A Matter of Life and Death Iron Maiden Review
Chris Chellis' take:
History unfolds before us and the two-ton text that is Maiden slaps us across the face yet again to demand another thorough read with A Matter of Life and Death. Like any aging author whose virtually celebrated works comprise their respective genre's canon, the men of Maiden seek not to sully only to cement the pride inherent in their name with each time to come release. It'southward safe to say that while A Thing of Life and Death will never threaten the hierarchy of the Maiden discography, it proves that Dickinson and Co. are more than than capable of conveying the metal torch with a firm grip and a twinkle in their eye this deep in their career.
If anything separates this release from the 2 that came before information technology, is its more than pensive tracks. Maiden isn't going direct for the throat. Songs like "Brighter than a One thousand Suns" and "For the Greater Expert of God" are epic, and while Dickinson is as familiar with epics every bit any singer alive, he sounds more convincing here than on Brave New World and Dance of Death. Perhaps the drama of Ozzfest 2005 fired him up enough to give him a reason to sing lyrics every bit if they were his concluding words. I've always thought he sounds best when he softens his voice for the chorus. There's something extremely eloquent and smooth in that tone he reaches. It's vulnerable and open to criticism. Information technology's that tone that convinces me that even afterward the tour and merch profits and pilot paychecks, Dickinson is nevertheless the deserved voice and face of metal aslope Halford.
There will be moments where you're similar: "God, could this go any better? I am listening to the new MAIDEN!" The solos volition send y'all into a half-shiver, half-seizure. You'll be twitching enough to worry those effectually you, and if yous've got roommates you better warn them ahead of fourth dimension most singing a few of these choruses in the shower. It's Atomic number 26 Maiden, what did you expect? Catchiness? Check. Uberclimactic choruses? Check. Ballads? Check. Badass opener? Again, check. It'due south all here. It's non e'er consistent, only it's here all the same. Sure, "Out of the Shadows" is pretty bromidic salvage for a select number of solos, and the entirety of "Lord of Light" is tepid at all-time, only about listeners won't need every rail to be stellar in order to brand the album worth their coin. While it initially turned me off, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" is perhaps Maiden'south all-time song of the by xiv years. "These Colours Don't Run" is fairly interesting, especially considering the lyrical content and Dickinson's ability to give war, an entirely unoriginal concept in metal, a discernable reality. The epic scope of "Brighter than a M Suns" reminds me of "Out of the Silent Planet" fromBrave New Globe with its insanely tricky albeit repetitive chorus, merely with more crunch in the guitar tone.
At that place's no way to tip toe effectually the fact that Maiden is aging. There is no doubt in my mind that some critics will argue that these legends should simply tour and not tape, because they are irrelevant and take little left in the way of writing music worth a listen. No, we don't need another nostalgia act living off the past while contributing nothing new. There are plenty of those to keep us busy. Certain, "The Pilgrim" is no "Killers" or "The Trooper," but it'due south a damn cool vocal and it keeps usa Maiden fans satisfied. They're not exactly throwing out half-assed shit here.
Information technology's pretty simple: If you lot love Maiden and you've liked a few songs off of the last 2 albums, you'll be just equally enthralled with A Matter of Life and Death. Information technology's non every day or even every year that we get treated to an event equally special equally a new Maiden release, and so take this in and appreciate information technology for what it is; some other gift from the metal gods. While time volition tell whether or not I can place this album aboveDauntless New Globe, which I believe to exist the better of the previous two, it will certainly be a shut competition.
If you lot've read through the reviews above and have fabricated it this far without suffering from Maiden overkill, then allow me to add a scrap more to your reading feel concerning this celebrated ring'due south new release. Simply kickoff I have to share a little story about a short conversation I had with my eight year one-time son the other solar day. Start of all he'southward been listening to Maiden since he was nigh two and has been hooked ever since, much in the same style I became immediately engulfed when I first heard Alive After Death many, many years agone. Later hearing the songs from the new anthology a few times my son goes to me, "I'g simply not sure about this, Dad. They only don't seem to be writing as practiced of songs on this one. Where are "The Trooper" and "Flight of Icarus"? Where are "Hallowed Be Thy Name" and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner"?". Kind of profound considering these words came from the mouth and heed of an eight twelvemonth onetime, yet we as longtime fans accept been asking these same questions for years, haven't we? I accept always tried, though non e'er successfully, to stay away from comparing the material from Bruce's second term with the ring against their golden run of albums starting from The Animal up to and including Seventh Son, in many minds thought to be their all-time stretch e'er. And that could very well be the reason I was so floored by Brave New Earth and its presentation of modern day Maiden when it first graced my ears. I made certain I didn't go into it expecting my world to change nor did I await it to match the luminescence of that renowned run of amazing releases. And in the end information technology did exactly that for me.
