The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[Mladen]

Somewhere in Time is definitely a top 1 album by the band.

Absolutely.

[Zydar]

It's a close 2nd for me, with only Seventh Son topping it. I love that era of the band.

[Stadler]

Somewhere in Time is definitely a top 1 album by the band.

HAHA.  "Top 1" (and I'm laughing because of the way you wrote it, not that it's number 1).

[pg1067]

I did give Somewhere in Time a whirl on the ear buds today at work, and I feel like that is definitely a top 3 album by the band.

Awesome Kev! Yes, it is one of my favourites too. I can still remember the day in 86 when I got the cassette on the first day of release, I was blown away by the cover and also the music. I know some have said it hasn't aged well but I disagree, I still love the album to this day. To me it is the pinnacle of Adrian and Dave's guitar playing, just some awesome guitar solos on the album.

I was born in 84 so I didn't live through the era of listening to these albums in real time, but I always thought SIT was ill received and that it aged better. I could be wrong. 

I don't think that's the case.  I recall some initial head scratching about the synths, BUT I think that partially a result of Judas Priest's use of synths on Turbo, which had been released five months earlier and which definitely was not well received.  I think any concern about Maiden doing the same thing was quickly put aside because the song were quite strong, and the synth use was very much for accent.

The thing about SIT for me is that it just doesn't have a "signature song."  Powerslave has Rime and Aces High.  POM has The Trooper and Icarus.  Beast has the title track and Hallowed.  Wasted Years and Stranger got a bit of airplay, but for me they don't really rise above everything else.  But every time I go back and listen to SIT, I definitely enjoy it.

[425]

For me, SiT is a very close third among the 80s albums, behind Seventh Son and Piece of Mind. That puts it sixth overall because I'm such a hardline reunion fan, but that's still very good in this discography.

I agree that the album doesn't have a "signature song," but it has a lot of very good songs. Caught Somewhere in Time, Alexander the Great and Stranger in a Strange Land are all fantastic, Wasted Years is excellent, and Sea of Madness is the most underrated 80s Maiden song.

[KevShmev]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

[nick_z]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

Hmm, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams would like a word...

I have a soft spot for this album...actually, I remember not loving it the first time I heard it, but in time it's become one of my favorites. There's just a special atmosphere that makes it pretty unique within Maiden's catalog.

[Dream Team]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

Fair enough. What are your thoughts on the title track? That's one of my top Maiden songs with killer vocals and instrumental section.

[WardySI]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

Hmm, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams would like a word...

I have a soft spot for this album...actually, I remember not loving it the first time I heard it, but in time it's become one of my favorites. There's just a special atmosphere that makes it pretty unique within Maiden's catalog.

As would Only The Good Die Young and The Clairvoyant !Those four? Essential Maiden

[KevShmev]

Those are all good songs. I don't think anything stood out to me as being forgettable or average, but as a whole it just feels like a good record with all good songs, just nothing really great.  Feels like all of their other albums from the 80s have much higher highs. 

[425]

I think every song is great except Can I Play With Madness, and the title track is at least my third-favorite 80s Maiden song, but I suppose opinions will vary.

[WardySI]

To each our own and all that but personally Seventh Son usually makes any Top10 'albums' list I compile.

Was actually a latecomer to the catalogue too, not by today's standards but not succumbing to the Maiden magic until the early 90's when fell hard for Bruce's Tears Of A Dragon and Seventh Son was the one that stood out from them all.  It probably helped holding original vinyl and being engrossed with that tremendous Seventh Son cover art etc, but while loved them all (Piece Of Mind and Somewhere In Time have remained faves too) think Seventh Son captures everything I have come to loved about 80's Maiden. 

Even Can I Play With Madness has its place \m/

[425]

I don't think CIPWM is a bad song; in fact, I think it's the best "worst song" on any of the 80s albums. It's just a cut below the rest of the album.

[TAC]

Not including anything off of The Number Of The Beast album and Caught Somewhere In Time, the next 80's Maiden songs I take are Infinite Dreams and SSOASS.

[pg1067]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

See...for me, SSOASS sits in stark contrast to SIT.  Your comment is exactly how I see SIT.  However, with SSOASS, the title track and Moonchild are exceptional, but the rest of it is no better than average.

Hmm, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams would like a word...

The only word for Infinite Dreams is "overrated."  And The Clairvoyant, which someone else mentioned, is one of the laziest songs Steve Harris has ever written.

[wolfking]

I would call Infinite Dreams underrated as opposed to overrated.

[NoseofNicko]

Infinite Dreams is one of their very best songs. Top 10.

[TAC]

So I will definitely agree with Paul that I never saw the fascination with The Clairvoyant.

