Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
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Free Music Notes for Dance of Death
Free Music Review: 13th Album Is Yet Another Classic. Maiden Is Unstoppable!!
Hit: 5 Stars
After 22 years and 12 albums, Iron Maiden has proved that they are just as strong creatively and musically as they ever were. "Dance Of Death" is the band's 13th album and the follow-up to 2000's highly successful "Brave New World" album, which marked the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith. Unlike so many bands, Maiden has proved that they have a staying power that most bands only dream of while staying true to their sound all the way. Even among their still popular contemporaries, Maiden proves that they are still the reigning legends of metal. For those who were disgusted with Metallica's "St. Anger" album released earlier this year, "Dance Of Death" should be a relief. Maiden has always seemed to have a 'don't fix it if it isn't broke' attitude towards their music, and it has paid off every time. "Dance Of Death" has everything you expect from a Maiden album; the galloping rhythms, the burning guitar solos, and the memorable melodies that have become a signature of the band. In terms of sound, the album lies somewhere between "Brave New World" and "Piece Of Mind" with a few elements of "Fear Of The Dark" mixed in. "Dance Of Death" is a much heavier album than it's predecessor "Brave New World," and the triple guitar attack of Dave Murray, Adrain Smith, and Janick Gers is used brilliantly here. Maiden has created another album that fits nicely next to their other albums, but the band breaks some new ground with this one. Here is a quick track rundown: WILDEST DREAMS--The first single released for the album is quite similar to "The Wicker Man" from "Brave New World" with it's crunchy guitar riff and catchy chorus. Adrian knocks out another memorable solo.
RAINMAKER--A great rocker with another instantly memorable chorus and great use of the guitar trio. This one is sure to be a favorite.
NO MORE LIES--The only song on the album written entirely by bassist Steve Harris. A mellow opening similar to the one on "The Clansman" breaks into a shout-along chorus. Once again, great guitar work from the guitar trio.
MONTSEGUR--A powerful guitar riff opens this catchy song. Slightly familiar to "The Fallen Angel" from "Brave New World."
DANCE OF DEATH--The title track shows Steve Harris writing some of his most vivid and graphic lyrics. Great use of the guitar trio.
GATES OF TOMORROW--A track that sounds very slightly similar to some of the more memorable material from Bruce Dickinson's "Skunkworks" CD.
NEW FRONTIER--A first for drummer Nicko McBrain. After 20 years with the band, he has finally co-written his first song on a Maiden album! Written along with Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickinson, this one has another chorus that you will find yourself singing along to by the end of the song.
PASCENDALE--An epic war song that begins with a quiet guitar figure and breaks into a heavy hitting rocker.
FACE IN THE SAND--Opening similar to the title track, this one slowly builds with intensity. This song has subtle echoes of elements of Maiden's "Fear Of The Dark" album. A sing along melody leads the song out.
THE AGE OF INNOCENCE--The heavy riffs of the verse are broken by a smooth chorus that will grab your ear immediatly.
JOURNEYMAN--A song that will silence the critics that say that Maiden doesn't change their sound enough. "Journeyman" is a song with no electric guitars, thundering drums, or galloping bass lines. This one is an acoustic ballad (yes I said ballad) with a string section playing in the back and vocals from Bruce Dickinson that are nothing less than beautiful. Rounding off an already brilliant album, "Journeyman" is perhaps the best track on the record.
Maiden has done it again.
Free Music Review: Finally Iron Maiden make a heavy metal record!
