Artist: Iron Maiden
Label: Columbia Records
Release Date: 9/9/03
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Title: Dance of Death Artist: Iron Maiden Label: Columbia Records Release Date: 9/9/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
After seeing arguably one of the best shows of the year when I saw Maiden with Dio at Madison Square Garden, I found myself very excited for the release of their latest album. Their last album, Brave New World, was a solid effort, demonstrating that this band's relevance is far from over. During the show we got a taste of the new album when they played the song "Wildest Dreams", and while I didn't find that song all that remarkable, it rose to a level of quality that maintained my excitement.
"With each additional listen I witnessed the album bloom like a rare and fragrant flower." Right off the bat I was a bit discouraged by the artwork on the cover, a computer-generated image that looks like it came out of Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. With most bands I don't usually care about the artwork, but Iron Maiden isn't one of those bands. Even some of their weaker albums (read: Fear of the Dark) had some pretty cool artwork, and I must say I'm a bit crestfallen that this cover doesn't measure up.
I was further dismayed when I first listened to the album. While the music is of the quality we're used to from such a successful band, namely high production values, and the band's signature sound, I found myself disappointed in the craftsmanship and songwriting. It sounded like a group of throwaway songs from a great band. But then I spun the disc again... and again... and again.
With each additional listen I witnessed the album bloom like a rare and fragrant flower. As I got more acquainted with the music, exciting things began to happen. Melodies got more and more interesting, choruses seemed more and more anthemic, songs that I thought were laborious and awkward revealed a subtle skill and lingering impressions. In short, the album got better and better the more I listened to it. In fact, my appreciation of the record grew at such a rate with each additional listen, that I began to think of it as less than an album and more like a drug. A wonderful drug that got more and more potent, as opposed to building a tolerance.
"Newsflash! Mr. Dickinson: There's no prancing in metal. Dancing is frowned upon, but 'prancing' is unacceptable." "Wildest Dreams" is one of, if not the, weakest songs on the record. Songs like "Montsegur" and "Paschendale" sounded contemporary, but also have a classic Maiden vibe. So much so that these songs, given time, could be classics in their own right. "Age of Innocence" originally struck me as so commercial it almost sounded contrived. I no longer think of it as contrived, but infectious, with a chorus so simple it dances on your mind long after the song has stopped.
However, don't think I'm getting carried away. This album is not another Piece of Mind, I do think it is my favorite since Powerslave though, being a similar caliber but much more thorough effort than Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. It has some weaknesses; Bruce's voice seems to struggle in places, interesting considering how solid he sounded live. And the intro to "New Frontier" is impossible to listen to without hearing "Never Say Die" by Black Sabbath. And I can't help but snicker when Bruce admits in the title track that "I danced and I pranced". Newsflash! Mr. Dickinson: There's no prancing in metal. Dancing is frowned upon, but 'prancing' is unacceptable.
But all in all I think the Maiden Faithful will be quite happy with this release. Give it some time to grow on you, you'll be happy you did. One word review: Maiden.
Death's Review:
Let me start by saying that I am a huge Iron Maiden fan, and my admiration for these metal legends has only grown in recent years. This is probably in no small part due to the fact that they continue to dazzle and amaze both live and in the studio while almost all of their 1980s metal peers slowly decline, most of them right before our eyes and ears as they struggle to maintain an ever-dwindling audience and cash in every ounce of their dwindling credibility with repetitive and monotonous nostalgia-laden mediocrity. But not Iron Maiden. Go see them live in the modern era, I dare you. You will not be able to deny that they kick ass, and are totally still a vital band.
"In many ways, I like it better than Brave New World. In some, I like it worse." Which brings me to Dance of Death. Well not quite - first you should also know that I really liked Brave New World for all of the reasons set forth in the paragraph above. I liked it a lot. And it surprised me that I really liked the live Rock in Rio album too (how many live albums can one band sustain?). So while I'm just getting to know Dance of Death, I can report that - not unexpectedly, I really like this one too. And it grows on me with every listen. In many ways, I like it better than Brave New World. In some, I like it worse. But in all ways, it is a suitable Iron Maiden studio album, one that meets this highest of standards of metallic excellence. Yes, unbelievably in many ways, Maiden are still able to craft albums on par with their classic catalogue at this stage of their careers. This album fits right in. Let's leave aside the Blaze era, shall we? The albums are good, but I definitely like them less. Still, songs like The Clansman are really good with Dickinson live, so I think we can't really judge those records properly. But Dance of Death is definitely a better record than No Prayer for the Dying and Fear of the Dark (notwithstanding the now-classic title track) combined.
