The Final Frontier / Iron Maiden (2010)

1. Satellite 15... The Final Frontier

2. El Dorado

3. Mother Of Mercy

4. Coming Home

5. The Alchemist

6. Isle Of Avalon

7. Starblind

8. The Talisman

9. The Man Who Would Be King

10. When The Wild Wind Blows

The last album, "A Matter of Life and Death", was a great album and really condensed the essence of Iron Maiden, but it was not very commercial friendly. The complicated song progression required listener's patience and time to comprehend the whole album. I was really interested in what direction they were going to take next. Finally, this album was released. I was very curious but not worried. Iron Maiden is one of few bands that I know they would release what fans expect every time. This band is one of few "safe" brands.

The album consists of two major parts. The first parts reminded me of their early career. The second parts consists of progressive songs.   Tracks 1 through 5 have the feeling of the time of New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). The lead single features cool gallop riff. This gallop riff used be their forte. Adrian Smith said on some music magazine before that the band intentionally did not play gallop riffs because they overused it in the past. However, every time I hear the band playing gallop riffs, it makes me feel really comfortable. This is one of their identity. The first 5 songs have good aggression and catchy melody. Track 4 reminds me of songs such as "Tears Of Dragon" (Bruce Solo) and "Out Of The Shadows". Bruce sang this beautiful melody line very emotionally. Track 5 can be included in any of their first 5 albums. It has good guitar harmony and aggression.

Then, the album goes to the second part which is very magnificent and dramatic. The amazing thing about this band is that some of their songs are very long but never bore me. It always comes with surprise and dramatic progression. From tracks 6 to 10, the album ran so fast. This is the one and only Iron Maiden. Each member showed great musicianship in each songs. Bruce Dickinson still keeps strong vocal. It is almost a miracle of human kind! Nicko plays likeNicko. His drum play is so unique and creates good groove even in progressive songs. Guitars and bass guitar make good ensembles.  

They showed their dignity once again and prove themselves that they were one of pioneers of heavy metal. There are some promising bands in metal scene, and they have energized the scene, yet this band is still way above them.

☆☆☆☆☆

A Matter Of Life And Death / Iron Maiden (2006)

1. Different World

2. These Colours Don't Run

3. Brighter Than A Thousand Suns

4. The Pilgrim

5. The Longest Day

6. Out of the Shadows

7. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg

8. For the Greater Good of God

9. Lord of Light

10. The Legacy

The first Maiden album I bought was "Real Dead One", a live album that contains the last tour with Bruce Dickinson before he left the band. It blew me away. I was a freshman in high school and just started playing the guitar about one year ago. The album contained so many cool riffs such as "The Number Of The Beast", "The Trooper", "Run To The Hills", and many others. Then one day, I listened to "Rock In Rio" album. I was just stunned. That was the beginning of my long journey with Iron Maiden.

I went to watch Iron Maiden Festival, the last show of "Dance of Death World Tour". That was the most amazing show I have ever seen in my life. The band was tight and very active (Before Maiden, Sonata Arctica and Arch Enemy played, but Maiden was much more active than these two bands!). "Dance of Death" became one of my favorite albums. After the show, I was really looking for the next album.

Before the album was released, I read some press and saw Steve repeated the word "Progressive" when he spoke about the new album. They created many progressive pieces in past. However this time, he was referring the entire album. The day that the album was released, I went to the store and bought it. I listened through the whole thing on the way back home. It was much more than I was expected. The album was massive.

I actually did not listened to the album much after that. I guess it was little difficult to comprehend that moment. But, I remember the first impression, the album reminded me of "The X Factor", the first album that the band made with Blaze Bayley. I thought "A Matter of Life and Death" had the same feeling and mood. The songs have the same feeling as the songs in "The X Factor" such as "Signs of the Cross", "Fortunes of War", "The Aftermath", and "The Edge of Darkness". Recently, I realized that the themes of the songs were very similar as well.

I recently re-visited this album and realized that this record might be the most dramatic album they ever created. One thing really impressed me the most was the great contribution of Nicko with his drums. He created such groove in this album, and each song changes its face as he changes the rhythm. Each song (except "Different World", "The Pilgrim", and "Out of the Shadows") has the beginning that starts slow and beautiful, and then the song goes aggressively and shows the insanity. At the end, the song goes back to the beginning. One thing really made me happy was that the gallop riff came back on the song "Lord of Light". I always love their gallop riffs. Nevertheless, it is not just the simple gallop riff they used to play. This is also progressive gallop riff.

