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Rating: All the greatest metal bands in history have at least one dud album in their discography: Forbidden for Black Sabbath, Reload for Metallica, Six degrees Of Inner Turbulence for Dream Theater, The Triumph Of Steel for Manowar, and indeed Fear Of The Dark for Iron Maiden, an album born in 1992 during a crisis due to Adrian Smith's departure and Bruce Dickinson's solo ambitions.
Fear Of The Dark offers in its tracklist colossal flops like Fear Is The Key, Wasting Love, The Fugitive, Chains Of Misery, The Apparition, and Weekend Warrior (6 songs out of 12) which showcase a horror gallery of clichéd lyrics, a lackluster performance by the singer, and headache-inducing solos: in short, it's a true scraping of the barrel (I wouldn't be surprised if these songs were poor outtakes from the previous album).
So, let's analyze the six remaining songs, and even here they're not all that impressive: the opener Be Quick Or Be Dead is quite gritty and fast, let's say a 6.5 piece ruined by Bruce's questionable performance (where the hell has the divine chanter of Revelations and Alexander The Great gone!?). From Here To Eternity (a piece that closes the Charlotte The Harlot saga) is the most pandering and unoriginal offering ever proposed by Iron Maiden (they could have at least credited it as an AC/DC cover, for truth's sake!). However, Childhood's End is very beautiful, full of pathos, epicness, and tension, showcasing one of Nicko McBrain's best performances, and the fast and catchy Judas Be My Guide, which deserves a good solid 7. As a testament to Iron Maiden's greatness, even in a highly mediocre album like this, they managed to include not one but two masterpiece tracks: Afraid To Shoot Strangers is stunning, with its nocturnal and subtle atmosphere that leads into an epic and solid riff that will forever remain etched in heavy metal history. The title track is another knockout piece (listen to the live version from Rock In Rio, it truly sends shivers down your spine) and constitutes the archetype for future masterpieces like The Clansman, Dream Of Mirrors, Dance Of Death, Paschendale, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, and The Legacy, just to name a few.
In conclusion, two stars like the two best pieces, the rest is truly awful.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Be Quick or Be Dead (03:24)
Covered in sinners and dripping with guilt
Making you money from slime and from filth.
Parading your bellies in ivory towers
Investing our lives in your schemes and your powers.
You got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief in your head.
You've got to watch them - Be quick or be dead
Snake eyes in heaven - The thief in your head.
Be quick or be dead - Be quick or be dead
See... what's ruling all our lives
See... who's pulling the strings...
I bet you won't fall on your face...
Your belly will hold you in place.
The serpent is crawling inside of your ear
He says you must vote for what you want to hear.
Don't matter what's wrong as long as you're alright
So pull yourself stupid and rob yourself blind.
02 From Here to Eternity (03:38)
From Here To Eternity
She fell in love with his greasy machine
She leaned over wiped his head
kickstart clean
She'd never seen the beast before
But she left there wanting
more more more
But when she was walking on
down the road
She heard a sound that made
her heart explode
He whispered to her to get on the back
"I'll take you on a ride
from here to eternity"
Hell ain't a bad place
Hell is from here to eternity
Hell ain't a bad place
Hell is from here to eternity
She must be having one of her
crazy dreams
She'd never sat on a piece so mean
It made her feel like she's on cloud nine
She even thought she heard the
engine sigh
But like all dreams that come to an end
They took a tumble at the devil's bend
The beast and Charlotte they were
two of a kind
They'd always take the line...
from here to eternity
Hell ain't a bad place
Hell is from here to eternity
Hell ain't a bad place
Hell is from here to eternity
03 Afraid to Shoot Strangers (06:56)
Lying awake at night I wipe the sweat
from my brow
But it's not the fear 'cos
I'd rather go now
Trying to visualize the horrors that
will lay ahead
The desert sand mound a burial ground
When it comes to the time
Are we partners in crime?
When it comes to the time
We'll be ready to die
God let us go now and finish what's
to be done
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy shall be done- on Earth
Trying to justify to ourselves the
reasons to go
Should we live and let live
Forget or forgive
But how can we let them go on this way?
