The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[Stadler]

Bruce sounds mighty on this record. That "love in anger part". The chorus of The Time Machine. Gives me tingles.

I'm with you on that.   

[DoctorAction]

So reading the above post made me realize that I never downloaded Days of Future Past from Amazon. I've been listening to an incomplete album all week!

Now that really is a bonus track. 

[pg1067]

This is just so randomly stupid, it made me laugh heartily...

[Podaar]

Late to the party.

I had my first listen today and really enjoyed the entire album. My favorite by far is Darkest Hour! Easily, the best soloing I've ever heard on an Iron Maiden album, ever. So many new, original, unique licks, and phrasings. Love it!

[wolfking]

Late to the party.

I had my first listen today and really enjoyed the entire album. My favorite by far is Darkest Hour! Easily, the best soloing I've ever heard on an Iron Maiden album, ever. So many new, original, unique licks, and phrasings. Love it!

Hell yeah Gregg, each time I spin the album, I have to rewind this solo section 3 or 4 times.  Haven't heard this kind of soloing from Adrian since Chemical Wedding.

[gazinwales]

Senjutsu is so good, I can't remember that last time I enjoyed an IM album so much, or played it so many times in the first week of release.
Easily the best of the 'reunion' albums and top 5 in my all time Maiden albums, possibly even top THREE 

[WardySI]

Hmmm post-reunion albums but always subject to change...

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
The Final Frontier

[TAC]

Hmmm post-reunion albums but always subject to change...

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
The Final Frontier

You're missing one.

[jammindude]

Just picked it up today and had my first listen on my commute home.

My first impression is that I love it a lot more than Book of Souls. BOS, he’s a pretty darn good album, with some incredible highlights, but it also had a couple of clunkers. I thoroughly enjoyed everything on Senjutsu on my first pass.

The first thing that leapt out of me was that after all 82 minutes there was not one single chorus that made me feel like I wanted them to get it over with.  That’s the first time that’s happened on a Maiden album in a very long time

[Glasser]

Hmmm post-reunion albums but always subject to change...

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
The Final Frontier

I really liked Dance of Dance personally.

You're missing one.

[WardySI]

Hmmm post-reunion albums but always subject to change...

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
The Final Frontier

You're missing one.

Oops LOL

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
Dance Of Death
The Final Frontier

Dance Of Death however continues to grow all these years later so it and BOS probably equal here and tbh wouldn't at all be surprised see them switching places down the track

[TAC]

Late to the party.

I had my first listen today and really enjoyed the entire album. My favorite by far is Darkest Hour! Easily, the best soloing I've ever heard on an Iron Maiden album, ever. So many new, original, unique licks, and phrasings. Love it!

Hey noob. My name is TAC. Welcome to the forum.

[wolfking]

 

[wolfking]

Hell on Earth in 4th is testing my current top 3 and putting up a challenge.  Could be my fav today.

[jammindude]

Adding to my earlier first impression, the only song that even gave me the mild impression of being “Maiden by the numbers” aka “omg they’ve done this a zillion times” was The Time Machine. Everything else seemed to have some very refreshing new takes on the Maiden sound.

[TAC]

Adding to my earlier first impression, the only song that even gave me the mild impression of being “Maiden by the numbers” aka “omg they’ve done this a zillion times” was The Time Machine. Everything else seemed to have some very refreshing new takes on the Maiden sound.

The Time Machine is the one song where I would say..drop the intro and the outro.

[jammindude]

Adding to my earlier first impression, the only song that even gave me the mild impression of being “Maiden by the numbers” aka “omg they’ve done this a zillion times” was The Time Machine. Everything else seemed to have some very refreshing new takes on the Maiden sound.

The Time Machine is the one song where I would say..drop the intro and the outro.

Right? Then it would have fit on one disc! Just that one little tweak!

[NoseofNicko]

Yeah the intro/outro of The Time Machine sounds too much like the intro of The Legacy/The Talisman/The Book of Souls. Janick really loves that intro.

[TAC]

It hits the same note as The Talisman. I just find the intro detached from the song and unnecessary.

[wolfking]

I'm still quite undecided on where the Time Machine sits rankings wise.  I can see what Tim is saying but for the bulk of the song, I appreciate the unique mood for Maiden.

[WardySI]

Hell on Earth in 4th is testing my current top 3 and putting up a challenge.  Could be my fav today.

Hadn't thought if ranking the songs for a while, Top3 ATM would probably be...

Lost In A Lost World
Stratego
Hell On Earth

With at least 3 others in contention 

[porcacultor]

Counterpoint: I friggin love the intro/outro to Time Machine and I think it finally perfects what The Talisman and Legacy aimed at. To me, it just sounds that much somber – and the fact that there's a clean electric guitar along with the acoustic is also a deal breaker for me.

I know I may be in the minority with this one 

[IDontNotDoThings]

Hmmm post-reunion albums but always subject to change...

Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter Of Life AD
Book Of Souls
Dance Of Death
The Final Frontier

For me:
1. Brave New World
2. The Book Of Souls
3. The Final Frontier
4. A Matter Of Life & Death
5. Dance Of Death
6. Senjutsu

[jammindude]

It’s early yet, so all of this is subject to change, but

1. AMOLAD
2. Senjutsu
3. TFF
4. DOD
5. BOS
6. BNW

[Cool Chris]

Very early ranking adjustment.

1. A Matter Of Life & Death

Senjutsu could go here after more listens

2. The Book Of Souls
But could also join the logjam here.
3. Dance Of Death
4. Brave New World



5. The Final Frontier

[wolfking]

Hmmmm.....too early to rank I think, but Senjutsu will be up there.

[DoctorAction]

1. DOD / Senjutsu
2. AMOLAD
3. TFF
4. BNW
5. TBOS

[Architeuthis]

For me.
 1. DOD
 2. SENJUTSU
 3. BNW
 4. TFF
 5. AMOLAD
 6. TBOS

This could change in time as Senjutsu is putting up a good argument with DOD right now.. 

[Freeze]

1.SENJUTSU
2.BNW
3.AMOLAD
4.TBOS
5.DOD
6.TFF

[Polarbear]

Subject to change..

1. Brave New World
2. A Matter of Life and Death
3. Dance of Death
4. Senjutsu
5. The Final Frontier


6. The Book of Souls

[RodrigoAltaf]

DOD
AMOLAD
BOS
BMW
TFF
SENJUTSU

[krands85]

1. The Book of Souls

2. A Matter of Life and Death

3. Senjutsu
4. Dance of Death
5. Brave New World


6. The Final Frontier

Still too early for me to confidently place Senjutsu. It may grow on me more and move up to #2, or the newness effect may wear off slightly and it could drop to #4 or #5. I can definitely say it's way better than TFF and not as good as TBOS though.

Very good album though, I really like all the songs. Whereas TBOS actually still has a couple I don't care for that much, but its highs are far greater for me.

[MrBoom_shack-a-lack]

Adrian Smith of IRON MAIDEN in a jam session

[porcacultor]

1. Dance of Death
2. Senjutsu
3. Brave New World
4. The Book of Souls
5. The Final Frontier
6. AMOLAD

[TAC]

1. The Final Frontier
2. A Matter Of Life And Death
3. Dance Of Death
4. Brave New World
5. The Book Of Souls

Thinking about where to put it is really tough. I think it could reach at least 3rd place when all is said and done. There's some really great songs on this.