The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[wolfking]

The string of X-factor bonus tracks are unmatched;

Judgement Day
Justice of the Peace
I Live My Way
Virus (maybe not technically but I'll include it)

Unreal.  The X-factor could have been an incredible double album.

[Dedalus]

Well... since the subject is the Blaze Bayley years :

Like TAC and others, I've been listening to A LOT of Iron Maiden these past few days. So in the same way as I did a ranking of the first two albums from the 90s, I now rank my favorite songs from the two albums with Blaze.


01 Sign of the Cross
02 The Unbeliver
03 The Clansman
04 Lord of the Flies
05 Fortunes of War
06 Blood on the World's Hands
07 Look for the Truth
08 Man on the Edge
09 The Edge of Darkness
10 Lightning Strikes Twice

 

[wolfking]

I've always found LOTF one of the weakest songs on TXF.  Man on the Edge also would be down the list.

[DoctorAction]

Reviews are just one person's opinion and we all know how massively they vary.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I did notice the keyboards being a little bit more prominent this time around - don't worry though, there are no keyboard solos, that would NEVER happen on a Maiden album. They don't bother me in those songs as it does the Sonic Perspectives reviewer, but he does have a point about the tone of keyboards used. A band of such caliber could use something a little bit more professional.

[Dream Team]

I did notice the keyboards being a little bit more prominent this time around - don't worry though, there are no keyboard solos, that would NEVER happen on a Maiden album. They don't bother me in those songs as it does the Sonic Perspectives reviewer, but he does have a point about the tone of keyboards used. A band of such caliber could use something a little bit more professional.

Kind of like they should have had a professional piano sound on EOTC.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I did notice the keyboards being a little bit more prominent this time around - don't worry though, there are no keyboard solos, that would NEVER happen on a Maiden album. They don't bother me in those songs as it does the Sonic Perspectives reviewer, but he does have a point about the tone of keyboards used. A band of such caliber could use something a little bit more professional.

Kind of like they should have had a professional piano sound on EOTC.

Right?

[Dedalus]

Honestly, in terms of keys and synths Iron Maiden have always been a bit amateur.

Any 70s prog record has far better synths than Somewhere in Time and Seventh Son.

[cramx3]

I wonder if more synths means the guy who plays them live will actually get to be on stage with them.  Was it only the 80s live performance of 7th Son where he got on stage during the instrumental section?

[RodrigoAltaf]

I wonder if more synths means the guy who plays them live will actually get to be on stage with them.  Was it only the 80s live performance of 7th Son where he got on stage during the instrumental section?

In FRONT of the stage, yes. But I believe since then he's always been playing them in the background.

[cramx3]

I wonder if more synths means the guy who plays them live will actually get to be on stage with them.  Was it only the 80s live performance of 7th Son where he got on stage during the instrumental section?

In FRONT of the stage, yes. But I believe since then he's always been playing them in the background.

That's what I meant.  My understanding is it's been the same guy and he plays live with them all the time behind the stage.  I wonder if we will actually see him on stage again.  It's almost like he's a full member of the band while not being one.  Might be kind of cool to give him some spotlight and acknowledgment of his time with the band.

[RodrigoAltaf]

His name is Michael Kenney, and his other gig is being Steve Harris' tech.

 https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Michael_%2522Count%2522_Kenney/17109

[Stadler]

(Not directed at Rodrigo, as I planned this rant last night, but you did remind me to post it..)

So, there's already been some reviews posted here, and I know we'll get more as the DT album gets closer.

I seriously cannot read reviews before I hear an album, especially by a major band that I love. WTF do I care what some dude thinks about it? I've been listening to Iron Maiden for over 40 years. That guy's opinion doesn't mean shit to me, and I'm sure it's likewise.

I'm fine discussing our thoughts on DTF though, because it's like a circle of friends talking about it.

I'm kind of with you on that.  Like Marc, I may go back later and re-read to see how it compares, but in terms of what I like, I'll know without someone else's input. 

[TAC]

Adrian discussing his tracks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=embb72pZ-PQ

[porcacultor]

I wonder if more synths means the guy who plays them live will actually get to be on stage with them.  Was it only the 80s live performance of 7th Son where he got on stage during the instrumental section?

In FRONT of the stage, yes. But I believe since then he's always been playing them in the background.

That's what I meant.  My understanding is it's been the same guy and he plays live with them all the time behind the stage.  I wonder if we will actually see him on stage again.  It's almost like he's a full member of the band while not being one.  Might be kind of cool to give him some spotlight and acknowledgment of his time with the band.