The reign of terror, corruption must end
And we know, deep down there's
no other way
No trust, no reasoning, no more to say
Afraid to shoot strangers
Afraid to shoot strangers
05 Childhood's End (04:40)
I'd sail across the ocean
I'd walk a hundred miles
If I could make it to the end
Oh just to see a smile
You see it in their faces
The saddness in their tears
The despereation and the anger
Madness and the fear
[Chorus]
No hope, no life, just pain and fear
No food, no love, just greed is here
Starvation and the hunger
The suffering and the pain
The agonies of all-out war
When will it come again?
The struggle for the power
A tyrant tries again
Just what the hell is going on?
When will it ever end?
[Chorus]
You see the full moon float
You watch the red sunrise
We take this things for granted
But somewhere someone's dying
Contaminated waters
Pollution and decay
Just waiting for disease to strike
Oh will we learn someday?
No hope, no life, just pain and fear
No food, no love, no seed, childhoods end.
07 The Fugitive (04:54)
On a cold October morning
As frost lay on the ground
Waiting to make my move
I make no sound
Waiting for the mist to cover all around
I carefully picked my time
then took the wall
I'm sick and tired of running
The hunger and the pain
A stop to look about then off again
Being at the wrong place
And the wrong time
Suspected of a hit that was my crime
I am a fugitive being hunted down
like game
I am a fugitive but I've got to clear
my name
Always looking 'round me
Forever looking back
I'll always be a target for attack
Ever moving onwards
Always on the run
Waiting for the sight of a loaded gun
I am a fugitive being hunted down
like game
I am a fugitive but I've got to clear
my name
Even if I find them
And get to clear my name
I know that things can never
be the same
But if I ever prove
My innocence some day
I've got to get them all to make them pay
I am a fugitive being hunted down
like game
I am a fugitive but I've got to clear
my name
08 Chains of Misery (03:37)
(Dickinson/Murray)
There's a madman in the corner of your eye
He likes to prey � into your sunlight
He wants to burst into the street with you and I
A world of shadows and rain
He's seen what love is�
He wants to pay you back with guilt
He lies to you he won't let you be
He's got your Chains of Misery
He won't be still till he's turned your key
He holds your Chains of Misery
He's got your Chains of Misery
There's a prophet in the gutter in the street
He says �You're damned!� �
And you believe him�
He's got a vision but it shines out through your eyes
A world of hatred and fear�
He felt what love means�
He lies to you he won't let you be
He's got your Chains of Misery
He won't be still till he's turned your key
He holds your Chains of Misery
He's got your Chains of Misery
(repeat)
It's only love that holds the key to your heart�
It's only love�
He lies to you he won't let you be
He's got your Chains of Misery
He won't be still till he's turned your key
He holds your Chains of Misery
He's got your Chains of Misery
He lies to you he won't let you be
He's got your Chains of Misery
He won't be still till he's turned your key
He holds your Chains of Misery
He's got your Chains of Misery
09 The Apparition (03:54)
(Harris/Gers)
Now I'm here, can you see me?
�Cos I'm out on my own
When the room goes cold, tell me
You can feel me
.....�cos I'm here
Here I am, can you see me
Passing through, on my way
To a place I'd been to only in my
Dreams�before
In a world of delusion
Never turn your back on a friend
'Cause you can count your
Real true friends on one hand
.....through life
There are those that deceive you
There are those that'll let you down
Is there someone out there that would
Die for you
.....thought not
Live your life with a passion
Everything you do, do well
You only get out of life what you put in
.....so they say
In a world of confusion
People never say what they mean
If you want a straight answer
Go look for one
.....right now
In a room full of strangers
Do you stand with your back to the wall?
Do you sometime feel like you're
On the outside
.....looking in?
You can make your own luck
You create your own destiny
I believe you have the power
If you want to
.....it's true
10 Judas Be My Guide (03:08)
Lights out - We live in a world of darkness
No doubt - Everything's up for sale
We sleep - All of the world is burning
We pray - To God for better deal
Nothing is sacred - Back then or now
Everything's wasted...
