The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[wolfking]

Actually, don't need to.  I found this;

https://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/is-there-a-website-source-that-shows-who-plays-each-guitar-solo-in-the-songs.25418/

Skimming through though I think there's a couple of ones that may not be right.  Most look fine though.

[Dedalus]

Actually, don't need to.  I found this;

https://forum.maidenfans.com/threads/is-there-a-website-source-that-shows-who-plays-each-guitar-solo-in-the-songs.25418/

Skimming through though I think there's a couple of ones that may not be right.  Most look fine though.

Cool. Which ones would you fix?

And I noticed that The Book of Souls is missing.

I'll start:

01) If Eternity Should Fail
6:14 : Smith (background)

02) Speed of Light
2:48 : Murray
3:08 : Smith

03) The Great Unknown
3:07 : Gers
4:32 : Smith
4:53 : Murray

EDIT: Nevermind, I found all the solos from The Book of Souls on a French website 

https://maidenfrance.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3911

[wolfking]

Wow, that song was bloody excellent.  Loved Janicks solo too honestly, and Bruce sounds great.

[devieira73]

I think the production of TWOTW and this one are very good, kind of a mix of BNW and AMOLAD (although the DOD 2015 remaster is my fave from the new era)

[Zydar]

Both songs have a muddy production, perhaps the CD version will be better/clearer. Maybe it's the Youtube/Spotify quality that sucks the life out of them.

[Dream Team]

Both songs have a muddy production, perhaps the CD version will be better/clearer. Maybe it's the Youtube/Spotify quality that sucks the life out of them.

Just Steve being a weirdo. Wants the studio stuff to sound live, even though they release live versions anyway with studio-quality production. 

[Stadler]

Both songs have a muddy production, perhaps the CD version will be better/clearer. Maybe it's the Youtube/Spotify quality that sucks the life out of them.

I haven't even listened to the DT single for this reason.   I'm not as married to the "perfect sound quality" as many people here - I think the Maiden records and the DT records sound fine (in fact, I LOVE the sound of almost all the DT records) - but listening on a computer is sub-optimal.   I HATED the early releases for ADTOE and DT so much I stopped listening to them and just wait for the CD to be released. 

I'm not listening to Maiden for pristine sound; frankly, I just wanted to hear how Bruce sounded, so I listened.  I liked.  CD bought, job done.

[cramx3]

Wow, that song was bloody excellent.  Loved Janicks solo too honestly, and Bruce sounds great.

I really liked it too, seems to have gotten a so-so response from a lot of people which kind of surprises me.

Both songs have a muddy production, perhaps the CD version will be better/clearer. Maybe it's the Youtube/Spotify quality that sucks the life out of them.

I'm not the biggest fan of the sound here either.  However, the non music video version of TWOTW was actually much better sounding than the original music video released sound.  I'm going to think the album will sound a bit better, but probably still not be the best sounding album. 

[devieira73]

I look at modern Maiden albums with the aim of sounding like '70s rock albums with a modern twist. I would also prefer them to sound more like Priest's Firepower, but it's clear Steve doesn't want that kind of sound. I analyze Maiden's sound quality these days with that in mind.

[Dedalus]

Both songs have a muddy production, perhaps the CD version will be better/clearer. Maybe it's the Youtube/Spotify quality that sucks the life out of them.

I'm not on the team that discusses a lot about production, on the contrary, I think there's a lot of exaggeration these days. I feel like I've been at a congress of sound engineers in most of the discussions about music in the last 10 or 15 years 

That said, in that case I fully agree.

[ProfessorPeart]

I think the production of TWOTW and this one are very good, kind of a mix of BNW and AMOLAD (although the DOD 2015 remaster is my fave from the new era)

Curious as to the bolded reagrding DoD. I really love that album, but the production was horrid. Does the 2015 edition really improve the sound quality over the original? I'd consider a double dip if it was better.

[emtee]

I'm not loving the guitar doubling of the vocal lines.

[wolfking]

I think the production of TWOTW and this one are very good, kind of a mix of BNW and AMOLAD (although the DOD 2015 remaster is my fave from the new era)

Curious as to the bolded reagrding DoD. I really love that album, but the production was horrid. Does the 2015 edition really improve the sound quality over the original? I'd consider a double dip if it was better.

I've read a lot about the 2015 remasters and there is quite a lot of opinion that the 2015 sounds quite a lot better.  I contemplated purchasing all the 2015 remasters but haven't done so yet.  Probably won't either.

[devieira73]

I think the production of TWOTW and this one are very good, kind of a mix of BNW and AMOLAD (although the DOD 2015 remaster is my fave from the new era)

Curious as to the bolded reagrding DoD. I really love that album, but the production was horrid. Does the 2015 edition really improve the sound quality over the original? I'd consider a double dip if it was better.

Well, I believe it's the version avaible nowadays on itunes and spotify, if you want to check it out first. In my perception, the remaster version of DOD is the one that makes more difference. I've always find DOD's mix very interesting because, from 2000 on, IMO it's the mix where the guitars are more predominant, but its mastering really did a disservice. Also I think the 2015 remaster of the first album added a lot!
But, hear  it for yourself since my opinion about the sound quality of the new songs has being crushed 

[nobloodyname]

I'm not loving the guitar doubling of the vocal lines.