Hit: 5 Stars
It's about time, Iron Maiden records their best music since 1988's Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son album. Well I thought the same thing about their last effort, 2000's Brave New World which brought about the reunion with former members singer Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith but this new cd just obliterates the last one. I've worshipped this band since I was 13 years old and walked into a record store and was mesmerized by the artwork of their then new double live set Live After Death...I bought it not knowing anything about nor hearing the band and once I heard the riffage on "Aces High" and Bruce's wailing vocals I was never the same. I bought their older releases (sometimes buying them over & over to upgrade to compact discs and then when they were remastered) and I followed the band for the next 15 years or so. Their albums from their 1980 self titled debut through the previously mentioned Seventh Son cd are mandatory in any serious metalhead's collection, however I lost my faith in the band in the 90s. The last two records Bruce sang on were uninspired mostly, the two with Blaze Bayley though not as horrible as everyone makes them out to be was just not Iron Maiden and Brave New World had some weak moments plus I thought they were carrying dead weight by letting guitarist Janick Gers stick around alongside Smith and Dave Murray who IMO are the best guitar tag-team in the business. It took a while but the band finally got it right and they're taking metal into the 21st century. "Wildest Dreams"-The opening track, usually a strongpoint of an Iron Maiden cd and this is also the band's first single. Kind of in the vein of songs "Holy Smoke" and "From Here To Eternity", a little weak, a little too happy for an Iron Maiden song but a catchy song...the middle section breathes life into what could of been a total dud. 3.5/5
"Rainmaker"-The last of the short, single type songs on this cd with the rest of the tracks being 5-8 minutes. This one sounds like a track from their 1986 Somewhere In Time album had it been recorded in 2003. 5/5
"No More Lies"-This is how Brave New World would've sounded had they done it the right way. 5/5
"Montsegur"-Epic Maiden at their best, sounds like it should've been on Piece of Mind or Powerslave. 5/5
"Dance Of Death"-A beautiful classically influenced epic metal masterpiece. 5/5
"Gates Of Tomorrow"-The intro is reminiscent of "From Here To Eternity" and "Lord Of The Flies" and I thought it would be lame but it's actually better than those songs, should've been the cd opener IMO. 5/5
"New Frontier"-Probably the catchiest song on the cd, the first song that lists drummer Nicko McBrain in the writing credits, I scream the lyrics and punch the dashboard when I'm blasting this in my car. 5/5
"Paschendale"-One word: genius. 5/5
"Face In The Sand"-Keeps the flow of the cd. Another Brave New World-ish song but way better than anything on that cd. 5/5
"Age Of Innocence"-Catchy as f**k, kind of reminiscent of Bruce Dickinson's Chemical Wedding cd. 5/5
"Journeyman"-The first acoustic Iron Maiden song, kind of reminds me of Kansas' "Dust In The Wind" for some reason though I doubt people into that sort of thing would dig this. Weird song but the more I listen to it the more it grows. 4/5
The one thing that impressed me most was that now the three guitarist idea works, you can clearly distinguish who's playing what! Bruce sings better than ever and the rhythm section keeps it going. It's great to see Maiden with life back into them. Easily the 2003 metal album of the year! I have no doubt that Dance Of Death stands easily alongside with Killers, The Number of the Beast and Seventh Son as among Iron Maiden's best work.
Free Music Review: Best in a LONG time!
Hit: 5 Stars
With every new album, everybody wants to say it's the "Best Since 7th Son", and with this release that's actually true! Not only that, I'd rate it the best since "Somewhere in Time". This is pure, unadulterated Maiden: the writing is superb, the lyrics are cool, the guitar-work is phenomenal, the rhythm section as always is superb, and Bruce is simply on fire. Brief comment per tunes:1) Wildest Dreams... much like Wicker Man of the last CD but a better tune in my opinion: great chorus, good kick in the pants to get things started.
2) Rainmaker... similar to Wildest Dreams with another great chorus, and some very cool guitar parts (Murray gets some writing credits).
3) No More Lies... welcome back to old school Maiden: long tune with extended intro. Monster tune complete with all kinds of changes, Bruce shouting, thunderous drums, etc...
4) Montsegur... think "Die With Your Boots On" with even more of an edge. Phenomenal tune lyrically. This song has TONS of attitude but throws in some insane melody as well. Best friggin' Maiden tune since... who knows, maybe Piece of Mind! Bruce just OWNS the tune: it's a mad, angry tune and he just screams fury throughout! Great, GREAT tune!!!
5) Dance of Death... a long Gers/Harris tune: very good tune with lots of changes. The lyrics are only OK, though - somebody mentioned "Spinal Tap"... and it actually fits somewhat. Good tune that really grows on you, but at first listen you might have a chuckle or two. Go WAY back... think along the lines of "Phantom of the Opera" or very early Maiden - very dark and twisted... 2nd guitar solo is, I think, Jannick, and he really rips it up. Yes, this definitely grows on ya. Very classic Iron Maiden... the gallop, the harmonized guitars... lyric lines with Bruce singing along with the guitar lines... it's ALL there.
