The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[Dedalus]

A new Iron Maiden record. If you think about it, it's only been six moments like this in the last 21 years! And we don't know if there will be another one.

So Up the Irons! 

[TAC]

Stratego and Writing On The Wall sound so much better within the complete album.

[Dedalus]

Senjutsu and Writing On The Wall sound so much better within the complete album.

Stratego, maybe?? 

[NoseofNicko]

Stratego and Writing On The Wall sound so much better within the complete album.

Agreed.

[TAC]

Senjutsu and Writing On The Wall sound so much better within the complete album.

Stratego, maybe?? 

 

Yeah, that too!

[cramx3]

Stratego and Writing On The Wall sound so much better within the complete album.

Agreed.

I think so too.

[Peter Mc]

Not loving it on the first run through.  Some great guitar solos but not much to sing along to in the songs themselves, a lot of it is a bit dreary to me.  Death of The Celts is very Blaze Bayley era, you can almost hear Bruce channeling him in the verses.  Just started the last song now.  Hopefully the album is a grower as there are some awesome instrumental moments and solos but I’m not getting too many vocal hooks here.

[TAC]

It's loaded with vocal hooks. Listening to the beginning of Lost In A Lost World..That's one! Real old 70's (Nektar?) vibe to it.

[TAC]

.. is very Blaze Bayley era,

There's been a few times where I thought of the Blaze Era. The album has a production that is similar to VXI. At least in some of the rhythm guitars.

Actually, that would be my ONE critique of the album.

[cramx3]

Not loving it on the first run through.  Some great guitar solos but not much to sing along to in the songs themselves, a lot of it is a bit dreary to me.  Death of The Celts is very Blaze Bayley era, you can almost hear Bruce channeling him in the verses.  Just started the last song now.  Hopefully the album is a grower as there are some awesome instrumental moments and solos but I’m not getting too many vocal hooks here.

A lot of this album sounds Blaze era too.  I guess a lot of the reunion era has too, but I think this production and some of the darker tones make it feel even more Blaze Era than even some of the songs from BNW that were actually written in the Blaze era. 

I just finished my first listen, I'd say it's a very strong album.  It's dense which was kind of expected given the long songs.  The production kind of sucks TBH.  Maybe the worst of the reunion era. It's easily my biggest negative.  The songs themselves, overall are pretty good but the album is a long one so you got to have patience, especially when the songs are a bit slower pace overall.  I do think the songs are good, and makes for a very solid IM album. 

[TAC]

Steve's final stanzas to Lost In A Lost World and Hell On Earth, sung by Bruce, are chilling.

[Peter Mc]

It's loaded with vocal hooks. Listening to the beginning of Lost In A Lost World..That's one! Real old 70's (Nektar?) vibe to it.

That’s quite nice yes but I’m talking about huge punch the air choruses that you’ll be singing along to live.  Days Of Future Past has some of that and hopefully some of the others will reveal themselves to me with repeated listens.  The Time Machine had some classic Maiden guitar melodies from memory too.  There’s enough to give me hope that I’ll come to like it but wasn’t in love with it on my first listen.  Time for bed!

[TAC]

There's a lot to digest for sure. But this album has no shortage of concert moments.

[cramx3]

Hell on Earth reminds me so much of AMOLAD, it's my favorite after one full listen

[TAC]

Hell on Earth reminds me so much of AMOLAD, it's my favorite after one full listen

It actually reminds me a lot of When The Wild Wind Blows. A LOT! But it's a great song and I hope they play it.

[cramx3]

Hell on Earth reminds me so much of AMOLAD, it's my favorite after one full listen

It actually reminds me a lot of When The Wild Wind Blows. A LOT! But it's a great song and I hope they play it.

Me too, I get the feeling for the last Legacy of the Beast shows they will play the singles, but when it comes to 2023... I hope they play this and others as well.  Maybe we can get a fall 2022 tour for more of the new songs in the US at best.

[wolfking]

Blaze era moments just suit me fine.

Really want to listen but want to wait til I can get the CD.  Might do some initial reaction posts while listening when I do get it.  I love doing that sort of shit.

[TAC]

  Might do some initial reaction posts while listening when I do get it.  I love doing that sort of shit.

Yes please!

[wolfking]

 

[porcacultor]

Blaze era moments just suit me fine.

Really want to listen but want to wait til I can get the CD.  Might do some initial reaction posts while listening when I do get it.  I love doing that sort of shit.

I almost shot you PM to ask if you'd heard it yet! Can't wait for your reactions /o/

This album kind of worries me -- it feels like the band tapped into my personal messages with friends and figured out what I wanted from an Iron Maiden album and just gave it to me  I'm floored. Time Machine and Hell on Earth are the 11/10s for me, but there's a LOT for me to love here (I don't think there's any track that gets less than a 9/10 from me).

