The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[wolfking]

I agree. I'm glad it was an entire song and not some sort of medley. But even he can't fix the song. For some reason after the climax, Steve needlessly felt he needed another verse.

Never thought that myself, but I see where you are coming from.  Going into the quiet outro after the 'genius must die' line would be quite cool.

[TAC]

I agree. I'm glad it was an entire song and not some sort of medley. But even he can't fix the song. For some reason after the climax, Steve needlessly felt he needed another verse.

Never thought that myself, but I see where you are coming from.  Going into the quiet outro after the 'genius must die' line would be quite cool.

Exactly. Or even just end it with "The genius must die".

And that is one of the problems I've had with TXF in general.

I feel that Maiden were sitting on an absolute neutron bomb masterpiece of an album with TXF. But what they released, to me, was a demo version of it. The production fucking blows, to begin with, so there's that.  But this album really needed someone like Bruce, or Martin Birch, to get into Steve's head and offer some balance or levity. Eliminating a verse here and there, smoothing a transition here and there. Maybe eliminating a song or two. Taking out Judgement Of Heaven and adding Judgement Day, as this album was in desperate need of another ripper.

[425]

I agree. I'm glad it was an entire song and not some sort of medley. But even he can't fix the song. For some reason after the climax, Steve needlessly felt he needed another verse.

Never thought that myself, but I see where you are coming from.  Going into the quiet outro after the 'genius must die' line would be quite cool.

Exactly. Or even just end it with "The genius must die".

I have to disagree on this one. In fact, I think that hearing Blaze belt out "Now I stand alone in darkness..." is one of the highlights of the album for me.

I do emphatically agree about the production, and there are some other songs that could probably use some tweaking. But at the same time, I think that this album is one of those that's rough and raw in a way that works. And I'd be worried that taking too heavy a hand to it might have ruined its strange brilliance. It was never going to be a commercial success, anyway. Far too dark, and Blaze was too sharp of a departure from Bruce.

Virtual XI is the real missed opportunity, I'd say. I love it, but the production is still awful in a way that doesn't even have thematic plausibility. And there is an absolute beast of a song inside The Angel and the Gambler that 'Arry just... botched.

[El Barto]

Raphael Mendes is at it again.

The Edge Of Darkness

 

Yeah, that didn't work at all. The song was definitely written to Blaze's strengths and not Bruce's.

As for the song itself, I have the exact opposite problem as TAC. It was a helluva narrative opportunity, and while I get that they couldn't flush it out without making it a 20 minute epic, they seemed to just abandon it, instead. You've got the slow build up to the mission, the solo representing the journey, and then the epilogue.  It didn't necessarily need another verse, but it needed something to flesh the story out better. And ditching the final verse, as has been suggested, would have been even worse. It would have been like ending EotC right after the R101 took off.

[TAC]

Mission? Journey? We talking about the same song?

The Edge Of Darkness must have one of the worst set of verses in their catalog. I mean, when it picks up it's fine, but that mid tempo verse is terrible. There was no need to bring it back. By the time it gets to the "genius must die" part, I had forgotten about them. There was no need to rehash it.


But I have no problem acknowledging there's a really awesome song in there somewhere, but to me, there's just something off about it.

[wolfking]

Everyone knows what I think of the album, I love it as it is, but Judgement Day is so good, it should have been on there.  Justice of the Peace could've been on there and to a lesser extent, I Live My Way.  Dunno if I could cut anything though.  I would have loved a double album.

[El Barto]

Mission? Journey? We talking about the same song?

Not sure if you're serious or not, but since it's always great advice I'll suggest it anyway. Watch the first 18 minutes of Apocalypse Now. The mission briefing is one of my favorite scenes in cinema. I like Jerry, the creepy civilian.

The Edge Of Darkness must have one of the worst set of verses in their catalog. I mean, when it picks up it's fine, but that mid tempo verse is terrible. There was no need to bring it back. By the time it gets to the "genius must die" part, I had forgotten about them. There was no need to rehash it.

I agree with you about the verse structures, but my problem is that they try to shoe-horn in specific lines from the movie. It all seems awkward and forced. You think it's too long at 6.38. I think it needed more room to breathe. It was a great idea for a Maiden song, but they really didn't do it right. It was an instance where you either go big or go home, I think.