To me, the only thing that SSOASS is really missing is an epic closer. Only The Good Die Young is just too...short. Maybe that's the point.


Infinite Dreams rules!

[jammindude]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

See...for me, SSOASS sits in stark contrast to SIT.  Your comment is exactly how I see SIT.  However, with SSOASS, the title track and Moonchild are exceptional, but the rest of it is no better than average.

Hmm, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams would like a word...

The only word for Infinite Dreams is "overrated."  And The Clairvoyant, which someone else mentioned, is one of the laziest songs Steve Harris has ever written.

Laziest? Just the chorus alone proves that wrong. ANY Maiden where the chorus is just a single phrase repeated 8x (and I’m being generous…because it’s often 16 or even more) is lazier than The Clairvoyant.

I’m in the crowd that thinks SSOASS was much better effort than SIT.   I think the title track suffers a bit from the over repetition syndrome that became so prevalent starting with SIT, but most of the rest of the songs have far stronger choruses than SIT did.

[wolfking]

So I will definitely agree with Paul that I never saw the fascination with The Clairvoyant.

To me, the only thing that SSOASS is really missing is an epic closer. Only The Good Die Young is just too...short. Maybe that's the point.


Infinite Dreams rules!

I think OTGDY is definitely pretty under appreciated too. No issues with it as a closer for me.  Love the ending.

[The Realm]

Another big Infinite Dreams fan here. It is probably my number 1 track on the album, but it is tough to beat the title track.

[WardySI]

Count me in again, as great as Moonchild was remember being blown away on first listen to Infinite Dreams.  I'd argue for its time Infinite Dreams was rather unique, inspired, and creatively speaking was a huge step for them at that time.

Regards Only The Good Die Young, yes it was short but frankly after the progressive path a lot of the album had already taken by then, found that made it the perfect closer leaving us wanting more, and songwise, it's often a forgotten gem of the Maiden catalogue, love it! \m/

2c and all IMO of course 😁

[KevShmev]

Listened to some of the first two albums tonight when driving to and from hanging with a buddy to watch the hockey game.  Strange World is still so darn good, and I really like Prodigal Son as well. Something about that one just sparkles. 

[wolfking]

Listened to some of the first two albums tonight when driving to and from hanging with a buddy to watch the hockey game.  Strange World is still so darn good, and I really like Prodigal Son as well. Something about that one just sparkles. 

One of the bands greatest solo sections, both Adrian and Dave.

[Dream Team]

Listened to some of the first two albums tonight when driving to and from hanging with a buddy to watch the hockey game.  Strange World is still so darn good, and I really like Prodigal Son as well. Something about that one just sparkles. 

Yeah it’s kind of a shame they largely abandoned that facet of their sound.

[KevShmev]

Dipping into some of the newer stuff again as well. Feels like A Matter of Life and Death is the best of the bunch in this century.

[nick_z]

Listened to some of the first two albums tonight when driving to and from hanging with a buddy to watch the hockey game.  Strange World is still so darn good, and I really like Prodigal Son as well. Something about that one just sparkles. 

One of the bands greatest solo sections, both Adrian and Dave.

Couldn't agree more. Prodigal Son is such a unique song for them. Killers is kind of funny, that way. I can't say I love all of it - some songs just come and go (Another Life, Innocent Exile, Drifter...), but then there are some absolute gems (Murders in the Rue Morgue, the title-track - Di'Anno is perfect for those - Prodigal Son and Purgatory). 

[TAC]

Dipping into some of the newer stuff again as well. Feels like A Matter of Life and Death is the best of the bunch in this century.

Not to go all TACRanger on you but I believe it’s pretty much regarded as the centerpiece of the Reunion Era.

[nick_z]

Dipping into some of the newer stuff again as well. Feels like A Matter of Life and Death is the best of the bunch in this century.

Not to go all TACRanger on you but I believe it’s pretty much regarded as the centerpiece of the Reunion Era.

That's why I gather too, but I'm not quite sure there's "hard" data to back this feeling up.

My personal favorite of the Reunion Era still is Dance of Death.

You know, I haven't quite figured out yet where I'd rank Senjutsu among the reunion albums. It was such a pleasant surprise last year, in that I expected to enjoy it, but not necessarily to like it as much as I did. So, I think it would land in the top half of the six, but haven't firmed up a position (I know, important decisions  )

[KevShmev]

RYM used to be a useful guide for rankings, but it feels like they get less and less traffic, as albums in the last decade get far less reviews than ones from, say, the 2000s.

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden

Looks like Brave New World has a pretty big lead over A Matter of Life and Death there, but those being the top two rated ones of the newest six makes sense to me.  I still need to give the two newest ones more listens, but I dinged both from the start due to a) both sounding muddy as all get-out, and b) both having too many songs that seemed excessively long.  It was a chore to get through both.