I have been listening to this album almost everyday. This album was something special for the members as well. In fact, this is the only album they played entirely on their tour. This was the first and, they said, the last experiment. I think I grew musically old enough to comprehend this album now. This will surely be one of my all time favorite playlists.

☆☆☆☆☆

Dance Of Death / Iron Maiden (2003)

1. Wildest Dreams

2. Rainmaker

3. No More Lies

4. Montsegur

5. Dance Of Death

6. Gates Of Tomorrow

7. New Frontier

8. Paschendale

9. Face In The Sand

10. The Age Of Innocence

11. Journeyman

This album is another memorial one. The final concert of "Dance Of Death World Tour" was the first live show that I watched with my own eyes. I still remember that day. I just turned 18. That concert has two opening acts, Sonata Arctica and Arch Enemy. They were both great, but Iron Maiden totally ate them both. Their performance was more than exciting. It was fantastic!!

Anyways, that was enough for my story. I think this album was the real crucial moment for the band. Fans welcome last albums with open arms because of the return of Bruce and Adrian. Nevertheless, this album was the one that they had to prove themselves. This was the album they had to show the real ability, and they did it!! The arrangement of each song was more developed. I think it is due to the last tour they had. Three guitarists really united as a team.

1. Wildest Dreams

A catchy opening number. Another Adrian's rock song. It seems like writing an opening song became one of his assignment.

2. Rainmaker

It has a beautiful typical Dave melody. I always loved his songs such as "Dejavu" and "Judas Be My Guide" because he always write beautiful melody, and he did another one with this song. I was really happy to hear this song live because his songs were often not played at concert.

3. No More Lies

Typical (whenever I talk about Iron Maiden, I used this word a lot. I am using in good terms of course) Steve's song. Very progressive and dramatic.

4. Montsegur

A powerful metal tune. Bruce's vocal is outrageous. 

5. Dance Of Death

The title track. Very dramatic and beautiful. I still clearly remember that Janic, the main composer of the song, was dancing as he played the main melody of this song at concert. 

6. Gates Of Tomorrow

Starts with impressive riff. This is another good rock tune.

7. New Frontier

The first and the only song that was written by the drummer, Nicko Mcbrain. It has good progression in the middle. 

8. Paschendale

The tone and feeling of the album changes all sudden with this song. It has very unique intro riff. This is the first progressive song that Adrian Smith wrote. Usually, he writes more simple and straight-forward songs, but this was his first attempt to write a long song. The result was amazing! This song is very dark and dramatic. The song has good intonation between quiet parts and loud parts. This song was definitely one of the highlights in this album. You can picture the battle of war when you listen to this song.

9. Face In The Sand

Starts with beautiful and dramatic intro. This song was the first time that Nicko used double pedals (It is really unbelievable to see what he can do with one pedal!). 

10. The Age Of Innocence

This song has dark tone at the beginning and verses, but the song changes to major key and has chorus with bright tone.

11. Journeyman

Their first acoustic ballad. This song was originally played by electric guitars, but then they played with acoustic and recorded. I am very glad that they decided to use this version. The most beautiful and dramatic ballad they have ever written.

Every single song in this is amazing, and the album became impeccable. They proved that the band is still active and full of energy and magic!!

☆☆☆☆☆

Brave New World / Iron Maiden (2000)

1. The Wicker Man

2. Ghost Of The Navigator

3. Brave New World

4. Blood Brothers

5. The Mercenary

6. Dream Of Mirrors

7. The Fallen Angel

8. The Nomad

9. Out Of The Silent Planet

10. The Thin Line Between Love And Hate

1999 was a remarkable year for heavy metal fans. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith came back to one of the greatest pioneer bands of heavy metal. Right after that, they went on greatest hits tour and then released this album. This was the first studio album I learned of this band. First, I bought "A Real Dead One" and then "Rock In Rio" which contained the "Brave New World" tour. From those two live albums, I could tell that these guys were great live act, so I decided to also buy this album. Since then, I was possessed to this band. I have all of their studio albums. It all started here.

As I mentioned before, I like Blaze Bayley and "Virtual XI". However, no one can deny that Bruce is the voice of Iron Maiden after you listened to this album. If you listen to the first three songs, you feeling just settles down because you know that you are listening to the songs that are played in right way. I just cannot imagine listening to those songs sung by someone else. Every part of this album is Iron Maiden that we know. Powerful riffs, dramatic progression, vocals, everything is great!!

Musically, my impression was that the first half is very rocking, and the second half was more progressive. I guess they have not spent much time as having three guitarists, so there is not much arrangement regarding three guitar parts.

☆☆☆☆☆