[TAC]

Mission? Journey? We talking about the same song?

Not sure if you're serious or not, but since it's always great advice I'll suggest it anyway. Watch the first 18 minutes of Apocalypse Now. The mission briefing is one of my favorite scenes in cinema.

I was half and half.   Is that song about Apocalypse Now? I probably knew that at some point, but that'd be something I'd quickly discard anyway. I saw it once when I was younger, and frankly don't remember anything about it.

The Edge Of Darkness must have one of the worst set of verses in their catalog. I mean, when it picks up it's fine, but that mid tempo verse is terrible. There was no need to bring it back. By the time it gets to the "genius must die" part, I had forgotten about them. There was no need to rehash it.

I agree with you about the verse structures, but my problem is that they try to shoe-horn in specific lines from the movie. It all seems awkward and forced. You think it's too long at 6.38. I think it needed more room to breathe. It was a great idea for a Maiden song, but they really didn't do it right. It was an instance where you either go big or go home, I think.

I think it's a fabulous idea for a Maiden song. I'm not saying it's too short. I am saying that I don't like where the song went after the "genius must die" part. Going back into that horrible verse after such an epic part felt cringey to me. I'd understand if this was an early version of a working song, hence my demo comment, but there's such an awesome song here that simply never matures.

And that is generally how I feel about TXF as a whole.

[TAC]

http://bravewords.com/news/covid-19-initiative-over-15-iron-maiden-related-books-available-for-free-download


I have a number of these already downloaded from a couple years ago. Seems they are posting them again. If you are in the bunker and are having a Maiden jones, I'd recommend them. These are simply not fanzine pamphlet type thingies. I have the No Prayer open on my computer and it's 257 pages, with tons of lateral background.

[MirrorMask]

There are some problems with The X Factor. The Edge of Darkness is not one of them. One of the best songs with Blaze. Wouldn't have been out of place on A Matter of Lide and Death.

[Cool Chris]

Watch the first 18 minutes of Apocalypse Now. The mission briefing is one of my favorite scenes in cinema. I like Jerry, the creepy civilian.

Mine too. The way the General lays out the reasoning for the mission, the look on Willard's face when he realizes what he is being tasked with. And yes, Jerry, the non-actor in a field of established actors, with one of the most memorable 4-word lines in film history.

...my problem is that they try to shoe-horn in specific lines from the movie. It all seems awkward and forced.

100% my assessment as well.

[Mladen]

I've never seen the issue with the verses in The Edge of darkness. They build up towards the energetic sections very well and also serve the purpose of cooling things down for the outro. Had they been more complex in terms of chord progression or vocal melody, maybe they wouldn't have worked as well.

But the middle section is where it's at. 

[MirrorMask]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2UMtJDXyxI

Blood Brothers cover by United Symphony, an italian act.

I'm not convinced about the male vocals but all in all it's a good one (and they did it to encourage donations to the Red Cross). I can see Iron Maiden bringing it back in future sets, when concerts will be safe to attend again it's the most adapt song in their catalog to celebrate the togetherness of concert goers and Maiden fans.

[Stadler]

Listened to Book Of Souls - The Live Chapter this weekend.  Brought back some great memories.  I'll go back to that one, for sure.

[MirrorMask]

The quarantine is getting to Raphael Mendes, he's running out of songs to sing 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS389S5-YQM

[bosk1]

Wanted some different music in my work from home "office" this morning, so went to Pandora and started an Iron Maiden station.  Very first song that kicked it off:  Rime. 

[Cool Chris]

Listened to disc 1 of Book of Souls recently, thought "Damn that is one fine album." Couple days later listened to disc 2 and thought "Damn that is one fine album." Like my brain was convinced they were two separate but equally awesome albums.

[Zook]

The quarantine is getting to Raphael Mendes, he's running out of songs to sing 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS389S5-YQM

It's like karaoke night at the local bar.

[Dream Team]

Listened to disc 1 of Book of Souls recently, thought "Damn that is one fine album." Couple days later listened to disc 2 and thought "Damn that is one fine album." Like my brain was convinced they were two separate but equally awesome albums.

