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Iron Maiden: Dance Of Death
Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death - [EMI]

2003-10-02

Strange people are Iron Maiden’s fans, it seems as if they spend their lives just waiting for their favorite band to release an album which will be a direct continuation of ‘the number of the beast’ or “seventh son of a seventh son’.
I confess, I’m am one of those peculiar people,
I still, to this day, remember the rush I got out of listening to “hallowed be thy name’ for the first time, the one song that contains at least three riffs that are all-time metal classics, or being hypnotized as a cobra being entertained by an Indian flute by the middle section of the title track from “seventh son”.
But what can I do, you get hooked on that sound and those magical songs,
And you still crave that thrill, even some 15 years later.
But I think I have it figured, the problem was not with us, the fans, but truly with the band itself, the proof lies with the fact, that when Adrian Smith finally rejoined forces with Bruce during the making of Bruce’s solo album – accident of birth, they were making better Maiden songs than the ones that Maiden was doing then.
Songs such as “the road to hell” and “darkside” were a flashback to the glory days of the band.
When listening to the ‘chemical wedding’s – ‘The Tower’ I truly felt that rush I used feel once more.
When it was announced that both Bruce and Adrian were returning home, to Maiden,
I was afraid of the prospect of the band dismissing the Talented Janick, who was introduced to the band by Bruce, and stayed there after Bruce left, in favor of a nostalgic tour with it’s classic line-up, but was pleasantly surprised to hear that the band will forge on with three guitar gods – happy me!
And then- ‘New World Order’.
And it wasn’t it, I thought about blaming the sound, not dealt by the illustrious Martin Birtch for the last ten years or so, but it wasn’t it, Kevin Shirley’s production skills are implacable, so what was amiss here?
The songs. Most of them were just not good enough.
And now, with bated breath, I turn to “Dance Of Death”…
It’s the best album the band released since ‘No Prayer For The Dying’, better, I think, then ‘Fear Of The Dark’. Why? You ask?
The songs, the songs are there, starting with the energetic opener “Wildest Dreams’ which bears a strong resemblance, in feel if not it content, to ‘Powerslaves’’s ‘Back To The Village’, the next two songs are good, sold Maiden cuts, a bit repetitive on the chorus, and a bit dull on vocal diversity, but Bruce’s air-raid siren still carries them though.
And then things really start to get going, ‘Montsegur’ is Maiden’s best track in years, a heavy, well built track, which contains one important aspect of the band which was missing since ‘No Prayer’, - the lyrics! Intelligent, well crafted tales of times bygone.
That is some part of the magic essence that is Iron Maiden!
The title track then hit me in the face, a brilliant song, slowly building itself to a harmonic crescendo, starting with a middle ages-Celtic guitar riff, going into one of Maiden’s most powerful guitar riffs, and culminating in a combination of all that is good in the band.
It goes on and on, and for lack of space, I shall not elaborate further, suffice to say that ‘Paschendale’ is one of maiden grander epic songs, and there isn’t a weak track on the album.

So, Maiden members, receive this pat on your collective shoulders,
And this virtual pint of Guinness I lift for you – Cheers mates! You did it!

Alon Miasnikov



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