The 4th album by this supergroup. By now they were way past the NWOBHM. They were one the most importnat Heavy Metal bands around. In Kerrang they won every reader-poll from 1982-1988!! Clive Burr had left the drum-stool and Nicko McBrain had taken the sticks."Life in Maiden was never the same again!" as it says in the booklet. An interesting change. Technically Clive was very good, but not very loose in his style. Loose is Nicko in a nutshell. A loose style, but with a lot of discipline. Great drummer. Many of the members in Maiden consider this one as the best albums they have ever made. Funny that they only play "The Trooper" in their live-set today then. The album was a turning point for Maiden. Now they were really big.
Where Eagles Dare: Nicko McBrain is introduced with a furious drum/percussion intro and he blasts his way through the 6 min long track. What an entrance to an album! Great riff. Otherwise a bit anonymous I think.
Revelations: Inspired by a great danish web-site.no of course not. Silly me. First song written by Bruce Dickinson. Great middle section and vocal work on this track. Great lyrics as well. A nice mood in this song. One Maidens finest songs.
Flight Of Icarus: First single, charts at No. 11. Great song. Kick ass intro riff. A very driving song, with some very cool solo parts. Vocals on this one are quite amazing.
Die With Your Boots On: Yet another one of these songs that don't get played much. A great song though with some okay guitars. The middle part is by far the best along with the solos. But not an extraordinary track. Very much straight forward Maiden.
The Trooper: Now there's a classic for ya!!! 2nd single that charted at No. 12. What an amazing intro riff. "Paranoid" go home and wipe those eyes. There ain't room for loser-riffs in Maiden. Or something like that. Amazing drum work, guitar work, vocals and bass. A song that very much defines the Maiden sound on this album. Classic.
Still Life: One of my favorite tracks on the album. Amazing slow moody intro and a great heavyness and drive in this song. One of Dave Murrays best song. Great lyrics. Oh and the solos on this. dear God. I want to bite my tongue off beacause it's so good. The feeling in the intro guitar reminds me of the passion on "Strange World".
Quest For Fire: Inspired by the film of the same name, but not one of their best songs. The guitar work is ok, but I don't like the melody in this song. The chorus sounds a bit.I don't know. But you might like it. Let me know.
Sun And Steel: Hmm. Two weak tracks, in my opinion, in a row. Again it's the melody that bothers me. I don't like the chorus, although the lyrics are quite good. Then again, some of my friends feels that this is one of Maidens best tracks on the album! I will move on in silence.
To Tame A Land: Was to be called "Dune", but the author wouldn't allow it. As you might have guessed it is based on the novel "Dune". I just love the drive in this song. The bass line are just so damn catchy. It just thunders away. Amazing feeling in the slower middle section. Great up-tempo part with some ok solos. A great way to finish off the album.
To rate this album is as difficult as have a sicks-pack in your fridge and not drink it!!
It is so damn hard. This is a totally different Maiden album. The sound is different. The production could have been better. I think the drums could have sounded better. But that is just small things. That and the 2 weak tracks, still in my opinion, somewhere in between 9.0 and 9.5, but since I can't do that I will have to go for 9.0. Sorry guys.
Written by
Ulrick Thursday, July 11, 2002
Show all reviews by UlrickRatingsUlrick: 9/10Members: 9.62/10 - Average of 4 ratings.
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Rating: 9/10
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 | notrap
Rating: 10/10
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