Iron Maiden - Dance of Death
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Free Music Notes for Dance of Death
Free Music Review: A time-tested review
Hit: 5 Stars
I wanted to review this album within the first week of purchasing it, but I waited. Why? I wanted to give a proper, educated review. So, having said that, let me tell you about Dance of Death.This is an amazing album. When I first listened to it, I was a little unsure. It had to grow on me. I couldn't understand why so many people seemed to like Montsegur. Of course, after hearing the album a few times, that changed. In fact, my whole feeling towards the album changed. I like it more and more each time I listen to it. Every time I hear it, I discover something new and exciting that I didn't notice before.
Wildest Dreams - Why was this the single? It's a great song, but definitely the weakest on the album. It's so light that it takes away from the majesty of the other songs.
Rainmaker - Instant and powerful classic. I love this song, and especially the video. I just wish the lyrics could have been a little... deeper. It starts off really song, but then goes towards the border of being repetitive.
No More Lies - Another instant classic. Sometimes I think this is the best song on the album. Only Bruce could do a song like this so well. When he begins to sing "No More Lies", it just brings more power to the entire album as a whole.
Montsegur - Amazing. It grows on you so fast. It's the heaviest song on the album. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I found myself really liking it.
Dance of Death - The only thing wrong with this almost perfect song is that it gets a little too fast before it ends. That's a minor complaint though. This is one of the best Maiden songs of all time.
Paschendale - Again, this is one of the best Maiden songs of all time. It's an awesome story and I love the lyrics. Bruce sounds amazing on it.
Journeyman - Hearing it makes me want an entire album like this! I liked this song right from the first time I heard it. It's slow and it demonstrates why Bruce Dickinson is the greatest and most powerful Rock/Metal singer there has ever been. This song is reason enough to buy the album.
Face in the Sand - Another classic. It's a reminder of why Maiden are as great as they are.
New Frontier - This song continues to grow on me. I can tell that Nicko had a strong influence on this song, based on the values that it contains.
Gates of Tomorrow - This song has parts where Bruce is singing with himself. It does not get better than that. This is another strong, core song on the album. If there weren't so many other amazing songs on this album, Gates of Tomorrow would be a major hit.
Age of Innocence - This is a really good song, but it does get a little repetitive as well. Don't get me wrong though, it's still better than pretty much everything else that came out this year!
The rest of the album is really amazing. It's a mature, yet raw album. Listening to it, I feel the same sense of excitement that I felt on Number of the Beast.
I'm sorry, but I think this is the best Maiden album to date. It's got classic written all over it. The lyrics may not be their best, but the music certainly is. Yes, the bass and drums might be a little less noticeable, but the album itself more than makes up for it.
As for people even comparing this to St. Anger... that's like comparing Iron Maiden to Celine Dion. They don't even belong on the same sentence together. I couldn't stand St. Anger. 2 good songs do not make a good album.
Free Music Review: Iron Maiden returns stronger than ever after long break
Hit: 5 Stars
Three years ago Iron Maiden released comeback album with Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith. It was massive success all over the world and showed that Maiden can still make good music. Now it's finally time for new studio album called Dance Of Death. Dance Of Death has been a massive success all over the world. Iron Maiden is back on top again!Dance of Death is about war and death. It contains great songs about first world war and so on...
1. Wildest Dreams (Smith/Harris) is first single from new Iron Maiden album called Dance Of Death. It's short dynamic rocker from Mr. Smith. Wildest Dreams has became band's live favourite and climbing up on charts. Maybe you have heard song from radio, seen it on tv or heard on the recent 'Give Me Ed... Til I'm Dead' tour?
2. Rainmaker (Murray/Harris/Dickinson) is next single from Dance Of Death. It's again catchy rocker and the chorus is instantly memorable. Instant hit! 'You tell me we can start the rain...'
3. No More Lies (Harris) is first long epic song from the album. It's mix between The Clansman (from Virtual XI album) and Don't Look To The Eyes Of A Stranger (from Virtual XI album). The '3 Amigos' make exellent solo work.
4. Montsegur (Gers/Harris/Dickinson) is very heavy song and it reminds a lot of Powerslave and Piece Of Mind. Starting riff is mix between Fallen Angel (from Brave New World album) and Losfer Words (from Poverslave album).
5. Dance Of Death (Gers/Harris) is second long epic song feturing very powerful lyrics and great Russian vibe with symphonic elements.
6. Gates Of Tomorrow (Gers/Harris/Dickinson) is short rocker. Starting riff is like AC/DC meets Skunkworks (Bruce Dickinson solo album). Song itself features very catchy double guitar melodies.
7. New Frontier (McBrain/Smith/Dickinson) took only about 20 years until we could hear song from Nicko McBrain. Song reminds a lot of Maiden's early days like The Number Of The Beast or Piece Of Mind albums. New Frontier includes blistering solo from Adrian Smith.