Alright, if you're still with me hither and so permit'southward get on with the show. A Thing of Life and Death starts out promisingly enough and much like the band'southward two previous albums with a couple of rockers in "Dissimilar World" & "These Colours Don't Run" that practice well to start off this ride. But where Brave New Earth and Dance of Expiry kept things going with songs that spiced upwards my listening pleasure keeping my level of enjoyment on the rise, this album takes a lull in the early going with songwriting that reminds me of the band'due south work just earlier Bruce left the band in the early on xc's, which every bit we know was simply not very good. Afterwards several listens to the record as a whole, the get-go half of the anthology is average modern mean solar day Maiden, but information technology merely leaves me wondering what happened to the tricky hooks and mesmerizing anthems that were on the 2 previous offerings. The 2nd half of the album brings a carol-esque song to the fold and has "Out of the Shadows" completely reminding me of "Wasting Love" from the Fear of the Night anthology. Although a good song surely showing Bruce sounds every bit stellar as he always has, it notwithstanding had me growing impatient continuing to wonder when I was going to feel the magic I was longing for and nearly expecting to hear by now. And and so bam! It hit me with full force, and every bit weakly as I feel this anthology starts off and continues through the first six songs, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" and "The Greater Good of God" with their gold mean solar day experience finally fabricated my ears perk up and are receiving the most airplay of any of the x tracks on this journey. With many songs on A Affair of Life and Decease being longer with standard verse and chorus sections that don't stand out much but still offering enjoyable extended middle sections, these ii songs flourish with great melodies, both vocally and from the iii guitar attack, and are the two most complete compositions in the unabridged mix. Some of the previous songs are very repetitious and probably would have come across in more satisfying manner if they'd been shorter, but these two epic tracks go along me in melody from front to back and testify that Maiden hasn't completely lost it this time effectually. "Lord of Lite" and "The Legacy" keep this brandish of excellent songwriting and in the stop the album is like night and day as it finishes x times stronger than it starts out. Don't get me wrong, the first half the album isn't bad, but it is non nearly as stiff every bit its other half. And it's that weaker half that has me questioning how much is left in the tank of this automobile. But time will tell.
When it comes to Maiden I'thousand a huge fan and have stuck by them throughout the years and have never written them off, and I don't see that happening someday soon even with what I feel to be a slightly lackluster effort. Although this is the weakest of their three albums since Bruce and Adrian rejoined the band, it's still a solid plenty Maiden record to be added to my collection. There volition be Maiden fans out at that place who are so accepting of anything put out by the band that will scoop this right upward and will love it. But at that place will exist other fans that are certain to exist disappointed with much on this album and rightfully then. I'm kind of torn in between the middle of the two sides with one side of me happy to have another Maiden album come my style, but my other side has me somewhat disappointed with the stop result.
That Iron Maiden continues to be i of the biggest bands in metal (some would say THE biggest) is a flake of an anomaly. If whatsoever other ring out every bit many disappointing albums in a row as they have, they'd be relegated to obscurity. Instead, Maiden headlines huge festivals, sells out huge venues, and has a huge fanbase that would die for their favorite band. Accordingly, the prospects of a new Atomic number 26 Maiden album are too huge, with the metal world scrutinizing every detail from songwriting to preproduction to artwork to final release date. The latest product of the Maiden motorcar is now upon the states with the release ofA Thing of Life and Death, and . . . well, it'due south definitely an Iron Maiden album.
Of grade, no 1 really idea they would make some kind of desperate modify here. But with tracks averaging 6-8 minutes in length, it makes one wonder if they're trying to mask a lack of creativity with these longer, fatigued-out tracks, or if they are in fact just too bright to be independent in annihilation shorter. At least we know they aren't afraid to expand on an idea. Mostly I regret that there are no tracks here with the urgency of classics similar "The Trooper" and "Aces High", or even the more recent "The Wicker Homo". The fabric here has been well thought out and crafted accordingly. If you lot've been a fan of Maiden because of their epicness, this may well be the album you lot've been waiting for. "The Longest Day" goes through multiple mood and tempo changes to tell information technology's tale, while "Brighter Than a Chiliad Suns" relies on a heavy verse-chorus combo to drive information technology'south point habitation, while making room for the advisable solos and introspective moments. There's some cool audio-visual-electric layering going in "Out of the Shadows", something I've more ofttimes heard in solos only here it serves equally the backbone. The commencement single, "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" y'all've well-nigh likely already heard, merely for what it'due south worth, it reminds me a little flake of "Hallowed Exist Thy Name" in structure. "For the Greater Skillful of God" doesn't sound like something the average metal fan would be into, simply damned if some of Bruce Dickinson's strongest vocals aren't constitute here, and the utilization of an orchestra may never take been more than appropriate, and is followed by some killer solos to boot. Meanwhile, "Lord of Light" is making me eat my words almost urgent tracks, as its base of operations moments are about as heavy equally Maiden gets, and "The Legacy" is simply epic perfection, and the perfect close to this album.