6) Gates of Tomorrow... another excellent tune - great driving guitar line to open things up... in fact, the guitarists get to show off a lot on this one. Also features the old Nicko "signature" drum rhythm during the chorus. Nice mix of the old and new.
7) New Frontier... writing credits for Nicko, and he can keep writing: GREAT tune... 5 minutes of non-stop insanity with a killer chorus.
8) Paschendale... Smith/Harris war Epic... interesting intro guitar riff sounds like hammer-ons: definite Adrian writing... then the thumps kick in - Harris! The tune is another mad, angry, bloody death on the battlefield thing... totally Maiden!
9) Face in the Sand... Smith/Harris/Dickinson - just imagine the torture that went into this one! Along the lines of "Gates of Tomorrow" and "New Frontier", just a good solid kick in the pants and statement about the world we live in. Awesome Maiden tune.
10) Age of Innocence... another with Dave's influence, which you can hear all over the place... intro, guitar solo, a firey bridge... excellent chorus to boot!
11) Journeyman... Smith/Harris/Dickinson... this is an acoustic tune, believe it or not... first few notes have you thinking "Dust in the Wind", but quickly becomes its own thing. Lots of excellent orchestration here... beautiful tune overall - very musical, good chance for Bruce to shine. You can hear all of Smith, Harris, and Bruce's contributions. Perfect ending to the CD: kinda puts ya down to sleep.
Final comment: even though I'm a guitar player, I've never listened to Maiden for the guitar... it has always been about the songwriting and maybe the drums, and maybe Bruce when he became the front man. But I think the three guitarists are pushing each other pretty hard, because the guitar work is perhaps the best I've EVER heard from the guys. Absolutely phenomenal.
Madien's BACK! Can't wait for the concerts!
Free Music Review: IRON MAIDEN, AS GOOD AS EVER!
Hit: 5 Stars
The only maiden album ive heard or got that i like more than this one is powerslave.This album has so many good songs on it! The only real comment about it that i have is that this is the 1st maiden album ive heard where they mention tv, cars and modern things in the lyrics(even if it is only in 2 of the songs), which seems a bit weird to me and i prefer it when they sing about myths and evil etc. its a lot more interesting.
heres a quick look at the tracks:
1)Wildest Dreams: hmmmmm this is a bit of a weak track and doesn't really sound like a maiden song to me. its still ok though. 6/10
2)Rainmaker: Ahhh thats better now we're into the good stuff. This song rules! The opening riff and chorus are catchy and overall it's a great fast song. True iron maiden. 10/10
3)No More Lies: this is a true masterpeice. the riff at the start is amazing and it only gets better. The chorus is bruce screaming 'No more lies!' and it has a huge solo. 10/10
4)Monsegur: Another great song. I don't like it as much as rainmaker or no more lies but hey its still a great song. I don't like it towards the end where it speeds up and the riff starts sounding more happy instead of heavy. But its still a great song. 9/10
5)Dance of Death: This one is another of my personal favourites. The way it stars with the acoustic riff and gradually build up is incredible. The lyrics are also good, apart from a few bits, i still shudder when i hear bruce say "And i danced!And i pranced!" The rest is good though, especially the 3 guitar solos, 1 from each guitarist! 10/10
6)Gates of Tomorrow: A fast loud track that isn't one of my favourites, but hey anything by maiden is good. It definately has its moments though. I like it. 9/10
7)New Fronteir: The 1st song drummer Nicko McBrain wrote in 20 years! Good on you Nicko. This song is awesome, especially the chorus. 10/10
8)Pashendale: Easily my favourite track on the album, and one of my all time favourite songs by iron maiden. This i suppose would be the epic track on Dance of Death, and i absolutely love it. The lyrics are amazing and so is the guitarwork. The way it starts with the soft little riff and plunges into a huge heavy masterpeice. I was reminded of the Seventh son of a seventh son album when i heard this song because of the way it starts and ends with the same soft riff.