8. Paschendale (Smith/Harris) is third and last long epic song on the album. Inspiration of song comes from historic battle, this one from the First World War. Paschendale is huge epic song which meets Pink Floyd, Emerson & Lake & Palmer and so on... One of the most memorable epics what Iron Maiden have ever done! Including incredible solo works from '3 Amigos' and amazing Bruce Dickinson vocal performance. 'Blood is falling like the rain...'
9. Face In The Sand (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) is very enigmatic and atmospheric song. It's a very slow grower, but soon you find singing with the melody.
10. Age Of Innocence (Murray/Harris) starts with Murray's slow melodic solo and then grows into quite fast song.
11. Journeyman (Smith/Harris/Dickinson) is beautiful acoustic end featuring acoustic guitars, drums and strings.
Dance Of Death is album like... It's like... You don't hear these kind of albums so often anymore. It's made for those people who like great tales, long heavy epics and great melodies. Dance Of Death is album, that you could listen hours and hours again finding new elements. So find quiet place, take your headphones, close your eyes and enjoy. It will be memorable experience and you want do it again and again...
Free Music Review: Another good album
Hit: 5 Stars
If it weren't for Bruce Dickinson, I would have considered this album a failure. However, it's very good, despite some compositional imperfections. I would blame Harris for the bad arrangements of the songs: how could you spoil so many beautiful tunes by arranging them in excessive repetition? This makes them boring. Here are my comments on the track list, one by one:
1. Wildest Dreams
Very nice song, typical for Smith. Normally, it is the one that is set for commercial success and gaining new fans and approval from a wider range of people. Serves its purpose well!
2. Rainmaker
This one, as a number of other songs on this album, reminds a little bit of Bruce's solo career, but it keeps its overall Maiden flavour. Melodic, without any effects on the voice which is nice in this particular case.
3. No More Lies
This is what I was talking about! It starts beautifully, with a wonderful tune, and all of a sudden - a heavy, thunderous chorus, sung perfectly, but repeated 8 times on the first chorus! Cut it in half, Steve, and have it 8 times on the second!
4. Montsegur
Best song on the album! I see it as a live favourite in the future. Gers proves his writing abilities one more time. Heavy song, this is how devoted fans want Iron Maiden to sound!
5. Dance of Death
Second favourite on www.ironmaiden.com voting board. Title song deserves good words. Bruce gives his best; proves for a millionth time that he's the best HM singer ever! However, towards the end it becomes boring, and it's all Harris' fault!
6. Gates of Tomorrow
Least favourite on the voting board; it would suit bands like Aerosmith or Guns `N' Roses better. Trivial and predictive, but it's been performed pretty well. This is where you can tell what huge difference there is between Maiden and the above-mentioned bands, in favour of Maiden, of course!
7. New Frontier
A typical Maiden song from the classic period. Sounds very much like a song from `The Number of the Beast.' However, I've got no idea what part of the song exactly Nicko McBrain has written, because to me this is a 100% Smith's song.
8.Paschendale
The highest rated song on the voting chart is a disappointment to me. Surely, the tune is nice and aggressive, but too simple. Bruce makes it fine with his powerful vocals.
9. Face in the Sand
Nothing special but it carries the spirit of Maiden and that makes it valuable.
10. Age of Innocence
A brave innovative attempt! This is what Bruce made with his solo career several years ago and succeeded. It's time for Maiden now to try something new; it costs them nothing, since there are so many other good songs.
11. Journeyman
This one is even braver in terms of presenting something unexpected. It should be given the credit only for the fact that it is the first Maiden song ever in which no distorted guitar has been used from the beginning to the end of it. No solo, either! It is very soft and relaxing. Shifts so smoothly from minor to major. Those who like Bruce's solo career are going to love it! Guaranteed!
Briefly, Maiden have put out another good album as expected by many. I am very excited about it; my eager anticipation was worth it! UP THE IRONS!
Free Music Review: Beyond Wildest Dreams...
Hit: 5 Stars
The Irons did a fine job, it's a superb album (unfortunately we cannot say the same about the cover)Below you'll find a list with my opinion of the songs.WILDEST DREAMS
Previewed on the recent 'Give Me Ed... Til I'm Dead' tour, this is a dynamic rocker which kicks off the album with a bang. Judging from the number of people in the European audiences who could sing the chorus after only one hearing, it's bound to become a live favourite.
RAINMAKER
Literally a 'storming' (!) song, 'Rainmaker is another racy rocker which keeps up the galloping opening pace. And again, after one airing, the chorus is instantly memorable.
NO MORE LIES
The first of the four 7+ minute epics on the album, this is an opus entirely self-penned by Steve Harris, with typically thoughtful lyrics. The low-key opening gives way to a punchy chorus, with Nicko's drums almost Bonhamesque in their intensity, and the '3 Amigos' also shine on the three-part solo.