[Mladen]

Dipping into some of the newer stuff again as well. Feels like A Matter of Life and Death is the best of the bunch in this century.

It absolutely is in my opinion. However, many people prefer Brave new world or even The Book of souls.

[emtee]

Book Of Souls
The Final Frontier
A Matter Of Life And Death

Also, I put the headphones on last night and spun SSoaSS. Such a great album from beginning to end.

[pg1067]

I do plan on revisiting Seventh Son of a Seventh Son here soon, as that has been the odd man out as far as their 80s albums go.  I have barely touched that one since running through their whole discography last fall.

Spun this one at work yesterday. Good album, but, for my ears, it is definitely the least best of their 80s albums (including the first two).  Almost everything is good, but almost none of it is like, "hot damn, this is great."

See...for me, SSOASS sits in stark contrast to SIT.  Your comment is exactly how I see SIT.  However, with SSOASS, the title track and Moonchild are exceptional, but the rest of it is no better than average.

Hmm, Moonchild and Infinite Dreams would like a word...

The only word for Infinite Dreams is "overrated."  And The Clairvoyant, which someone else mentioned, is one of the laziest songs Steve Harris has ever written.

Laziest? Just the chorus alone proves that wrong. ANY Maiden where the chorus is just a single phrase repeated 8x (and I’m being generous…because it’s often 16 or even more) is lazier than The Clairvoyant.

TBH, I was mostly thinking of the bass intro when I wrote "laziest."  That said, the chorus sounds like something kids on a kindergarten playground would sing (albeit without the dark lyrics).

[425]

RYM used to be a useful guide for rankings, but it feels like they get less and less traffic, as albums in the last decade get far less reviews than ones from, say, the 2000s.

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden

Looks like Brave New World has a pretty big lead over A Matter of Life and Death there, but those being the top two rated ones of the newest six makes sense to me.  I still need to give the two newest ones more listens, but I dinged both from the start due to a) both sounding muddy as all get-out, and b) both having too many songs that seemed excessively long.  It was a chore to get through both.

BNW being the most popular one fits with my experience. I'm pretty sure that's because a lot of people who aren't big fans of the reunion era nevertheless really like that one, and reunion fans still like it a lot. So it makes sense that if you asked all Iron Maiden fans to rate the six albums, BNW would be highest. On the other hand, if you took a poll only of people who think highly of the reunion era as a whole, I think AMOLAD would win.

[nick_z]

RYM used to be a useful guide for rankings, but it feels like they get less and less traffic, as albums in the last decade get far less reviews than ones from, say, the 2000s.

https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/iron-maiden

Looks like Brave New World has a pretty big lead over A Matter of Life and Death there, but those being the top two rated ones of the newest six makes sense to me.  I still need to give the two newest ones more listens, but I dinged both from the start due to a) both sounding muddy as all get-out, and b) both having too many songs that seemed excessively long.  It was a chore to get through both.

BNW being the most popular one fits with my experience. I'm pretty sure that's because a lot of people who aren't big fans of the reunion era nevertheless really like that one, and reunion fans still like it a lot. So it makes sense that if you asked all Iron Maiden fans to rate the six albums, BNW would be highest. On the other hand, if you took a poll only of people who think highly of the reunion era as a whole, I think AMOLAD would win.

This is a very reasonable assessment, I think.

In my own experience (read: circle of friends), when BNW came out in 2000, there was (understandably) a lot of initial excitement for the return of Bruce and Adrian, and the album was generally VERY well received. When that waned a bit, looking at the album a little more "coldly", some started "complaining" about certain issues (songs that were longer than they needed to be, chorus repetitions etc.). I then remember people (again, people I knew) being quite happy with the songs on Dance of Death - sure, the cover art was terrible and some production choices questionable, but the songwriting was there. By the time A Matter of Life and Death came out, I didn't have that same circle for feedback - in my own view, the album was a great accomplishment for the band, but a little more of a chore to get through, for some reason. I saw them on that tour and, while I found the decision to play the whole thing admirable, I can't say I was super-happy with it.

Like I said, DoD is my personal favorite in the Reunion Era, but I still like BNW a lot. I think I might rank them this way (today, at least):

Dance of Death
Brave New World
Senjutsu
A Matter of Life and Death
The Final Frontier
The Book of Souls

...but Senjutsu and A Matter... could easily be flipped. I don't know, Senjutsu is still pretty fresh. The Final Frontier has grown on me a lot over the years. Didn't particularly care for it when it came out, I very much enjoy it now. And I consider TBOS a very good album too (If Eternity Should Fail is one of my favorite reunion songs) - it's the one, however, that feels too long to me.