The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[bobzor]

One listen so far. My first impressions are the following.

There is a lot to digest here, and I think it will need 10 listens or so before a pattern will start to emerge. But overall, I'd say it's a strong album. The typical faults are there: some songs are too long, the production is not that great, etc. But the songs are definitely good, and I'd say the material is stronger than on Book of Souls. Especially the vocal department seems somehow more satisfying this time, although Bruce is a bit low in the mix from time to time. As for the guitars, many of the melodies remind me of X Factor, which was a nice surprise. To my great disappointment, the greatest guitar solo of the album turned out to be Adrian's solo on Writings on the Wall. That one is so great, that my hopes were up that the whole album might be filled with that stuff. Not so.

The only song I find extremely dull and straight out bad is Death of the Celts. Nothing good to say about that one.

The best songs right now: Senjutsu, Hell on Earth, Darkest Hour. Days of Future past seemed very promising, and the riffs in the beginning are awesome, but the chorus was a bit lame.

But yeah, only first impressions here, so gonna need more time with this one. A lot more time. 

[Logain Ablar]

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.

Still on my first couple of listens, and that one stood out. Excellent. Totally agree about the solo section - top notch, and a lot better than the usual trade-off widdling.

[Grappler]

I've listened to the album twice.  Only song I haven't really spent time on is Darkest Hour, otherwise I'm loving it.  Death of the Celts does seem like a re-hash of something like The Clansman, but that doesn't bother me.  This is just who Maiden is and I respect the hell out of them for doing what they want to do. 

There are some amazing Bruce moments - I'm loving his vocal melodies on a couple of songs.  Lost in a Lost World and other other.  Writing on the Wall remains one of my favorites - they haven't ever done a country-western sounding song before and I love the vibe and stomp of that song.

[Mladen]

Interestingly enough, the track that absolutely stood out to me on my first two listens is in fact Darkest hour. That chorus blew me away.

I am digging the entire album so far. This will be such a good weekend. 

[Logain Ablar]

Lost In A Lost World is an interesting one.

I've never heard the Oooh and Aaah backing vocals like that on a Maiden song before. Reminds me a little of Pink Floyd.

[Polarbear]

Lost In A Lost World is an interesting one.

I've never heard the Oooh and Aaah backing vocals like that on a Maiden song before. Reminds me a little of Pink Floyd.

I really dug the Oooh/Aaah backing vocals in Lost in a Lost World. That song is growing on me quite a bit. I generally really like the epics on "Senjutsu"! Aside from "The Parchment". That hasn't clicked, and I don't feel like listening to it anymore.

[nick_z]

Random thoughts...after one (!) listen, so it's very much a feel-based reaction:

- Might be the obvious extra-familiarity, but I'm enjoying the two singles within the album.
- The title-track sounds cool and it's a different way (for Maiden) to start the album
- Of the tracks exclusively penned by Harris, the one that stood out the most was actually Lost in a Lost World. Chorus sounded a bit clumsy, but the song is very interesting. Cool intro and outro too...
- ...And regarding the three closing epics: I liked The Parchment a lot. A little more "epic-Maiden". Death of the Celts isn't bad but it's the one that sounded the most "rehashed" to me. Hell on Earth: way too much of the vocals following the guitar melodic line for my taste...The melodies are good per se but, I don't know, it just doesn't sit super-well with me. Really like the vocals in the final third or so of the song.
- Loved The Time Machine. Probably my favorite after the first run.

Let's see how this all changes with further listens 

[Logain Ablar]

The Time Machine's bookend intro/outro sounds very like The Talisman to my ears. Another solid song.

Back round to Darkest Hour again. I think this one is my favourite. Love the choice of chords in the "You sowed the wind, and now you reap the whirlwind" line.

[Zydar]

I haven't heard the song yet, but a Swedish reviewer compared bits of 'The Time Machine' to Dream Theater. Sounds intriguing.

