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THE REVIEW
It was since "Dance Of Death" that the beast hadn't visited my player with juicy new releases (apart from the decent live "Death On The Road"), and now it has returned, surprising us with different but always intense emotions.
Because the latest Iron Maiden album is different, not bad mind you, but it is the natural evolution of the tracks “Paschendale” and “Journeyman” from the previous work, which in these ten tracks take form and substance. Naturally, there are songs in Iron Maiden's classic style, I think of the speed metal of “Different World” (better than “The Wickerman” and “Wildest Dreams”, although at times it reminds of “Rainmaker”) or “The Pilgrim”, perhaps the most classic track of the entire album.
Of the new experimentation, “The Longest Day”, “Out Of The Shadows” (which takes us back many years to the splendid Maiden ballads like “Children of The Damned”), and “For The Greater Good Of God” must be mentioned. Rather strange is the concluding “The Legacy”, halfway between metal and a medieval hymn. What's a bit irritating is the repetitive pattern of the songs: the introductory part of the song is the same as the concluding part, and all the tracks flow smoothly (lacking outbursts, in short), but these are the 2006 Maiden, take it or leave it, and I take it! The cohesive element of the entire album, in addition to Harris's omnipresent bass, is the three guitars that for the first time fit perfectly among epic riffs and solos, with the excellent drum work as always and the phenomenal performance of Mr. Bruce Dickinson, which truly amazes our hearing.
In short, if it’s not a masterpiece, it’s close, after all, Iron Maiden is a certainty. And don’t tell me that the CD is gaudy, sophisticated, and lacks bite, because that means it hasn't been listened to enough!
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Summary by Bot
Iron Maiden’s 'A Matter Of Life And Death' marks a natural evolution from previous works, blending classic speed metal with fresh experimentation. The album features cohesive tracks with strong guitar and drum work, and exceptional vocals by Bruce Dickinson. While some song structures are repetitive, the overall energy and musicianship shine through. It’s not a masterpiece but close, offering fans a reliable and intense listening experience.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Iron Maiden
British heavy metal band formed in 1975, led by bassist and principal songwriter Steve Harris. Famous for epic studio albums, theatrical live shows featuring vocalist Bruce Dickinson, and the mascot Eddie.180 Reviews
Other reviews
By rourke
It’s a flawless album in terms of production, technique, and Bruce’s vocal performance.
The tracks are very long and not very immediate, but it’s certainly not a hard metal album, which suits the band’s age.
By MoonWolf
‘A Matter of Life and Death’ is an album that has many things to say and requires an audience willing to sit down and listen to it calmly and coherently.
The album itself is excellent, full of well-conceived and executed ideas, a masterpiece? I certainly won’t be the one to decide it; the arduous sentence is left to posterity.
By lonelydreamer
Each song has its own particular light, and there isn’t a single track placed just to extend the album’s duration.
Ladies and gentlemen, the beast is back, and despite the age, it is also quite angry and in shape!!
By AndJusticeForAll
"The choruses in 'These Colours Don't Run' are embarrassing, the song rhythms are incredibly predictable."
"If you can't produce an average-level album, why do you struggle to carry on?"
By dariogreat
"An album to buy and listen to calmly to appreciate it... it sounds terribly good."
"Listen, listen, listen and open your mind. Up the irons."
