07-09-2003 19:10									#1
	Iron Maiden - Dance Of Death, anyone's bought it? Put an end to popups!

Anyone else here in Apolyton who bought Maiden's new album? Heck, anyone here who listens to Maiden?

Now, I have all of their old studio albums, but I wasn't too sure whether to get this one because I hadn't been that keen in Maiden for a while. The dreadful single "Wildest Dreams" and the worst cover in rock history (a contender, at least) didn't help matters. However, I read some good reviews, so I decided to take the risk. Here is my current opinion of the album, for what it's worth:

The Great:

Paschendale.

No doubt about it, this is the best song of the album, and the best song after SSOASS. Definitely a Maiden classic and worth the price of the album by itself.

The Good:

Rainmaker, No More Lies, Dance Of Death, Face In The Sand, Journeyman.

The next single Rainmaker is a nice, melodic rocker and lightyears above Wildest Dreams.

No More Lies starts with a Clansman- like slow intro which is at least a minute too long. The song does kick into action after 2 minutes and features a memorable, if repetitive chorus. This sounds like a good live song.

The title track starts slowly once again but develops into an epic which reminds me of Mother Russia. One of the highlights of the album, despite the rather silly lyrics and the eery resemblance to Spinal Tap's Stonehenge at places.

Face In The Sand is a song that took a few listenings to open. Great, dark atmosphere in the song and good singing from Dickinson.

Journeyman is the first real Maiden ballad since Prodigal Son a few decades ago. A beautiful song and a great ending to the album.

The Mediocre:

Gates Of Tomorrow, New Frontier, Age Of Innocence.

Gates Of Tomorrow is an average rocker at best. Think along the lines of The Mercenary from Brave New World.

New Frontier is the first song which features writing credits from the drummer, Nicko McBrain. No great surprises here, this one is another rocker. I'd rank it slighly above GoT becuase of the better chorus.

Age Of Innocence reminds me of Dickinson's solo album Skunkworks, which isn't a very good thing. I'd take Accident Of Birth and The Chemical Wedding over Skunkworks any day.

The Bad:

Wildest Dreams, Montségur.

Wildest Dreams is an annoying little song with an annoying chorus, but it's not as downright bad as Montségur. Maybe the reason I dislike Montségur so much is that song had potential before they decided to turn it into a happy pirate song. The chorus is enough to ruin any song.

	07-09-2003 19:11									#2
	Increase the size of your Attachments

They still make albums?

	07-09-2003 19:15									#3
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

quote: Originally posted by DaShi They still make albums?

So it would appear.

	07-09-2003 19:19									#4
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I don't believe it. They've got to be 40 or something by now.

	07-09-2003 19:24									#5
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

quote: Originally posted by DaShi I don't believe it. They've got to be 40 or something by now.

I think they're a bit under 45. Dickinson did say that he can't see himself touring when he's 55-60 because of the physicality of the shows.

	07-09-2003 20:12									#6
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Thanks for reminding me. I saw them for the second time at Roskilde this summer. At some point in the show just before they played the new song, frontman Dickenson asked if anybody has bought some kind of recording gear to the show (even though you aren't allowed to bring that stuff into the festival grounds). He went on to saying that if we recorded this song and passed it around on the Internet, it would be all right with Iron Maiden. In fact, he said that we could all go and download the new album on the one condition that if we really liked it, but only then, we'd go out and buy it. He must have said it at Helsinki, too. It's a fair compromise.

I'll check out the P-song at the very least.

	07-09-2003 20:22									#7
	Support Apolyton

quote: Originally posted by Monk Thanks for reminding me. I saw them for the second time at Roskilde this summer. At some point in the show just before they played the new song, frontman Dickenson asked if anybody has bought some kind of recording gear to the show (even though you aren't allowed to bring that stuff into the festival grounds). He went on to saying that if we recorded this song and passed it around on the Internet, it would be all right with Iron Maiden. In fact, he said that we could all go and download the new album on the one condition that if we really liked it, but only then, we'd go out and buy it. He must have said it at Helsinki, too. It's a fair compromise. I'll check out the P-song at the very least.

That was a quite relaxed attitude from Dickinson. Very cool.

Anyway, I do recommend checking out Pachendale, but be aware of fake files. If you're content with a .ram file, a Finnish newspaper has the song available for listening here.