Herein lays the problem of doing existent-time reviews: your stance is probable to modify by the terminate of information technology. My introductory words were based off of early on, casual listens, simply as I started listening more critically, I was much more impressed with this. Still, it is definitely an album for Iron Maiden FANS, non scenesters, hipsters, posers, or even newbies. Of course, the band has never been about those types anyhow. They brand heavy metal albums for people who love heavy metal, non people who wear it equally a fashion statement. So, perhaps consider this their "Fuck Sharon Osbourne and fuck Ozzfest!" anthology. Was it Bury Your Dead that supported the egg incident? Fuck them, too, in that case.
I was really on the fence about whether or not I should throw my hat in the band for this review. I'1000 what some folks would phone call an Iron Maiden fanboy, and so while I certainly enjoy jawing about 'em, I definitely had my doubts equally to whether or non I'd exist able to be objective when it came to reviewing their latest album. Folks, Atomic number 26 Maiden is 'The 1' for me. They hold that sacred place in the cadre of my being known as "my all-time favorite band". They're the elevation of the metal food concatenation. The undisputed Kings of the Metal Jungle, equally far equally I'm concerned. The twenty-four hours I bought, brought home, and poured myself into my vinyl re-create of Powerslave (which I still have today, past the way), is the day I decided to devote my life to heavy metallic, and I oasis't looked dorsum since. If that sounds corny to yous, well, that'southward because it is pretty damned corny, but what the hell, right? In the end, my desire to jaw about my favorite ring won out. And then, without further ado…
As far equally the serious fans out there should exist concerned, A Thing of Life and Death is a solid record. For comparison'due south sake, let'southward only look at the trifecta of the new age of Iron Maiden – Brave New World, Trip the light fantastic of Death, and now, A Matter of Life and Death – otherwise my head will likely explode. During my sunny afternoon at the Atomic number 26 Maiden race-rails, it's Brave New World by a full length, followed immediately past Trip the light fantastic of Death just barely chirapsia out A Affair of Life and Decease by a olfactory organ pilus. B.N.Westward. wins non only because information technology's Bruce's triumphant return to the fold, but because of weighty, incredibly memorable tunes such every bit "Mercenary", "The Fallen Angel", "Nomad", and the kingly "Blood Brothers". D.o.D. squeezes into the second position at the very end of the race based on the last-gas-effort and sheer strength of the albums' catastrophe iv songs. At present, this isn't to say A Matter of Life and Death is a third-charge per unit tape devoid of the kind of songs that make the Bruce era of this band then swell. In fact, right at the centre of things there'south an incrediblystrong 1-two metal-punch. "The Longest Solar day" and its follow-up, "Out of the Shadows", represent some of the best fabric this band has written since 2000's Dauntless New Globe. Both songs bleed classic, melodic Iron Maiden and feature the kind of ballsy, triumphant songwriting and incredibly heartfelt singing that'll make yous desire to throw open a window and scream, "YES!! (with fist in the air) HOLY SHIT Yeah!! Iron MAIDEN YOU BASTARDS!! IRON-FUCKING-MAIDEN!!!". And it's this amazingly mighty 1-2 dial that'll land this tape in my heavy rotation pile for a long time to come up. But that's not it. Sealing the deal for this fanboy is the extraordinarily ballsy, "For the Greater Skillful of God", which, when coupled with the same one-2 punch, makes this record easily worth any Iron Maiden fans' hard earned greenbacks. Hell, these three prodigious cuts solitary make up 23-minutes of this incredibly long record.
On the asshole side of the debate, If you were to duct-record me to a chair, break a number of my fingers, and indicate a nine-millimeter to my head while request, "Which of these songs would you say doesn't quite cut the mustard?", I'd have to point one of my unbroken centre fingers towards you and whisper, "You unbelievable bastard…"Brighter Than A Thousand Suns" …coughing, coughing…and "Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg"…but that's it….that's it, you bastards….Now go to hell. You'll go no more than data out of me….fifty-fifty if you do impale me."
