The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[darkshade]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

All the best Maiden songs are overrated.

[wolfking]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

All the best Maiden songs are overrated.

Fair play.

[TAC]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

Pretty sure WildRanger does too.

[wolfking]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

Pretty sure WildRanger does too.

He posted his opinion on something?

[TAC]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

Pretty sure WildRanger does too.

He posted his opinion on something?

Nah, just bustin' your balls.

[DoctorAction]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

Nope. That riff is abs fantabulous but the rest isn't.

[TAC]

THAT SONG IS GREAT!!!!!!!

[DoctorAction]

It's, like, a song about fear of, you know, the dark. You can tell because he sings "Fear Of The Dark" a thousand times and talks about feeling "anxious when it's dark". 

I don't hate it but very rarely listen to it. But I know it's well loved. It really is a perfect Maiden riff. So neat.

[darkshade]

Fear of the Dark is as Iron Maiden as it gets, as much as The Trooper.

[wolfking]

Am I the only one that finds FOTD (the song) overrated?

Pretty sure WildRanger does too.

He posted his opinion on something?

Nah, just bustin' your balls.

Duh.  I get it now! 

[wolfking]

It's, like, a song about fear of, you know, the dark. You can tell because he sings "Fear Of The Dark" a thousand times and talks about feeling "anxious when it's dark". 

I don't hate it but very rarely listen to it. But I know it's well loved. It really is a perfect Maiden riff. So neat.

I always hated the lyrics.

[jammindude]

FOTD…by itself…is really just an average song. I honestly don’t think it even hit me as anything special when the album came out.

But when I got Best of the Beast and heard the live version

[TAC]

You guys are tripping.

When that album came out, I was blasting that song all over the place.

[JediKnight1969]

You guys are tripping.

When that album came out, I was blasting that song all over the place.

Agree. That's song is an anthem. It's impossible not to go crazy when you hear it live.

Plus... Who cares about the lyrics? Imagine you can't play a brand new CD... Can you say that you don't like a song just reading the lyrics on the booklet?

[TAC]

The lyrics are excellent. I'm going to pretend this last page didn't exist.

[wolfking]

You guys are tripping.

When that album came out, I was blasting that song all over the place.

The lyrics are excellent. I'm going to pretend this last page didn't exist.

This is coming from a guy that doesn't like Winger though.  So......

[gazinwales]

I made a huge mistake years ago getting rid of my original pressing and buying the remasters.
Something I've done over the years, but stopped when I realised that most remasters sound not as good as the originals.

Back to Blaze, I don't think I've ever own VXI and my ex-wife stole TXF from me before we parted.
I have both coming to me (original masters) in the mail, UK pressing of VXI and Japan TXF with bonus 3 track CD.

[TAC]

I remember when my VXI was delivered when it was released. I came home from work, and my wife, knowing after an hour's ride, I normally would take a piss the minute I got home, positioned my VXI on the back of the toilet so as soon as I took my piss, I'd see it.

[Dream Team]

Kev you’re doing great. Don’t worry about the few Blaze diehards.

[The Realm]

To this day I can still not understand how Blaze ever ended up in Maiden. To me, his singing on those 2 Maiden albums is just so pedestrian. His lower voice has some good tonal qualities but his mid to higher range is devoid of emotion and passion and I just can't connect with him.

It's great that he and his two Maiden albums have so many fans here but I am also really surprised at the amount of love for those albums. I've even gone back to revisit them because of all the positive comments but no, although I do like some of the songs, Blaze just doesn't work.

[Ben_Jamin]

I wanna address that I never listened to the Fear of The Dark album until now. And I have to say this album is really, arena rock like The Scorpions, especially Childhoods End. I could see why it is not liked among the fan base. Also, Dickinsons vocals are different and seems as if he's dialing it in, or just wasn't enthused at the songs. Not saying his vocals suck on this, but I feel he could've done a way better job at these songs, and seeing Fear Of The Dark, the song, live shows me that Bruce could have done better. But that's me and my opinion.

I wouldn't say this album is bad. It's that it feels it would be a better album done by Helloween or Primal Fear. Rather than being an Iron Maiden album, which this sound the album has does not scream Iron Maiden and feels as if they're trying to emulate that sing along anthem. I can also hear the beginnings of the reunion sound on this album thanks in part to Janick.

[gazinwales]

To this day I can still not understand how Blaze ever ended up in Maiden. To me, his singing on those 2 Maiden albums is just so pedestrian. His lower voice has some good tonal qualities but his mid to higher range is devoid of emotion and passion and I just can't connect with him.

It's great that he and his two Maiden albums have so many fans here but I am also really surprised at the amount of love for those albums. I've even gone back to revisit them because of all the positive comments but no, although I do like some of the songs, Blaze just doesn't work.

I think it was more a case of the right personality fitting in with the band, SH wanted an English singer, for the humour and culture factors.
I am sure that there were better singers, but for whatever reason he was chosen and maybe Blaze was the wrong choice?
That said he was on a hiding to nothing, having to sing Bruce's songs in a key too high for him, which lead to him blowing his voice out on tour.

[The Realm]

To this day I can still not understand how Blaze ever ended up in Maiden. To me, his singing on those 2 Maiden albums is just so pedestrian. His lower voice has some good tonal qualities but his mid to higher range is devoid of emotion and passion and I just can't connect with him.

