The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[RodrigoAltaf]

Glowing reviews like that kinda bother me. I'll try to write a more balanced one.

[RodrigoAltaf]

I can see why people have a problem with the last track. With this being a concept album, one would expect a bombastic track, to end things in dramatic fashion. That’s not what this last song brings. But it’s not bad. Overall, it’s amazing to see Bruce taking stylistic risks on this album. It’s like he’s Jim Gaffigan in Maiden, and Dave Chapelle in his solo career.

[Stadler]

Glowing reviews like that kinda bother me. I'll try to write a more balanced one.

I don't know who wrote that, so if it's a friend, or if it originated in a different language, I apologize, but in that incarnation, in that translation, that's a horrible review. 

[devieira73]

https://blabbermouth.net/news/bruce-dickinson-announces-two-new-guitarists-for-solo-band-southern-california-warm-up-show?fbclid=IwAR052QuYQKfk7nVWlgQsk82Y_97oDTQ2rhWw2uFAB544WeaSzgzYKn1T3Ro
At least we'll have 2 guitar players.

[Stadler]

https://blabbermouth.net/news/bruce-dickinson-announces-two-new-guitarists-for-solo-band-southern-california-warm-up-show?fbclid=IwAR052QuYQKfk7nVWlgQsk82Y_97oDTQ2rhWw2uFAB544WeaSzgzYKn1T3Ro
At least we'll have 2 guitar players.

Wait, what???  He consulted with Kurt Sutter on this?   
Wait, what???  His wife Leanna?   

[RodrigoAltaf]

Glowing reviews like that kinda bother me. I'll try to write a more balanced one.

I don't know who wrote that, so if it's a friend, or if it originated in a different language, I apologize, but in that incarnation, in that translation, that's a horrible review.

Yes. And the album version of "Eternity Has Failed " is not "just a demo version of If Eternity Should Fail". Not at all.

[RodrigoAltaf]

Interview I did with Blaze Bayley about his new album, which is even better than the previous one: https://youtu.be/NwhFfGvQNxI?si=RHacm5-eo43AAPB6

[Mladen]

Man, that guy never gets exhausted, doesn't he? 

[RodrigoAltaf]

Man, that guy never gets exhausted, doesn't he? 

I interviewed him twice...usually I need about 20 questions for anyone I talk to, but with Blaze I only need 5 or 6!

[Anguyen92]

Awww, hell.  Bruce is going to be in Santa Ana in April?  That show is going to be a quick sell-out.  I would have liked to see Bruce play in the Anaheim House of Blues.

[TAC]

Is there any reason why the new Bruce Dickinson album is listed at $27 on Amazon??

[wolfking]

Is there any reason why the new Bruce Dickinson album is listed at $27 on Amazon??

Is that the regular version or fancy digipak version?  Over here it seems the regular edition is $26 and the media book one is $76!!  Fuck that!

[TAC]

Is there any reason why the new Bruce Dickinson album is listed at $27 on Amazon??

Is that the regular version or fancy digipak version?  Over here it seems the regular edition is $26 and the media book one is $76!!  Fuck that!

No shit. I'd only be interested in the media book if I was like 15, and there's no way I could afford that.

[wolfking]

Is there any reason why the new Bruce Dickinson album is listed at $27 on Amazon??

Is that the regular version or fancy digipak version?  Over here it seems the regular edition is $26 and the media book one is $76!!  Fuck that!

No shit. I'd only be interested in the media book if I was like 15, and there's no way I could afford that.

Good chance I won't buy it at all.  I think my days of purchasing physical media are done.  If it's a crappy cardboard digipak with just the cd and not much of a booklet, I probably won't bother.  The media book version doesn't have any extras as far as I can see and that price is just taking the piss.

[Grappler]

The regular edition is $12.  The comic book edition is $27.

https://www.amazon.com/Mandrake-Project-Bruce-Dickinson/dp/B0CP8NFCXM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1HBPC1BOV9VWI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AKGaRCj-2-LrQ8fVVdA_cvyzoBrnhSByxlXCiff8ah7DGZxMDii2H6pLwiqvTa_skJF-w2FdXVrYUCjXk3AhIa4trGLFXeCS8ZMcJdPXKStY7tFLZx5wy0xE8Ln09A-t2RVfntb2n6xeGtJp2L7MuuqxU7SphOfjURzAEe03kqN0uQCo6XFA-lVFlTfkO1m2ghcay4MOMF_2vH-YVvFsVROhnehR-WerBq0GlbDJ1WE.lJsUXP92ICOP40h8hPPkOZxIwZjf7VgtyCgeUpygJjE&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+mandrake+project&qid=1708572868&sprefix=the+mandrake+project%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-1


I just read something today that only 2-3 songs from the album tie into the comic book story. 

[wolfking]

Well that's a bit silly.

[MinistroRaven]

Any one here wants to review Bruce's solo record?

[Stadler]

Any one here wants to review Bruce's solo record?