Really, really hoping they do the full-album tour setlist for this one like Bruce mentioned. Seems unlikely (and more unlikely that they'll hit South America with this tour), but I'd be happy just knowing they did it.

I couldn't believe all the catchy melodies they dug around. That and the way they'd tone things down for dynamics... ever since AMOLAD there's been some stuff in the albums that feels a bit too "off the cuff" for me, so this was a GREAT change in that regard -- everything feels really planned and worked on for great effect, with less of the "first take's good enough" vibe. Adrian mentioned they really had to work hard to get WOTW to sound right, and there's a lot like this throughout the album.

Have you guys read the lyrics? I think esp. on Hell on Earth Steve sort of reached a new level of... heartfelt bleakness? It's hard to describe, but if the lyrics posted online are legit, it's the most cryptic but oddly enticing they've ever been, lyrically.

One final thought: I've seen people complain about Janick's guitars accompanying the vocals, the quiet intros, the repetition... to each their own, but I wouldn't have this album any other way. They definitely recovered some ideas from the Blaze years and the album's all the better for it.

Definitely too attached for true objectivity (I usually kid that, with Maiden, I'm never really able to be objective, so I couldn't write professionally about them), but this is easily my favorite from them since Dance of Death (which is my favorite by them over all) and I'm glad to have it as an audio-form companion. It does carry a sense of finality to it, so while I'd love for them to have another go at the studio, if this is their last one, they couldn't have a better curtain call in my book.

By the way, it's been really exciting to post on this topic and follow everyone's reactions to this stuff. Whether I agree or disagree with any opinions bears no weight to me -- I don't know for how much longer we'll have this band in activity with us, so I see y'all as companions in this wild ride. Thanks!

[The Realm]

Loving the new album. It is a grower. Pretty blown away by those final 3 song Harris epics, but really enjoying all the songs.

[wolfking]

Man, I'm fucking hyped.

[Polarbear]

Hell on Earth reminds me so much of AMOLAD, it's my favorite after one full listen

It actually reminds me a lot of When The Wild Wind Blows. A LOT! But it's a great song and I hope they play it.

To me, Hell on Earth sounds like a mix of Afraid to Shoot Strangers and When the Wild Wind Blows. One of my early favorites too!

One song that stood out immediately was Days of Future Past! One of the Best Smith/Dickinson songs of the reunion era IMO.

It's way too early to say anything for sure, but I think I might like this more than "The Book of Souls". A lot to digest here..

[The Realm]

Not hearing a lot of love for Darkest Hour yet so thought I would mention it. That solo section is pretty magical! Really well done. Some very tasty guitar playing, including the last chorus lead fills.

[bobzor]

Man, I'm fucking hyped.

Same! I've struggled not to listen to any Youtube/streaming links. Record shops open in a few hours here, so I'm waiting for my physical copy. The posts here seem very promising.

[Ben_Jamin]

Listening now and am on The Time Machine. Such a great song, and one that would go well live.

[Glasser]

SENJUTSU: Just got through the entire album twice and though it’s a departure from all other albums, I enjoyed it. They seem to be very comfortable with the writing and the performances on it . We have Number of the beast, Piece of mind, and Powerslave already so I guess that keeps me open to whatever these guys do. Bruce said they enjoyed writing and recording it and he also said there were some new elements they never did and he hopes the fans enjoy it as much as they do. These guys are clearly writing what they want to hear and I respect that being they have been doing this for over 40 years. More thoughts to come but I’m digging’ it.

[wolfking]

Seems where I'll buy it from only has the regular edition and the media book is delayed.  Hmmm......

[nobloodyname]

Looks like my vinyl and CD should both arrive today. Splendid.

The X-Factor is a top five record for me so comparisons with Senjutsu are intriguing.

[DoctorAction]

Just over halfway through and the impression is very positive. After essentially scrubbing the last album from my memory,  feels like they're "back" for me. 

[Lowdz]

I’m enjoying my first play through but would it kill them to have a beautifully produced and mixed album that they songs deserve? The sonics are dull. Someone lock Harris in a room and don’t let him out ‘til someone has mixed it.

Maiden still don’t have an album you can test your stereo with.

[TAC]

The very beginning of Death Of The Celts reminds me a bit of A Change Of Seasons.

[pfillion]

It's my favorite Maiden album since BNW \m/

[Peter Mc]

Enjoying it a lot more on the second listen although not fully concentrating on it as am working at the same time.  Death of the Celts hasn’t changed though, that could literally have come straight off The X Factor (the Iron Maiden album not the terrible tv show).  Not saying that’s a bad thing as I like that album more than most.  It was actually the first Maiden album I owned.

[aurorablind]

I have some issues with the album, but man… Hell on Earth makes up for it. What a fucking great track! Probably my favorite Harris-epic after the reunioun.