I haven't listened to it yet - might as well wait for the album now - but this is one of relative dislikes with second-coming Maiden, doesn't matter which song it is. I never quite understand why it's necessary. But perhaps that's why I'm an account director rather than a rock star

[Cool Chris]

Turned Stratego on while my 3 year old and I were playing dolls. This conversation ensued:

"Why are you playing that song?"
"Because I like it."
"I don't like it, it sounds fighty."
"Fighty?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, fighty."
"Like it makes you want to fight?"
"Yeah."

Bravo, Iron Maiden, mission accomplished.

[Lupton]

Turned Stratego on while my 3 year old and I were playing dolls. This conversation ensued:

"Why are you playing that song?"
"Because I like it."
"I don't like it, it sounds fighty."
"Fighty?"
"Yeah."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, fighty."
"Like it makes you want to fight?"
"Yeah."

Bravo, Iron Maiden, mission accomplished.

Best review I've ever read! 

[TAC]

https://bravewords.com/news/iron-maiden-guitarist-adrian-smith-discusses-solos-on-upcoming-senjutsu-album-i-m-a-bit-more-spontaneous-these-days-video

[RodrigoAltaf]

I heard the whole thing - got my promo copy. I'm underwhelmed.

[wolfking]

I heard the whole thing - got my promo copy. I'm underwhelmed.

Ooooff!! 

[faizoff]

I heard the whole thing - got my promo copy. I'm underwhelmed.

Interesting, would this be the 1st post reunion era album that you felt this way?

[RodrigoAltaf]

I heard the whole thing - got my promo copy. I'm underwhelmed.

Interesting, would this be the 1st post reunion era album that you felt this way?

Good question. I didn't like AMOLAD all that much on my first listens, but recognized the awesomeness of Longest Day, These Colors Don't Run and Brighter than a Thousand Suns. Eventually, I learned to enjoy the whole album. And I LOVED Book of Souls from the first listen. While the first two listens of Senjutsu were not the most attentive ones - I was waiting in line at the bank to run errands for my dad, who passed away recently - I felt the tracks are more generic than usual. Didn't notice any stand out moments, although Death of the Celts an The Parchment sounded slightly better on my second listen. But the drum fills are lazy, the intros are extra long this time around - one of them is over 2 and a half minutes, and I didn't find one spine-tingling chorus. At times, it sounded like an AI generated Maiden album. Too bad because I think this new Eddie is the coolest since 7th Son.

[wolfking]

That's disappointing to hear, especially since you loved TBOS right away.

Hope you are holding up the best you can too mate.

[RodrigoAltaf]

That's disappointing to hear, especially since you loved TBOS right away.

Hope you are holding up the best you can too mate.

Thanks. It's nice to be back home for a few weeks and to be with the family.

[Grappler]

Too bad because I think this new Eddie is the coolest since 7th Son.

That's an interesting thought that could inspire a thread of its own.....can a bad Maiden album ruin its badass Eddie on the cover?

Or can a badass Eddie be wasted by a mediocre album?

[wolfking]

Too bad because I think this new Eddie is the coolest since 7th Son.

That's an interesting thought that could inspire a thread of its own.....can a bad Maiden album ruin its badass Eddie on the cover?

Or can a badass Eddie be wasted by a mediocre album?

It would be like ranking the albums and ranking the Eddie's and see where things average out.  You'd have to try and not be bias though by picking a particular Eddie just because you are very fond of the respective album.

[RodrigoAltaf]

 Yeah, cool idea for a thread. And I think they will go to town on the stage design of the new tour. It seems there was a lot of research done by the band and the artist when the theme of samurais was chosen as the subject of the cover.

[TAC]

I always thought Brave New World was a fucking cool ass album cover.

[Zoom E]

I always thought Brave New World was a fucking cool ass album cover.

I was just thinking that a couple of weeks ago when I gave BNW a listen for the first time in quite a while. Probably the best Maiden album cover, IMO.

[TAC]

I always thought Brave New World was a fucking cool ass album cover.

I was just thinking that a couple of weeks ago when I gave BNW a listen for the first time in quite a while. Probably the best Maiden album cover, IMO.

You might be right. To me Killers is the most iconic, but BNW is the most impactful, considering the album title and reunion.

[Dream Team]

Funny that anyone would expect anything different. The reviews have said as much. Same old half-baked autopilot stuff. Should have quit after TFF it pains me to say (though I’m glad we got EOTC but even that song was 5 minutes too long).

[Grappler]

Brave New World has always been one of my favorite Eddies.  Such a menacing face in the clouds. 

[wolfking]

Funny that anyone would expect anything different. The reviews have said as much. Same old half-baked autopilot stuff. Should have quit after TFF it pains me to say (though I’m glad we got EOTC but even that song was 5 minutes too long).

Seems like a harsh statement but I can kind of see where you are coming from, even though I liked TBOS.

[nobloodyname]

I've been listening to an album a day in the run-up to Senjutsu's release. What's struck me the most - aside from the stylistic change between Killers and The Number of the Beast - is how fast (in terms of tempo) some of their songs used to be. I'm not someone who believes they should try to remake those earlier albums but it'd be lovely to hear something genuinely up tempo from them. I think that's probably what I miss most.

[Dedalus]

Funny that anyone would expect anything different. The reviews have said as much. Same old half-baked autopilot stuff. Should have quit after TFF it pains me to say (though I’m glad we got EOTC but even that song was 5 minutes too long).

Don't worry, this should probably be their last album. They won't bother you anymore after that.