[nick_z]

Speaking of The Time Machine...the instrumental break starting around 3:10...between the guitar melody and the drum pattern, I thought it reminded me of something from X-Factor, and it actually did...Edge of Darkness, around the 3-minute mark (one my favorite songs with Blaze, btw)

[NoseofNicko]

I think Senjutsu is better than The Final Frontier and The Book of Souls. While those 2 albums had higher highs (ok maybe not TFF), they had a few songs I didn’t care for at all while I really like every song here. I’m satisfied with this album.

[TAC]

Speaking of The Time Machine...the instrumental break starting around 3:10...between the guitar melody and the drum pattern, I thought it reminded me of something from X-Factor, and it actually did...Edge of Darkness, around the 3-minute mark (one my favorite songs with Blaze, btw)

Yup.

The Time Machine's bookend intro/outro sounds very like The Talisman to my ears.

And yup.

[cramx3]

I think Senjutsu is better than The Final Frontier and The Book of Souls. While those 2 albums had higher highs (ok maybe not TFF), they had a few songs I didn’t care for at all while I really like every song here. I’m satisfied with this album.

I think so too.  Being better than TFF was a bit easier for me, but I think it is likely better than TBOS as well.  Which means it's probably better than DOD too.  Is it better than BNW or AMOLAD? I'm not sure about that.  I need more listens.  Who knows where this ends up, but it's not at the bottom or near the bottom.

[TAC]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

[BelichickFan]

I think Senjutsu is better than The Final Frontier and The Book of Souls. While those 2 albums had higher highs (ok maybe not TFF), they had a few songs I didn’t care for at all while I really like every song here. I’m satisfied with this album.

I'll take the higher highs any day.  The new one is OK and I haven't heard it that much but nothing stands out to me as great on it.  One of the lesser reunion albums for me as of now.

[cramx3]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

AMOLAD is still mine 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Senjutsu isn't even better than Fear of the Dark or No Prayer.

[cramx3]

Senjutsu isn't even better than Fear of the Dark or No Prayer.

   I got to imagine this is a minority opinion, but to each their own. 

[soupytwist]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

Yup, me too.

[BelichickFan]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

I think my order is:

The Book of Souls
A Matter of Life and Death
Brave New World
Dance of Death
TFF/Senjetsu (the latter is too new to rank these two yet)

I don't dislike the bottom two, I just prefer the others. Dance of Death tough, it's best is great but 6 of 11 are throwaways for me. I prefer albums with "higher highs" but that throwaway ratio is just too high.

[goo-goo]

Love the soloing on this album. A lot more feel and melodicaly constructed.

[NoseofNicko]

Senjutsu isn't even better than Fear of the Dark or No Prayer.

I think it is, but I don’t think those albums are bad at all.

[nobloodyname]

Very quick initial thoughts:

Surprised - but also delighted because I'm hopeful my opinion will change - at how positive the reaction to Darkest Hour is here. It just left me feeling utterly bored.

Several songs sounded as though they'd benefit from getting into the action straight away.

And is it just me or does the first vocal melody in Hell on Earth really, really sound like When the Wild Wind Blows?

I saw many people elsewhere comparing it to The X Factor. Maybe, in terms of the oppressive feel. But Senjutsu isn't fit to lace The X Factor's boots (I am aware of how preposterous that assertion is given that I've only listened to it once )

[Dream Team]

One thing I’ve noticed is that people who are quick to criticize DT for rehashing things totally excuse it when Maiden re-hash almost entire songs  . Bit of a double standard.

[bluefox4000]

This album is Fantastic.  I realize for Maiden it doesn't re-invent the wheel nor should we have expected them to.  but i have to be honest and say it does enough things to keep it fresh.  it does away for the most part with the repetitive hooks over and over.  and thus the album flew by for me.