"There are two kinds of bands - those who are honest, passionate and filled with integrity and energy, and those that aren't. Iron Maiden clearly still resides in the former category." Those with less faith might have been concerned. The album cover is ridiculously poor by Maiden standards. Cheap CGI dancing babies? What? After the killer Brave New World album cover and a classic history of great art intersecting with great music, I was incredibly disappointed in this one. Second, the first single, "Wildest Dreams," seemed iffy at first (I think it is funny that the first line is "I'm gonna organise some changes in my life" - who "organizes" changes? We make changes, right? So very British. They even spell it with an "s" and not a "z"). Too sing-songy, too major key, too simple. Not bad per se, but light, airy, hopeful and happy. But I've been a Maiden fan for a long time and I have a good memory. I remember seeing the video for "Wasted Years" just before Somewhere in Time was supposed to come out and thinking the chorus was too sing-songy, not dark enough. Of course now I think of it as a classic. Then there was "Can I Play With Madness" as the first single from Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Same initial reaction, same long-term result. I'm still not sure "Wildest Dreams" is on that level, but it is fun to blast while driving around LA really fast with the top down. Liberating. Empowering. Free.
The rest of the album has some classic Iron Maiden moments. I love "Paschendale" the best I think. This tune is definitely an instant new Iron Maiden classic. Dickinson is outstanding (he also really shines on the title track), as are the guitarists. Nicko's fills are expressive and confident throughout the record, and Steve Harris' thundering bass gallops all over the album. There are some powerful, emotional moments, and the trademarked Maiden dynamic is everywhere. "Montsegur" is heavy, rumbling and technical, and Bruce's vocal is appropriately aggressive. "Face in the Sand" steadily builds into a rumbling presence. I suppose you can argue that Iron Maiden sticks to the "formula" a lot on this album (you know, clean guitar melody draped in reverb for the intro, dreamy dynamic verses, heavy emotional chorus that repeats the same line four or eight times, wild guitar solos over ascending or descending bass scales, mellow, wistful, clean guitar outro, lyrics about some important battle long ago), but who gives a shit? There are two kinds of bands - those who are honest, passionate and filled with integrity and energy, and those that aren't. Iron Maiden clearly still resides in the former category. The rest is just about how much you like the music the band chooses to play. Yes, Iron Maiden have a certain style, and Dance of Death is a perfect example of it. No, this not Maiden's best album - nor is it their second best but even the third. But it might be their fourth, fifth or sixth. And for a band with thirteen studio albums, that's saying something. I know I'll be coming back to songs like "Paschendale" years from now after I see them play it in concert and remember how awesome it is on the record too. I'm still getting to know this album, but of that much I'm sure.
Exactly where this ranks in the Iron Maiden catalogue is not important. What is important is that we are still able to witness the deliverance of fresh greatness from one of metal's all-time greatest assets. Was Michael Jordan's last-second shot during his last championship game with the Chicago Bulls against Utah a performance on-par with his peak athletic skill years, or was it just a rare and final taste of the legendary brilliance? It doesn't matter - it was a five-skull moment either way. I'm not sure at what point the Iron Maiden career will end, but I am sure that right now it's still worth the price of a ticket. And Iron Maiden on top of their game is a five-skull endeavor no matter whether its 1983, 1993, 2003 or beyond.
Hel's Review:
Though I really don't want to start this review on a negative note, I feel I need to get this off my chest right away. My first contact with the new Iron Maiden studio album was a link to the new album cover art online. Following the link, I thought someone must be playing a cruel joke - there's just no way that horrible, cheesy cover art could be the real thing. Sadly, it is. I have only three words to describe it: Worst Cover EVER. I could write a full review on just how bad this cover art is, but I'll just leave the issue lie right now.
"I have only three words to describe the artwork: Worst Cover EVER."
"Am I such a Maiden maniac that I will accept any pap they release? Perhaps, but I sincerely believe that I can tell the difference between a quality record and a poor one." Fortunately, the music inside is not as bad as you would expect from the hideously stupid album cover. Instead, we've been treated to another dose of the classic Iron Maiden formula, and it's still as tasty as ever. After many, many spins in my player, several of these new tracks stand strongly alongside their most classic material. The performances given by the members of the band are, across the board, simply outstanding, which is no less than I had expected.
Am I such a Maiden maniac that I will accept any pap they release? Perhaps, but I sincerely believe that I can tell the difference between a quality record and a poor one, despite my fondness for the band. And I firmly believe that this new album is, overall (apart from the abysmal cover art), of the outstanding quality I am generally accustomed to receiving from this band. But don't take my word for it - this is a record that every true metalhead should own - grab a copy and make your own decision.
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