Is that all there is ?
Can I go now ?
[Chorus:]
Judas my guide
Whispers in the night
Judas my guide
Fight wars - Die in a blaze of glory
Come home - Meat in a plastic sack
Fall down - Better pray to your god for mercy
So kneel - and help the blade cut clean
Nothing is sacred - Back then or now
Everyone's wasted...
Is that all there is ?
Is that it now ?
[Chorus]
I live in the black
I have no guiding light
I'm whispering in your dreams...
[Chorus 2 times]
11 Weekend Warrior (05:39)
The rebel of yesterday, tomorrow's fool
Who are you kidding being that cool?
Trying to break away from running
with the pack
But they ain't listening so you've
gotta go back
You're a weekend warrior when
you're one of the crowd
But it's over, just look at you now...
You're not so brave the way you behave
It makes you sick, gotta get out quick
It's all bravado when you're out
with your mates
It's like a different person goes through
those gates
And the game begins
the adrenalin's high
Feel the tension maybe someone
will die...
A weekend warrior lately
A weekend warrior sometimes
A weekend warrior maybe you ain't
that way anymore
You've gotta get out gotta get away
But you're in with a clique it's not
easy to stray
You've gotta admit you're just
living a lie
It didn't take long to work out why
It's hard to say why you got involved
Just wanting to be part
just wanting to belong...
A weekend warrior lately
A weekend warrior sometimes
A weekend warrior maybe you ain't
that way anymore
Some of the things that you've done
you feel so ashamed
After all it's only a game... isn't it?
And after all the adrenalin's gone
What you gonna do on Monday?
A weekend warrior lately
A weekend warrior sometimes
A weekend warrior maybe you were
never like that at all
12 Fear of the Dark (07:18)
I am the man who walks alone
And when I'm walking a dark road
At night or strolling through the park
And When the light begins to change
I sometimes feel a little strange
A little anxious when it's dark
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a constant fear that something's
always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's
always there
Have you run your fingers down
the wall
And have you felt your neck skin crawl
When you're searching for the light?
Sometimes when you're scared
to take a look
At the corner of the room
You've sensed that something's
watching you
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have constant fear that something's
always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's
always there
Have you ever been alone at night
Thought you heard footsteps behind
And turned around and no one's there?
And as you quicken up your pace
You find it hard to look again
Because you're sure there's
someone there
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have constant fear that something's
always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's
always there
[solo]
Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark
Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark, Fear of the dark
Watching horror films the night before
Debating witches and folklores
The unknown troubles on your mind
Maybe your mind is playing tricks
You sense, and suddenly eyes fix
On dancing shadows from behind
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have constant fear that something's
always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's
always there
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have constant fear that something's
always near
Fear of the dark, fear of the dark
I have a phobia that someone's
always there
When I'm walking a dark road
I am the man who walks alone
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Other reviews
By jigoro
"The three points I give it go respectively to 'Be Quick Or Be Dead,' 'Afraid To Shoot Strangers,' and the magnificent title track, a rose among the trash of a job born and lived simply badly."
"The times of 'The Number Of The Beast' are just pleasant memories, and age (and money) are beginning to be felt all too forcefully."
By Kenny
Damn, what an album! What more can be said about this record?
The building would burst when "Be Quick or Be Dead" played, or maybe with another track because, in the end, they’re all great.
By carloirons
Fear Of The Dark is a heartfelt, warm album, made with heart, and precisely for this reason with some imperfections that reason would have removed.
The song alone manages to embrace all metal components: hard and powerful sound, sudden acceleration, great voice, dark theme.
By creative
"Fear Of The Dark is an album that, when listened to for the first time, is scary!"
"If you don’t know who Iron Maiden are, listen to this album and you too will become a True Metaller!!!!!"
By Reguz92
"Fear of the Dark has not only become one of the most loved pieces by Iron Maiden fans and an omnipresent track in every concert but is also one of the most well-known songs in all metal music history."
The tracks included can be divided into three groups, from mediocre to excellent, with some pieces that could have easily been left out.