I loved basically the entire first disc with the stand out track being The Darkest Hour (pasted solo and all.....i don't care, lol)

2nd disc is a little less grabbing me but the Parchment Kicks major ass.

i think this is better Than TBOS honestly and AMOLAD (which is the biggest offender of Streaching songs out with repeating hooks.....god is that album too much and i do love it, BTW)''

Great fuckin' album

[DTwwbwMP]

This album is Fantastic.  I realize for Maiden it doesn't re-invent the wheel nor should we have expected them to.  but i have to be honest and say it does enough things to keep it fresh.
Great fuckin' album

Completely agree. IMO, it's the best 2K album in the Maiden canon! 

[cramx3]

One thing I’ve noticed is that people who are quick to criticize DT for rehashing things totally excuse it when Maiden re-hash almost entire songs  . Bit of a double standard.

I think there's a good amount of criticism for IM rehashing things.  For me, I never bitched about DT doing it or any bands.  Some bands find their groove and stick with it, it never bothered me as long as I liked the songs (which I do for both bands). There's definitely a side of prog fans who feel like bands should always evolve though, which is fine.  To each their own on what they would like a band to do.  As long as the music is good, I don't care.

I also think, with IM being so old now, that it's just kind of expected that they aren't going to change things up too much and for us hardcore fans, just enjoy getting new music from them that is still enjoyable is a huge win regardless of musical direction.

[devieira73]

My initial impression is that this album is pretty consistent with the quality of the albums from 2000 on. My faves are the BNW/DOD/AMOLAD run, but it already seems Senjutsu is the best from the last 3: it has more consistency, variety and best production (still not great and awaaaay from JP's Firepower perfection), although it doesn't have Empire of the Clouds.
Already totally loving Senjutsu, Time Machine and Hell on Earth! And a lot of great instrumental passages and soloing by Smith/Murray/Gers!
By the way, zero complaints about ANY repetitions on the choruses, right?

[bluefox4000]

My initial impression is that this album is pretty consistent with the quality of the albums from 2000 on. My faves are the BNW/DOD/AMOLAD run, but it already seems Senjutsu is the best from the last 3: it has more consistency, variety and best production (still not great and awaaaay from JP's Firepower perfection), although it doesn't have Empire of the Clouds.
Already totally loving Senjutsu, Time Machine and Hell on Earth! And a lot of great instrumental passages and soloing by Smith/Murray/Gers!
By the way, zero complaints about ANY repetitions on the choruses, right?

the repetition is pretty much done away with on Shinjutsu.  as much as i love AMOLAD but it went on six years too long.  just the chorus over and over.  that album was the biggest offender of that.  i love it but you cut at least three refrains from each song.

[ProfessorPeart]

My big book version just arrived. Will listen tonight. Have yet to hear a single note.

[faizoff]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

AMOLAD is still mine 

BNW is mine ;-p




Have had a couple of listens and am really enjoying the new album. So far not a single track sounds like filler to me. It all flows and blends quite well, though I do get the comment about how there are so many slow acoustic starting tracks.

[nick_z]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

AMOLAD is still mine 

BNW is mine ;-p

...and I go for DoD 

[NoseofNicko]

TFF is still my favorite Reunion album. 

AMOLAD is still mine 

BNW is mine ;-p

...and I go for DoD 

Me too.

[Dedalus]

One thing I’ve noticed is that people who are quick to criticize DT for rehashing things totally excuse it when Maiden re-hash almost entire songs  . Bit of a double standard.

In my opinion there are two relevant criticisms that can be made to the album.

1) The production isn't the best, even by the standard of the latest IM records (And I'm not one of the people who always complain about production).

2) There are in fact a number of similar or even identical ideas. I think there was a little care in trying to avoid that.
And I give an example of one of my favorites on the record.

The Time Machine: 03:08
The Book of Souls: 05:21

Janick made the same melody (or very similar) 

[faizoff]

Man the last two tracks are pure money. Amazing ending to the album.