Iron Maiden

[Jack the Stripper]

I’ll probably give my thoughts in a few days. I’m glad I’ve given it a couple of weeks to sink in as had I’d posted about it even a week ago I wouldn’t have been as favourable.

Still waiting on my vinyls I preordered in July 

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Charger, you missed out The Parchment

After 3 or 4 listens, I'm not "getting" the title track yet, I think it will come but it may be one of those rare songs which takes 8 or 10 listens. I only got the The Parchment on the latest listen, so obviously I'm still learning the album and it's a little soon to be ranking it.

I'm going to leave it for a couple of days and give the new Stranglers and Hawkwind allbums a listen.

[Charger]

Oh darn it... I did didn't I..

Well I've added it there now.

[Thelemech]

I have listened to the new album a few times and I must say that it is not very good. That being said it took a dozen listens for me to really get into Book of Souls so this may be true with this record as well

Iron Maiden are still one of my favorite bands but I do not think that they have released a classic album since Brave New World. I still like the ones that came after, but other than Book Of Souls none have been played on my stereo in a long time.

I fear that Senjutsu is more of the same. I will however be giving it multiple listens before I truly decide it's fate - will it be shelved away  - or left near the stereo for a time.

[Zzzptm]

Are we still planning to song-by-song this? If so, I'll need to block out the time for the longer tracks...

[Charger]

I'm up for it, but not yet. Need a bit more time with it for properly form an opinion.

[Tyr66]

the album grows in me every time I listen to it. I appreciate it more and more but some persistent flaws:
1. The horrible production of this guy Kevin Shirley. The sound is muffled, Bruce seems to be singing while being under a blanket. The album would have been transcended with a clear sound and more dynamic.
2. Apart from Adrian's solo from The Writing on The Wall, there is clearly a lack of excitement, a madness of these three guitarists.
3. the last 3 (very) long tracks in a raw: I now listen to them sometimes one after the other with a significant pause between each one and it goes more easily. Oddly, The Parchment is currently the one I think is the best put together but let's be honest, they each deserved to be shortened by 2-3 minutes.
4. Quickly stop all collaboration with Mark Wilkinson for their artworks: where are the details swarming on the first covers, as is the case in the video of TWOTW ? Like TBOS , only this cheap empty black background ! Where's the creativity ? Absolutely not a fan of this Eddie-Samurai version with Smilodon teeth.

Special mention: I still don't understand what Janick Gers is doing in this band. No doubt a super nice guy but still ...

I would soon be interested in the lyrics and their deep meaning. Other than TWOTW, I have no idea what Bruce is singing.

today note: 3,5/5

[Zzzptm]

Special mention: I still don't understand what Janick Gers is doing in this band. No doubt a super nice guy but still ...

Exactly! He's competent, end of story.

[Vyn]

1. The horrible production of this guy Kevin Shirley. The sound is muffled, Bruce seems to be singing while being under a blanket. The album would have been transcended with a clear sound and more dynamic.

I agree with this 100%. It may be a shiny diamond or a piece of regular glass, but I can't tell because it's covered with shit.

The album has thus far not impressed me. It's "OK", and there are a few moments where their brilliance shines through, but overall I'm finding that I have to force myself to listen to it rather than getting excited about listening to it. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I am just not on the same wavelength.

[Charger]

Yes the production isn't all that great on this one...same problem was with The Book Of Souls. Eventhough The Final Frontier was pretty much a turd of an album it did have better production.

But Maiden has gone down in production as well since Dance Of Death which still had a very nice and crisp and clear sound.


I've listened it through around 5 times now...not all songs as I've already just started skipping songs like Senjutsu, Writing On The Wall and Darkest Hour..

Hell On Earth is still by far my favourite song. It is the only really good song on the album. Granted the more I think of it the more it seems like a rehash of The X Factor stuff but it still works, mainly because The X Factor is so damn brilliant.

A facebook buddy said that Days Of Future Past reminded him of stuff from Bruces Chemical Wedding...I did not get it at all at first but then it hit me...it's the vocal melody. The melody is straight out of CM...can't remember the exact song now but it is very similar.

There are few parts of few songs that make me go "WOW This is really good!" and then as the song goes on (and on...and on...and on) you realise it's just that one little part that's good and the rest isn't up to that standard. Which I suppose is inevitable for songs this long. That being said the two of the longest tracks have become my most favourite Hell On Earth and Death Of The Celts which has a bit of a Clansman feel to it in a way but ofcourse lacks the fierceness of the "FREEDOOOOM" part...

That's also a very big problem on this album...it's missing the fierceness all together...even the shorter fast songs lack energy...main reason for that ofcourse is Bruce's vocal melodies which are unfortunately bland.

[Jack the Stripper]

I’m going to continue to hold off on my thoughts as the album is really growing on me. It does have some flaws that some have spoken about but I have other things I have issues with as well, but I will say, some songs that just weren’t doing it for me are really gelling now. Darkest Hour is brilliant.

All of the post reunion albums took time to grow on me except for BNW which I think had a lot to do with the buzz and excitement around having Bruce and Adrian back.

@Vyn. Don’t force yourself to listen to it. Maiden’s later day albums are slow burners and they’ve  become a band(for me anyway) that you really need to be in the mood to listen to them or have something that inspires you to listen to them. Put it aside and give it a try another time.

[Zzzptm]

Indeed. These are NOT songs of which are said, "Oh yeah, we banged that one out from start to finish in the studio in about half an hour."

[Vyn]

@Vyn. Don’t force yourself to listen to it. Maiden’s later day albums are slow burners and they’ve  become a band(for me anyway) that you really need to be in the mood to listen to them or have something that inspires you to listen to them. Put it aside and give it a try another time.

That's good advice, thanks Jack. Sometimes I can get really single-minded about stuff!

[Thelemech]

On my 7th or 8th listen and some of it is growing on me. Still some of the songs would have been well served to having a 2 minute edit. I love Maiden - so much so that I will continue to give this record many more chances. However I am not sold on Iron Maiden being a Progressive Metal band, they are not in their element. Not saying that they are incapable or untalented, for the evidence has shown some great musicianship and songwriting capabilities. To reiterate they are not a Progresive band as far as I interpret them and this is o course simply my opinion.

I hope to give this even more attention in the coming days and weeks of Fall. The perfect time for a new Iron Maiden album.

[Zzzptm]

Question: is there enough "galloping" in the music to *feel* like a traditional Iron Maiden album?