This song has everything and builds up to this huge climax that will leave you screaming for more. For me it was the highlight of the album - PASCHENDALE KICKES ASS! 11/10
9)Face in the Sand: Another good song (although it doesnt measure up to pashendale). About disasters and I think it's the bands thoughts on the whole september 11th incident which it great coz they're entitled to their opinion. 9/10
10)Age of Innocence: Starts softly and soon really kicks off. I'm not sure what it's about, but it doesnt really matter the chorus gives their message out loud and clear 'We only get 1 chance can we take it. And we only got one life can't exchange it. Can we hold on to what we have can we take it...' 9.5/10
11)Journeyman: The only acoustic song iron maiden have written. Truly a classic. Yet again here's a song that gives it message out clearly: 'I know what i want, i say what i want, and noone can take it away,' 10/10
In conclusion, Dance of Death was a success, the only real negative thing i can say about it is its weird cover artwork, but i suppose it fits in with the title track if you listen to the lyrics. So if you are a true metalhead, or just someone who can appreciate good music, i urge you to get hold of this cd you won't regret it.
Free Music Review: A Bit of Filler, but Excellent and Highly Varied Overall
Hit: 5 Stars
This is an excellent Iron Maiden album, and one of the best albums of last year. Overall I'd say it's probably my fourth favorite album from them, coming in behind Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind and Seventh Son... In many ways it's quite different from prime era Maiden, as it tends to be a bit more epic and varied, but this is still a great album in it's own way. It has got a little bit of filler, but it's not too bad, and the strong material more than makes up for it.
Performances are strong across the board. Dickinson doesn't sound quite as good as he did in his heyday, but he can still belt it out well, and they write good vocal melodies, as usual. The guitars are excellent, combining lots of melody and catchiness with more heaviness than usual.(Particularly on Montsegur and Paschendale) And it goes without saying that the leads never fail to entertain. Harris' bass is a bit more subdued than it used to be, but it can still be heard quite well, and gives the album the energy and feel you typically associate with Iron Maiden. Nicko's drumming doesn't draw too much attention to itself, but he does a good job, particularly on Face in the Sand and Paschendale. Unlike many people, I think the production on this album is excellent. I don't find it too muddy, and the guitars are thicker and heavier than usual, which is definitely a good thing.(It's far better than Brave New World in this aspect, which wasn't heavy enough)
This is one of their most varied albums. The title track is quite unusual, and one of the best songs on the album. It probably has the best vocal performance on the album, and the acoustic work is great. It's still strong when it kicks it up a bit in the second half, with some great leads and nice orchestration. It's an 8 1/2 minute song where not a second is wasted. Montsegur is perhaps the heaviest Iron Maiden song I've heard. The chorus isn't too great, but it's the energy and intensity that really matter. No More Lies is a fairly conventional epic semi-ballad, but it's still a great one. Lotsa people find the chorus annoying, but I love it, and the vocal melodies during the verses are very strong. Another modern classic. Rainmaker is oddly happy sounding, but it still works and is the best straight metal song on the album. The pre-chorus and chorus are both immediately memorable, and the guitarwork is extremely melodic and enjoyable through out it. I'm not quite as big on Paschendale as I was when this album was first released, but it's still a remarkable epic. The odd electronics and orchestration work very well, and it is nicely paced and constructed, building on a revisiting themes without becoming redundant or losing focus. It's also got a particularly great instrumental section. Face in the Sand is another odd one, but I like it a lot anyway. It goes a bit overboard on the synths I think, but it's still quite atmospheric and affecting. The vox are very intense too. The closer, Journeyman, is an epic, acoustic ballad. I didn't like it too much at first, but it's grown on me a lot. Melody has always been Maiden's strength, and it's got plenty of it, and Dickinson gives yet another great performance. The 4 tracks I haven't discussed do want warrant any particular discussion. They aren't bad by any means, but not that great, and 1 or 2 of them(it doesn't much matter which ones) should probably have been cut to keep up the momentum. But as I said, they're still far from bad.
Well, that's it. This is a great metal album from one of the genre's best.