A question for Iron Maiden fans
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Well, I was looking through my music collection and realized that I haven't listened to the "A matter of Life and Death" album since I first got it almost a year ago. Was anyone else horribly disappointed by this album? I mean the one before it(Dance of Death) was every bit as good as the older Maiden stuff, but Life and Death just wasn't very good. I've got nothin against their focusing on hypocrisy people show when combining religion and war, that's all fine and dandy, but the music just didn't sound that good.
Anyone else have the same feeling or completely disagree?
Anyone else have the same feeling or completely disagree?
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I recently wrote a paper on Iron Maiden, and I have to say, I think they have three primary stylistic periods in their career, and it depends which one you like(Though my analysis does not take into account the Bailey years). Although, I also note that all the big Iron Maiden fans I know love AMOLAD.
Period 1 - basically, the loud, fast, agressive, violent metal. Think Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Aces High. Volumes are loud, tempos are mostly fast, you have the galloping bass line, shredding guitar solos, screaming vocals. It's generally a bright sound, though there will be brief moments of slower, to contrast.
Period 2 - more experimental period. Alot of different things going, they experiment with different sounds and instrumental textures. Alot of synth, tends to be slower, often they go for a hazy or more fluid sound, as opposed to the galloping base of period 1. Think "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
Period 3 - the easiest change to note here is lyrics. They become less nihilistic and more philosophical, often focusing on archetypal issues, like the horrors of war for example. There music moves away from the heavier synth and experimental sounds, but incorporates it into their musical language. We hear much more contrast in their later work in dynamics, tempos, and harmonies. We also hear more lyrical melodic lines, smoother transitions, and more sparing use of the screaming vocals. Paschendale and Blood Brothers are examples of this style period. I also identify their third period with musical story telling, not because their songs are necessarily always stories lyrically or that their music is programmatic, but their music gains many storylike qualities, a buildup to a climax and a resolution, as well as conflict through contrasting sections.
I personally like their third style the best, and thus think AMOLAD is one of their best albums. However, it also is probably the furthest into their 3rd style period and also doesn't really have the throwback tracks that Dance of Death did, for example, Journeyman.
I think that the band has changed in many ways, and while they still might rip off a track reminiscent of Number of the Beast every so often, that they won't be going wholesale back to their first style. I think the new Maiden is just as awesome in different ways, and I don't think they will be going away anytime soon.
Period 1 - basically, the loud, fast, agressive, violent metal. Think Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Aces High. Volumes are loud, tempos are mostly fast, you have the galloping bass line, shredding guitar solos, screaming vocals. It's generally a bright sound, though there will be brief moments of slower, to contrast.
Period 2 - more experimental period. Alot of different things going, they experiment with different sounds and instrumental textures. Alot of synth, tends to be slower, often they go for a hazy or more fluid sound, as opposed to the galloping base of period 1. Think "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
Period 3 - the easiest change to note here is lyrics. They become less nihilistic and more philosophical, often focusing on archetypal issues, like the horrors of war for example. There music moves away from the heavier synth and experimental sounds, but incorporates it into their musical language. We hear much more contrast in their later work in dynamics, tempos, and harmonies. We also hear more lyrical melodic lines, smoother transitions, and more sparing use of the screaming vocals. Paschendale and Blood Brothers are examples of this style period. I also identify their third period with musical story telling, not because their songs are necessarily always stories lyrically or that their music is programmatic, but their music gains many storylike qualities, a buildup to a climax and a resolution, as well as conflict through contrasting sections.
I personally like their third style the best, and thus think AMOLAD is one of their best albums. However, it also is probably the furthest into their 3rd style period and also doesn't really have the throwback tracks that Dance of Death did, for example, Journeyman.
I think that the band has changed in many ways, and while they still might rip off a track reminiscent of Number of the Beast every so often, that they won't be going wholesale back to their first style. I think the new Maiden is just as awesome in different ways, and I don't think they will be going away anytime soon.
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I have played in a Maiden cover band, and we did many songs off of that album. It is not my favorite album, but it was good. I Loved Piece of Mind... the band I play with now just recorded a cover of Quest for Fire for our next album. That song is perfect for what we do.
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Have to say I disagree. To this day I still think the only really bad Maiden albums are Virtual XI and X Factor. That being said, Matter only has Different World, These Colours Don't Run, The Pilgrim and The Legacy which are really worth several listens.
Still, the best Maiden stuff is the original few albums, but with Bruce's vocals.
Still, the best Maiden stuff is the original few albums, but with Bruce's vocals.
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I wasn't horribly disappointed, mostly because I also did not like Dance of Death all that much. Brave New World was the last Iron Maiden album that I really liked. But I don't mind it either. Iron is one of the bands that has enough classics in it's discography that even if they stop putting out new stuff or just keep making bad songs their shows will still be great and I'll still love the band. Even if you just restrain them to Powerslave, seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Fear of the Dark they are still one of my favorite bands of all time.
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lusobr wrote...
I wasn't horribly disappointed, mostly because I also did not like Dance of Death all that much. Brave New World was the last Iron Maiden album that I really liked. But I don't mind it either. Iron is one of the bands that has enough classics in it's discography that even if they stop putting out new stuff or just keep making bad songs their shows will still be great and I'll still love the band. Even if you just restrain them to Powerslave, seventh Son of a Seventh Son and Fear of the Dark they are still one of my favorite bands of all time.I thought Dance of Death was a fantastic album, and Brave New World is one of my favorite albums from them. Different tastes for different people, I guess. Also, I wouldn't limit myself to Powerslave, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son, and Fear of the Dark; I would, if I absolutely had to limit myself to a minimum number of albums, choose Final Frontier, Somewhere In Time, Brave New World, and The Number of the Beast. Each one, to me, stands out from their discography.
OT: I listened to AMOLAD a while ago, but haven't listened to it since. I might listen to the album again just because I haven't listened to Iron Maiden in a while.