MONTSEGUR
Inspired by an infamous episode in the history of the crusading Knights Templar and powered by thunderous riffs, 'Montsegur's high-flying arrangement mimics the horror and confusion of the historic massacre.
DANCE OF DEATH
The centrepiece of the album, 'Dance Of Death' is an eerie tale featuring powerful and graphic lyrics and a guitar-based 'devil's trill' that is taken up by the whole band as they whirl away in a demonic reel. Steve Harris' storytelling at its best and most vivid.
GATES OF TOMORROW
An urgent guitar clarion call builds into a relentlessly fast-paced song, featuring a hard-hitting chorus and enigmatic lyrics. And watch out for the sizzling guitar solo in the middle!
NEW FRONTIER
It's only taken him 20 years, but Nicko enjoys his first writing credit with this tale of the dangers of man trying to play God by subverting nature. That message aside, it's an exuberant uptempo number that kicks serious ass.
PASCHENDALE
The second song on the album inspired by a historic battle, this time one from the First World War, after a sorrowful opening featuring a needle sharp guitar figure, the band burst in with an instrumental arrangement that sounds like an artillery barrage. Another memorable epic.
FACE IN THE SAND
Another enigmatic, atmospheric song which piles on the drama as it builds in intensity, it features a big swinging melody which is echoed in the central guitar solo. A slow grower, you'll suddenly find yourself humming the chorus when you least expect it!
THE AGE OF INNOCENCE
After the deceptively mellow melodic opening, the mood turns from sorrowful to scathing, as Bruce spits out Steve's lyrics of disillusionment and injustice and similarly, the surprisingly smooth chorus contrasts with the piledriving riffs of the verse.
JOURNEYMAN
Although it features acoustic guitars and strings, there's nothing soft about this album closer, which showcases Bruce's vocals beautifully. Its truculent chorus with its refusal to compromise echoes the sentiments of 'Wildest Dreams' and rounds the album off beautifully.
Up The Irons (cya at 5th of Nov. in Ahoy Rotterdam!!)
Free Music Review: One of Maiden's Best Recordings -- Really!
Hit: 5 Stars
I felt Iron Maiden's big "reunion" recording "Brave New World" was merely okay, so I didn't have very high expectations for future material. How wrong I was, as "Dance of Death" is one of Maiden's strongest albums as a whole.
Iron Maiden have many great songs spanning their long career; some of my favorites are "Prowler," "Remember Tomorrow," "Phantom of the Opera," "Genghis Khan," "Children of the Damned," Hallowed be thy Name," "Flight of Icarus," "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," etc. Despite this commendable fact, most of their recordings were plagued by "filler" or less than memorable tunes (e.g. "Gangland," "Quest for Fire," "Flash of the Blade," etc.). Not to mention at least one of their recordings was unbelievably bad -- "Virtual XI" (with "Fear of the Dark" close on its heels). There were really only three recordings that were excellent AS A WHOLE -- the self-titled debut, "Killers" and "The X-Factor." (I know some would disagree about "X-Factor," mainly Dickinson fans who can't envision Maiden without Bruce singing, but it is a very strong recording -- a Maiden masterpiece, in fact. Be open-minded and give it a second chance).
Well, I'm pleased to say that with "Dance of Death" Maiden have finally put out another recording that is strong from start to finish. Some highlights include:
WILDEST DREAMS. A fine, light, quick opener; sort of a modern-day "Running Free."
RAINMAKER is similar to the opener in spirit but is even catchier. This is the big 'hit' of the recording, sorta like "Wrathchild" or "The Flight of Icarus." The subject matter is mature, positive, spiritual and very welcomed by this reviewer. Another Amazon reviewer ridiculously complained that it was like Maiden doing "Christian rock;" I guess he'd rather have them record juvenile tunes about how much life stinks and how we should all be losers and commit suicide (Waaa, waaa).
NO MORE LIES is another highlight with a nice build-up. It's also the third longest song on the CD.
DANCE OF DEATH is a Maiden masterpiece along the lines of "Phantom of the Opera" and "Hallowed be thy Name." (Okay, maybe not THAT good, but close, real close).
NEW FRONTIER is just as catchy as the first two tunes; interestingly, it's McBrain's first song written for Maiden -- great job, mate!
PASCHENDALE is a patented Harris epic of magnificent proportions. The song features some seriously heavy, original & fast riffing and is ingeniously structured. The CD is worth buying for this masterpiece alone.
FACE IN THE SAND is musically memorable and great; unfortunately Bruce overdoes it and strains to stay in key (e.g. "Quest for Fire"), almost ruining the song (I said 'almost'). This is definitely a case where Dianno or Blaze would have done a better job.
The other songs are good as well, including the refreshing acoustic piece "Journeyman."
CONCLUSION: "Dance of Death" is proof that Maiden aren't floggin' a dead horse -- they still got it in 'em to create great music and great albums. Don't miss out on "Dance of Death."