Iron Maiden--No Prayer For the Dying

Iron Maiden--No Prayer For the Dying (1990) Rating--7.4 **U.S. Sales Certification--Gold**

The offering that many feel began Maiden's decline in the metal world, as Smith leaves and Dickinson appears to wear down a bit. However, upon listening to the album, it's definitely still Maiden: "Tailgunner" has shades of 'Powerslave' to it, "Fates Warning" has an excellent gallop, and "Run Silent Run Deep" has an solid NWOBHM chug.
Still... despite the occasional memory-joggers, few songs in their entirety stand out from this menagerie. The cuts aren't terribly catchy, and the production seems a bit off as well, with Bruce pushed more towards the front. Not a bad album by any means, but the creative shift in the band's persona can be felt---and fans had been spoiled into expecting a bit more.
HOT CHOPS: "Holy Smoke" has a great solo to it, beckoning back to the band's glory days of the '80s.
TRACK LIST: Tailgunner/Holy Smoke/No Prayer For the Dying/Public Enema Number One/Fates Warning/ The Assassin/Run Silent Run Deep/Hooks in You/Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter/Mother Russia

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