He did get onstage with them for Seventh Son when they did that commemorative tour in 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lWRv8lk7jI

And it's definitely not the same thing, but you can usually spot him onstage when they play Heaven Can Wait and bring in a crowd of people to sing along the WHOAH-OH-OH section.

[cramx3]

I saw that show live and just couldn't remember if it occurred again, thanks.  I never tried to spot him for Heaven Can Wait and I even got on stage with them for that song once before

[TAC]

So I mentioned The Red And The Black yesterday. Today, the Live Chapter video showed up in my youtube feed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F3eRabNAzI

Janick is basically playing lead throughout the entire song.

The video editing of the guitarists is a bit suspect though. In one frame Adrian is standing next to Janick, and in the next, he's right by Dave's side.

[porcacultor]

So I mentioned The Red And The Black yesterday. Today, the Live Chapter video showed up in my youtube feed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F3eRabNAzI

Janick is basically playing lead throughout the entire song.

The video editing of the guitarists is a bit suspect though. In one frame Adrian is standing next to Janick, and in the next, he's right by Dave's side.

I think they were kind of liberal with the video editing. Notice how they intentionally included various takes of Bruce messing with Adrian's mic and Dave and Janick goofing around during the chorus for Wasted Years.

Audio seems to be from a single source, though. I could be wrong, but it sounds pretty consistent.

[RodrigoAltaf]

What happens close to the release date of any album these days has happened to Senjutsu.

[wolfking]

What happens close to the release date of any album these days has happened to Senjutsu.

Leaked?  I'll wait until I can listen to the cd.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Wolfking, the last time I said those words here, I got a 90 day ban.

[wolfking]

Wolfking, the last time I said those words here, I got a 90 day ban.

True?! lol.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Yes, in 2015.

[cramx3]

  was it for DT though? I feel like spoilers are often talked about here when it's not DT but if it is for DT that's a big no no.  I'm actually surprised it took this long to get out.  I saw pictures of people having the CD last week. 

[TAC]

Nope.

[RodrigoAltaf]

was it for DT though? I feel like spoilers are often talked about here when it's not DT but if it is for DT that's a big no no.  I'm actually surprised it took this long to get out.  I saw pictures of people having the CD last week.

It was for Book of Souls.

[cramx3]

I guess one of the bigger bands and well, tbh we shouldn't promote leaks although I've indulged before.  I got my CD purchased on Amazon, but the temptation is strong.

[wolfking]

was it for DT though? I feel like spoilers are often talked about here when it's not DT but if it is for DT that's a big no no.  I'm actually surprised it took this long to get out.  I saw pictures of people having the CD last week.

It was for Book of Souls.

Just for saying it was out there leaked?  I find that a little OTT, but perhaps I'm playing with fire here.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Yes, that was the only thing I said back then.

[wolfking]

I guess we better move on then lol.

[cramx3]

back to those Blaze B sides...

The string of X-factor bonus tracks are unmatched;

Judgement Day
Justice of the Peace
I Live My Way
Virus (maybe not technically but I'll include it)

Unreal.  The X-factor could have been an incredible double album.

Really these as my favorite of Iron Maiden b-sides, I include Virus as well which is one of the best Blaze songs.  Having said that, I think I 'd rather they replace songs not add to X-Factor to make it better.  That album is pretty hard, due to production alone, to get through in one listen.  I say that as someone who actually enjoys it because I think the songs are good, just hidden behind poor production.

[wolfking]

Wonderful Aussie band Lord has already done a cover of Stratego.  Bloody brilliant!

https://youtu.be/5rKczlZASlo

[Logain Ablar]

Wonderful Aussie band Lord has already done a cover of Stratego.  Bloody brilliant!

https://youtu.be/5rKczlZASlo

That was fantastic. I think I prefer it to the original!

I'm afraid I haven't been too impressed with the two songs released so far. The dry, recorded in a garage, style production has bothered me on the last few albums, but I think it's particularly bad with these two recent ones. I wish they'd gone with a different producer, but it was never going to happen.

I think at this stage I know what to expect from a new Maiden album, which is maybe a shame in itself. I'll give it a listen on Apple Music, but I won't be buying it straight off the bat like I did for the last few.

[wolfking]

So I mentioned The Red And The Black yesterday. Today, the Live Chapter video showed up in my youtube feed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7F3eRabNAzI

Janick is basically playing lead throughout the entire song.

The video editing of the guitarists is a bit suspect though. In one frame Adrian is standing next to Janick, and in the next, he's right by Dave's side.

I love this song.  Loved Adrian second solo.  Quite self indulgent but really well executed.

Still don't understand why we didn't get a DVD of this.

[ozzy554]

Wolfking, the last time I said those words here, I got a 90 day ban.

I was also banned for saying book of souls leaked lol