It's great that he and his two Maiden albums have so many fans here but I am also really surprised at the amount of love for those albums. I've even gone back to revisit them because of all the positive comments but no, although I do like some of the songs, Blaze just doesn't work.

I think it was more a case of the right personality fitting in with the band, SH wanted an English singer, for the humour and culture factors.
I am sure that there were better singers, but for whatever reason he was chosen and maybe Blaze was the wrong choice?
That said he was on a hiding to nothing, having to sing Bruce's songs in a key too high for him, which lead to him blowing his voice out on tour.

Yes, I am sure you are right. I am coming from a pure vocal style/ability and the fact that Blaze couldn't sing Bruce's songs live in just another reason it just feels like such a bizarre choice to me.

[gazinwales]

What happened to Iron Maiden in the 90s?
https://youtu.be/g-S6Dlbmg_4

[bosk1]

I posted a ton of positive feedback about the 80s stuff and got occasional feedback, yet I post some criticism about two albums that appear, no matter what corner of the internet you look, to be the band's two least popular albums, and here comes the pushback and nonstop chatter. 

In other words, I should just post criticism about the rest going forward if I want to generate any more convo about my journey. 

I'll take the hit for you, Kev.

'90s Maiden is mostly crap.

There.  Come at me.

[DoctorAction]

You guys are tripping.

When that album came out, I was blasting that song all over the place.

Agree. That's song is an anthem. It's impossible not to go crazy when you hear it live.

Plus... Who cares about the lyrics? Imagine you can't play a brand new CD... Can you say that you don't like a song just reading the lyrics on the booklet?

Everybody does. They wouldn't be the band they are if the lyrics and associated mental imagery were:

Kicks! Kicks! Licks!
Bananas and the fleece!
Fell my tyre!
The corn will be released!

[wolfking]

I remember when my VXI was delivered when it was released. I came home from work, and my wife, knowing after an hour's ride, I normally would take a piss the minute I got home, positioned my VXI on the back of the toilet so as soon as I took my piss, I'd see it.

Outstanding haha!

I'm surprised no one took the opportunity to post some kind of joke with VXI being in the toilet.

[Mladen]

I for one do not find it weird that the Blaze Bayley era gets commented on this much. It was such an odd time for the band and such a unique era, that it is getting debated to death even now. The X Factor is particularly divisive among the fanbase. Whether you post a positive or a negative comment on it, it will generate discussion.

That being said, I am looking forward to Kev's takes on Brave new world, Dance of death and so on. We'll have a more balanced discussion, given that most of the reunion albums are beloved by the fans. 

[nobloodyname]

Popped Killers on a few minutes ago while sat here beavering away.

Anyway, it just occurred to me how utterly amazing the drumming is on Genghis Khan and thought you might all need to know what I think

Also, how come I've never noticed it before over the years? Crazy.

[WardySI]

Agree even the Bruce fronted 90's Maiden releases blew compared to their 80's output, but like others said there were some winners to be had...

One song that seems to always escape comment is Fear of The Dark's 'The Fugitive' a seriously good song which fer these ears had a slight Only The Good Die Young vibe about it!

[DTA]

The Fugitive is a fantastic song. Same with Judas Be My Guide. I think both just get lost in the middle of an unpopular album that is dominated by the title track.

Does Childhoods End remind anyone of a Script-era Marillion song? Not a specific one but the overall style (especially during the tom rolls). And does From Here To Eternity remind anyone of The Clairvoyant? I think the melodies are a bit too close.

[DoctorAction]

Popped Killers on a few minutes ago while sat here beavering away.

Anyway, it just occurred to me how utterly amazing the drumming is on Genghis Khan and thought you might all need to know what I think

Also, how come I've never noticed it before over the years? Crazy.

Nice. Clive was just fantastic on Killers.

[Stadler]

I made a huge mistake years ago getting rid of my original pressing and buying the remasters.
Something I've done over the years, but stopped when I realised that most remasters sound not as good as the originals.

Back to Blaze, I don't think I've ever own VXI and my ex-wife stole TXF from me before we parted.
I have both coming to me (original masters) in the mail, UK pressing of VXI and Japan TXF with bonus 3 track CD.

THAT'S what she stole?!?   

I remember when my VXI was delivered when it was released. I came home from work, and my wife, knowing after an hour's ride, I normally would take a piss the minute I got home, positioned my VXI on the back of the toilet so as soon as I took my piss, I'd see it.

Is that cool, as in "I'm going to do something nice for my sweetie", or was she subliminally giving her commentary on the quality of the album??   

EDIT:  For the record, I wrote that before I saw Wolfie's post! 

[Stadler]

Kicks! Kicks! Licks!
Bananas and the fleece!
Fell my tyre!
The corn will be released!

Yeah, but now I'm intrigued; where are the rest of the lyrics?  I want to know what that song is about!   

[ErHaO]

I unfortunately can't really get into Senjutsu. I see some people comparing it to The X Factor, perhaps that is why it does not click with me as I find that one to be quite boring. Now I don't find this one bad or boring perse, but I can't say the album is enticing me for more listens. Glad to see many are enjoying it more than I am though.

Listened to Book of Souls again and I still love it. To me it has much more exciting moments and vocals that catch my attention.