	08-09-2003 02:17									#8
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

* St Leo mumbles something about Helloween's 2003 Rabbit Don't Come Easy
* St Leo runs from the Maiden fans

	08-09-2003 02:43									#9
	Got spare money?

I got their last album based on recommendations here at Apolyton. I was still a little dissappointed. The first 4 or 5 songs were good, but the second half of the album just didn't do it for me.

I am mainly a fan of their first 7 albums, though fear of the dark was a good album they put out in the 90's.

	08-09-2003 03:01									#10
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Dissident I got their last album based on recommendations here at Apolyton. I was still a little dissappointed. The first 4 or 5 songs were good, but the second half of the album just didn't do it for me. I am mainly a fan of their first 7 albums, though fear of the dark was a good album they put out in the 90's.

If you like their classic albums, you owe it to yourself to at least hear Paschendale. I'm still undecided as to how I'd rank the whole album, although I doubt it's the album of the year for me.

	08-09-2003 03:04									#11
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I'll definately have to check out their songs. Though I may not buy their cd.

I'm a serious Iron Maiden fan. So you can bet I'll check out their new songs

My favourite albums are Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (underappreciated album in my opinion), Killers, Somewhere in Time, Powerslave, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Iron Maiden, Fear of the Dark.

	08-09-2003 03:20									#12
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Dissident I'll definately have to check out their songs. Though I may not buy their cd. I'm a serious Iron Maiden fan. So you can bet I'll check out their new songs My favourite albums are Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (underappreciated album in my opinion), Killers, Somewhere in Time, Powerslave, Number of the Beast, Piece of Mind, Iron Maiden, Fear of the Dark.

Most people I know do appreciate Seventh Son and many list it as their favourite, as do I.

	08-09-2003 04:18									#13
	Inflate your Upload Space

I thought the album was okay. About every chorus was repetitive to the point of boredom and felt very inunspiring which is my big minus. The verses and instrumental parts are all good maiden though

	08-09-2003 08:16									#14
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

I listen to them. didn't hear any of the new stuff though...

	08-09-2003 13:58									#15
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Al'Kimiya I thought the album was okay. About every chorus was repetitive to the point of boredom and felt very inunspiring which is my big minus. The verses and instrumental parts are all good maiden though

Repetitive choruses? Not nearly as much as in Brave New World, thank God.

	08-09-2003 15:48									#16
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I'll go buy it as soon as it hits the stores here. For some reason, "instant world-wide releases" are about a month late here.
Anyway, Maiden are on my (very) short list list of bands whose new albums I'd buy unconditionally. With one exception, these bands managed to never put out an album that disappointed me as a whole. Some songs, maybe, but never an entire album.

	08-09-2003 16:01									#17
	Get a bigger avatar today!

quote: Originally posted by Monk In fact, he said that we could all go and download the new album on the one condition that if we really liked it, but only then, we'd go out and buy it.

At least one person in the music industry gets it.

	10-09-2003 01:46									#18
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Agathon At least one person in the music industry gets it.

Then again, the album is copy-protected. It doesn't play well in my portable cd-player.

	10-09-2003 02:10									#19
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I'm boycotting all music cd purchases because of recent RIAA actions... which means my music purchasing habits have not changed at all.

So no IM for me.

	10-09-2003 03:13									#20
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

quote: Originally posted by Minute Mirage Repetitive choruses? Not nearly as much as in Brave New World, thank God.

I passed that album, it was released during a non-metal period for me. Seems I didn't miss much then

	10-09-2003 11:22									#21
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

quote: Originally posted by Al'Kimiya I passed that album, it was released during a non-metal period for me. Seems I didn't miss much then

It depends. There's some very good stuff there, but I personally got tired of the album after listening to it and only it for about three weeks straight. Big mistake.

	10-09-2003 20:45									#22
	Increase Your PM Length

I really liked Brave New World a lot...do you think I'll like this one?

	10-09-2003 21:06									#23
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

quote: Originally posted by Caligastia I really liked Brave New World a lot...do you think I'll like this one?

I'd say the chances are very good. Check out some songs at BBC, where it's the album of the week. My favourites are Paschendale (probably the best epic since Hallowed Be Thy Name), Face In The Sand and No More Lies.