Is A Matter of Life and Death an essential tape for every metal head out there? Probably not, just it yet beats the shit out of most traditional metal that's hitting the streets today. Iron Maiden is notwithstanding a elevation player in the game, so I say get out there, put your money on the bloody counter, and let these guys know how much they nevertheless mean to u.s.. Then nosotros'll all stand together and sing these songs and all the classics when Iron Maiden pulls through our towns in the coming year. I consider this another corking achievement in an plainly immensely impressive torso of work. Upwards the Irons!!!
Get-go things first–it'due south pretty remarkable that a new Iron Maiden album is once again so eagerly anticipated, a situation nigh had thought was a matter long past. Non just because these luminaries accept been making albums for more twenty-v years, but because the band had a decade to forget in the 90'southward, releasing a handful of albums (both with and without Dickinson) that revealed the band as a shadow of itself. Guarded optimism was a prudent response to the declaration of a new anthology featuring the render of Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith, butBrave New Globe quite hands eclipsed expectations, and its follow upward,Dance of Death, congenital on the successes of its predecessor, cementing the bulletin: Maiden was back. Truthful, the elementary minded whined that new millennium Maiden didn't spawn a Piece of Heed II, but the residuum of u.s.a. got it—these legends returned from the brink, and are once more producing relevant and rewarding metallic. So now that we doubters have had our knuckles rapped for twice underestimating the mightyIron Maiden, expectations are raised. Will A Matter of Life and Death follow the continuous upward trend? Yeah. Err, I hateful no. Well, mayhap.
If "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" seemed an unlikely pick for a first single, 1 spin ofA Thing of Life and Decease explains a lot. There just aren't many choices, as nearly all of the songs are cutting from a similar cloth. This anthology is full of lengthy, circuitous epics that, while accessible enough, are unlikely to have much commercial entreatment equally singles go. The melodic, radio friendly hooks of tracks like "Rainmaker" and "Wildest Dreams" are few and far between, and opener "Different World" is the but one of the x songs here that would fit the bill equally a traditional single. The tricky pro-troops "These Colours Don't Run" seems the next best option, merely similar virtually every other rails, it's seven-plus minutes long. This probably sounds like good news, but don't go expecting x "Hallowed Be Thy Name"s. In add-on to being short on the commercial, this collection is also noticeably shy of the fiery drama filled Maiden epic nosotros've grown accustomed to. It'due south not at all a matter of quality or appetite, but of design. The sprawling grandeur of recent tracks similar "Trip the light fantastic toe of Death" and the phenomenal "Paschendale", as well equally the calling card galloping bass and air raid siren choruses are in large function sidelined in favor of a more mature (a word used without judgment), but quite intense collection of dark and thoughtful songs. On balance, these songs may very well be more consistent than anything the band has done sinceSeventh Son of a Seventh Son (a fantastic album that felt underwhelming at the time of its release, mind y'all). The simply problem is that at that place aren't actually any true stand up out tracks. None of these songs provide the transcending thrill that truly special Iron Maiden tracks accept gifted fans for over ii and a one-half decades. All are nearly equally (and formidably) impressive, merely none really stunning. Would you trade for the opposite?
All that said,A Thing of Life and Decease seems to be the very definition of "a grower". Its lxx-two infinitesimal length makes it a chore to fully digest, and the band'due south more subtle (relatively speaking) approach affords less sweeping dramatics to grab hold of as highlights. But the fact that the quality of the songs is consistently high and that each boasts loads of twists and shifts bodes well for the lifespan and growth potential for the album. At that place'south not a one of these songs that I wouldn't enthusiastically welcome on a setlist (although "Out of the Shadows" is probably the least effective), but it volition take time for some truthful favorites to emerge. The early on contenders include some of the longest tunes of the bunch, including the imperial, progish album closer "The Legacy", "The Longest Day", "For the Greater Proficient of God" and "Brighter Than a G Suns", one of the three tracks previewed on the ring's website. All iii are enormously more effective when heard in the context of the album, which serves as some other reminder not to blitz to judgment. Similarly,A Matter of Life and Death seems very much like an anthology that will be viewed differently subsequently it'south got some years on information technology. While it'southward possible that the growth potential of the album may never actually pan out, my money is on merely the opposite. It'due south a mixed approving that much of what is feature about this album comes at the cost of the loss of other cherished elements of the ring'south sound, merely it becomes dicey to claim that this strategy is for the better or worse. It's simply a little different, and later all these years, that'due south enough to brand this anthology worthwhile. Information technology'southward a shame that so many metallic fans are quick to either canonize or hastily discount metal's surviving legends, rather than recognizing and enjoying them for what they are. While you may never prefer this album to their early work, A Matter of Life and Decease is easily one of the all-time albums of its type this year.
Source: https://yourlastrites.com/2006/09/04/iron-maiden-a-matter-of-life-and-death-review/