A wise old man once told me, "Don't be overly harsh," which in essence means, I believe, "you don't
have to be cruel to get your point across." Ah yes, that can apply to so many areas of life...
There are a few issues I have with the new Maiden disc, but I've come to realize that they're
born of my high expectations I have of the band itself, and also from the high level of output from Bruce's most recent solo projects.
'Dance of Death' seemed to breathe some new life into the band, but this offering takes a slight step back.
Perhaps it's just the mix,
but if you're going to have a band with three guitarists, then it should at least occasionally sound like there are three guitars -- bulk things up,
make us cower in fear from that stack of amps!
The band does it live, and I feel most would like to hear it in the studio as well.
Some solid solos are present as usual, and they remain sharp and good -- which has long been a Maiden treat. Another small negative issue, however, is that there aren't hardly any
face-ripping riffs, and only a small selection of strong rhythms, which is just criminal. I mean, this
is Maiden! Brue, Adrian, Dave, Steve... you just know there is way too much songwriting talent here, and that they are capable of more. Instead there are more than enough
of that oft-repeated pattern (from the past 10 years) of starting out the majority of the songs light, slow, and/or acoustic, with some tumbling little bass line, etc. etc. etc.
This is a band that classic metal fans want to so badly see bust out with another all-time
classic album, and it's just a bit of a letdown when it doesn't happen -- good is good, but great would be better.
The thick guitar chords of "Brighter Than a Thousand Suns" are good, and "The Pilgrim" displays some packed energy. Lead
single "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" has some nice and chunky slide-riffs, with "The Longest Day" building up throughout, and Bruce giving his all in a
full-lunged chorus.
"Lord of Light" has multiple good parts, and both "For the Greater Good of God" and "The Legacy"
have some tasty moments. On the downside, however, is something like "Out of the Shadows." This might be the best start-to-finish example of what's "not
quite right" with Maiden's songwriting at times. It's just a bit too plodding and ponderous. It's hard to imagine that this generic bit of
output is acceptable to all of the band members. It is, thankfully, an isolated incident.
Maiden is, of course, one of those "sacred and hallowed" bands
of metal. You say ill will against them, and their followers shall rise up. I'm cool with that protective mentality -- it's a big
part of what has kept metal strong for over three decades. I can also relate to it, as well. When 'Somewhere in Time' came out back in the late '80s, many trashed it and its new/different sound -- but many Maiden
fans (me included) stood strong by them. The only issue I have is the blind loyalty some fans might show, and profess their
love of anything/everything Band "X" might release, no matter the quality. I'm sure I've been guilty
of this in the past as well, especially back in the commercialized days of metal music (and sure, more recently as well -- I'll not deny it). All one can (in an ideal world) do is hope to
continue to change and become more open-minded and analytical. So: Is there talented musicianship on this disc? Yup. Good singing? Check. Some nice songs? Definitely. But
as with many of the bands we might consider "sacred and hallowed," there just comes a point where you expect a bit more.
And Maiden is one of those who we'll always look to (and hope for) first.
Oh yeah -- I've also learned that wise old men are hard to find, so listen whenever they speak up...
TRACK LIST: Different World/These Colours Don't Run/Brighter Than a Thousand Suns/The Pilgrim/The Longest Day/Out of the Shadows/The Reincarnation
of Benjamin Breeg/For the Greater Good of God/Lord of Light/The Legacy