / 100

Am I the only one who disliked the production (as with the last two also)? I cannot help but think how great this album could be if it has a powerful production. The writing is there, but it seems to fall flat due to the sound. I heard today on Sirius, from Halfords solo release, the duet he and Bruce did, The One I Love To Hate. Imagine if Final Frontier had a similiar production. Songs would be amazing.

I totally agree!!! Specially with Dance of Death.

That is why i think BNW is the best of the last four, is the one with the better production. The other discs has nothing to envy on songwriting, but the production "ruins" them. Still, i love The Final Frontier and the 2 before, but it could have been even better!!

Btw, i'm really starting to love this record, i liked it at first, but every time i hear it it's even better!!!

Thank you Iron Maiden!!! For me, the best band in history. =D

Every time I hear this I like it more. It's got to be in my top 10 albums of the year so far.

I think the score is right but I liked this a lot more after the first 2 spins then their previous. Their epic songs here seems much better.

Are there almost no lead melodies on this album or have I not listened to it enough? I think Maiden produces the best lead melodies in metal. That's just a small complaint I have against this very good album. Maiden may never get back to writing an album with just one or two long songs, but if they continue to release albums as good as this one, I'll be happy. Up the irons !!!

I may be going out on too far a stretch for most people, but I think this is their best album since Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. The solos are top notch all album long, the songwriting is ambitious and keeps all the songs exciting, to me at least, and While the Wild Wind Blows is the best closing track since Fear Of The Dark.

I think this album only lacks in one aspect. That is the production. I would love to hear what this would be like with Martin Birch handling the production. Brave New World was fine, Dance of Death sounded kind of mushy, A Matter Of Life and Death, while i liked the no production idea, it wasn't mixed to its full potential and I feel that this one is a bit too bottom heavy, but the bottoms sound kind of mushy.

Overall, especially after several listens, this album blew me away.

I'd agree with you if it wasn't for Fear of the Dark and Brave New World which are, in my opinion, on par with The Final Frontier. I still think most of the songs are too long for their own good. Still, the album is a serious improvement when compared to AMoLaD and DoD.

for me this album has one redeeming song, The Talisman, in my opinion the rest of this album is poor, boring most of the time and the vocals are weak throughout, even by Bruce's current vocal capabilities, in my opinion since Bruce returned to Maiden they have had one good album, A Matter Of Life And Death, other then that however excluding select songs from Brave New World, Dance Of Death and the one from Final Frontier these other albums are not worth owning, I don't even listen to them anymore, I'm all for Maiden releasing new material if they build on the platform of AMOLAD but it seems they just don't know what to do nowadays, I hope that if and when they release a new album it's good but I don't have high expectations and personally I think it would be better for all concerned if Maiden (and Priest for that matter) called it a day

It's grown on me.

Not as good as previous 2 but still a good listen.

For all concerned eh? That's mighty presumptuous of you ;)

Plenty of folks (myself included) still think these guys are putting out great stuff. It will be a very sad day indeed when Bruce and the boys retire.

I don't understand this nonsense about Bruce not being the vocalist he used to be or rather that he cannot deliver anymore. Of course he can. Anyone that does hear it in his voice is an extreme idealist and needs to realize that Bruce is 54. It is only rational that Bruce's strength in his vocalization is inevitably going to change as it has. It's a part of aging. Maiden has left us with a legacy very few bands have been able to accomplish.

I fully recognise Bruce's vocals have changed with time, I'm saying that for me his vocal delivery on TFF is weak, in my opinion the best his vocals have been since his return to Maiden were on AMOLAD, it pains me greatly to see a band a cherish turning out albums that I can't stand to listen through, and the one and only time I saw them live good grief, Nicko's drumming was off, you could feel him struggling to find the right tempo, and Bruce's vocals I'd rather not get into though whether that was because it was at a festival not an indoor venue I don't know

I tend to have rather strong opinions on my favourite bands and at times (such as now) they may be quite provocative

O Maiden, how I love thee. This album not so much as AMOLAD or DOD, but it's still a great one..