I know I’m in the minority but I strongly prefer Side 2. Throw Speed of Light on there and I’d be good to go.

[Northern Lion]

Listened to disc 1 of Book of Souls recently, thought "Damn that is one fine album." Couple days later listened to disc 2 and thought "Damn that is one fine album." Like my brain was convinced they were two separate but equally awesome albums.

I agree.  The Book of Souls is a master work imho.  I don't see much to dislike.

I also like how they've gone more prog since Dickinson and Smith rejoined.  In fact, it's my favorite era of the band.

[MirrorMask]

Listened to disc 1 of Book of Souls recently, thought "Damn that is one fine album." Couple days later listened to disc 2 and thought "Damn that is one fine album." Like my brain was convinced they were two separate but equally awesome albums.

I know I’m in the minority but I strongly prefer Side 2. Throw Speed of Light on there and I’d be good to go.

The first disc has the title track and If Eternity Should Fail and THAT's the song you'd take from it? uh well, always nice to see that there's some love for potentially any song on the album 

[Stadler]

Listened to disc 1 of Book of Souls recently, thought "Damn that is one fine album." Couple days later listened to disc 2 and thought "Damn that is one fine album." Like my brain was convinced they were two separate but equally awesome albums.

I know I’m in the minority but I strongly prefer Side 2. Throw Speed of Light on there and I’d be good to go.

The first disc has the title track and If Eternity Should Fail and THAT's the song you'd take from it? uh well, always nice to see that there's some love for potentially any song on the album 

?   Speed of Light is my favorite song on the record, and it's probably not close.

[MirrorMask]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

[Mister Gold]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

One of the finest debut albums ever made! I'll have to listen to it again in a bit in celebration!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

I still love that album so much!


He's at it again: https://youtu.be/Gv17SgfQ3fs

That's the best one so far I think, it's so creepy.

[Stadler]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

I still love that album so much!


He's at it again: https://youtu.be/Gv17SgfQ3fs

That's the best one so far I think, it's so creepy.

What's creepy is that one eye that periodically looks out at the camera from behind the microphone screen.    

[pg1067]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

I still love that album so much!


He's at it again: https://youtu.be/Gv17SgfQ3fs

That's the best one so far I think, it's so creepy.

What's creepy is that one eye that periodically looks out at the camera from behind the microphone screen.   

I'm trying to figure out how the heck the bass player plays like that with those rings on!

[bosk1]

I had Rock in Rio 1985 on in the background while working today, and was wondering whether anyone knows what is going on with Bruce talking constantly during non-singing parts of Hallowed.  He has his head down and is just talking away, but I have no idea what he is saying.  He does similar things in other parts of the show as well.  Any that are more familiar have any idea?

[Mladen]

I've actually seen him do this in recent years in the concerts I attended. I had the impression he warms up his voice for the higher sections. You can see him do it prior to "When the priest comes to read me the last rites" and "As the guards march me out to the courtyard", which makes me think he's getting ready for the parts that are difficult to sing. I am not sure that is what you mean, though.

[Dream Team]

40 years ago the debut album was released, and the legend officially began! 

Happy 40th birhday to Prowler, Remember Tomorrow, Running Free, Phantom of the Opera, Transylvania, Strange World, Charlotte the Harlot and IRON MAIDEN, 40 years and counting of gonna get you and kicking ass!!! 

Amazing debut. Several all-time classics and you can still make a legit argument for Phantom being the best song they ever wrote, not to mention one of the greatest metal songs ever. No plagiarism claims against that one!

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Iron Maiden x The Killer Krew - Aces High (Lockdown Version)

This is brilliant! 

[TAC]

The way they seem to treat their crew is really special. They always make sure they are part of the spotlight.

[goo-goo]

Way better edited than the last few live Maiden DVDs 

Very enjoyable video. Thanks for posting.

[ProfessorPeart]

Way better edited than the last few live Maiden DVDs 

Very enjoyable video. Thanks for posting.

Say what? You mean it wasn't filmed in Seizure-Vision?

[goo-goo]

Way better edited than the last few live Maiden DVDs 

Very enjoyable video. Thanks for posting.

Say what? You mean it wasn't filmed in Seizure-Vision?

Yep!