I will; by when?

[WardySI]

Is there any reason why the new Bruce Dickinson album is listed at $27 on Amazon??

Is that the regular version or fancy digipak version?  Over here it seems the regular edition is $26 and the media book one is $76!!  Fuck that!

No shit. I'd only be interested in the media book if I was like 15, and there's no way I could afford that.

Good chance I won't buy it at all.  I think my days of purchasing physical media are done.  If it's a crappy cardboard digipak with just the cd and not much of a booklet, I probably won't bother.  The media book version doesn't have any extras as far as I can see and that price is just taking the piss.

Regards the deluxe package agree on all counts particularly after reading below only a few tracks actually relate to the comic book.

That said will definitely be purchasing a standard edition \m/

Interview I did with Blaze Bayley about his new album, which is even better than the previous one: https://youtu.be/NwhFfGvQNxI?si=RHacm5-eo43AAPB6

Watched this through this morning before delving into the album.

Gotta love his passion and enthusiasm, excellent interview thanks!

[RodrigoAltaf]

My review of Bruce's new album: https://www.sonicperspectives.com/album-reviews/bruce-dickinson-the-mandrake-project/?fbclid=IwAR1hyBtdZnpaUmNh9Xk705DcNuTERC9EyZxdzcKUrWV9SmAQtvz_9yu-Pvo

[MirrorMask]

Very random thought: On The Final Frontier, the row The Alchemist - Isle of Avalon - Starblind must be the best streak of Maiden music that has never been played live.

[soupytwist]

The Final Frontier is my favorite of the reunion albums.

[TAC]

The Final Frontier is my favorite of the reunion albums.

Same here.

[cramx3]

It's my least favorite of the reunion albums.

[nick_z]

Very random thought: On The Final Frontier, the row The Alchemist - Isle of Avalon - Starblind must be the best streak of Maiden music that has never been played live.

It's a great streak of songs, for sure. My favorite on the album.

[wolfking]

The Alchemist to the the end of the album is one of the strongest runs of music I've ever heard.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

It's my least favorite of the reunion albums.

[Mladen]

The Final frontier features some of their most underrated songs ever. Particularly The Man who would be king, The Alchemist and Isle of Avalon.

[soupytwist]

It's my least favorite of the reunion albums.

That for me is 'Senjutsu'.  As much as I love Steve Harris - those 45 minutes (spread over only 4 tracks) that are his solo writing credits are too much, it doesn't help I don't think any of those 4 tracks are among his best (long) work.

[cramx3]

It's my least favorite of the reunion albums.

That for me is 'Senjutsu'.  As much as I love Steve Harris - those 45 minutes (spread over only 4 tracks) that are his solo writing credits are too much, it doesn't help I don't think any of those 4 tracks are among his best (long) work.

The last two tracks on Senjutsu put it over the top of TFF for me.  Somehow on AMOLAD they got it just right with all those epic tracks though.

I guess my reunion album rankings would be:

AMOLAD
BNW
DOD
Senjutsu
TBOS
TFF

But I do enjoy all of them, so TFF isn't a bad album, just my least favorite.  Also DOD, SUnjutsu and TBOS are kind of interchangeable in the muddy middle for me. 

[soupytwist]

It's my least favorite of the reunion albums.

That for me is 'Senjutsu'.  As much as I love Steve Harris - those 45 minutes (spread over only 4 tracks) that are his solo writing credits are too much, it doesn't help I don't think any of those 4 tracks are among his best (long) work.

The last two tracks on Senjutsu put it over the top of TFF for me.  Somehow on AMOLAD they got it just right with all those epic tracks though.

I guess my reunion album rankings would be:

AMOLAD
BNW
DOD
Senjutsu
TBOS
TFF

But I do enjoy all of them, so TFF isn't a bad album, just my least favorite.  Also DOD, SUnjutsu and TBOS are kind of interchangeable in the muddy middle for me.

I think it probably speaks for the quality of these albums that we have such a differing ranking!

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

[Grappler]

This is hard to do because I like something about every record.  Brave New World will always be ranked #1 for the reunion albums - that was just a magical time with Bruce and Adrian coming back and the band putting out a SLAMMING album with a really cool tour. 

Brave New World
Senjutsu
AMOL&D
Dance of Death
The Book of Souls
The Final Frontier

[nobloodyname]

This is hard to do because I like something about every record.  Brave New World will always be ranked #1 for the reunion albums - that was just a magical time with Bruce and Adrian coming back and the band putting out a SLAMMING album with a really cool tour. 

Brave New World
Senjutsu
AMOL&D
Dance of Death
The Book of Souls
The Final Frontier

I might switch A Matter of Life and Death and Dance of Death... maybe. But that'd be my ranking, too.

[DoctorAction]

DOD / AMOLAD / TFF
Senjutsu
BNW


TBOS


There's almost nothing between DOD / AMOLAD / TFF for me. They all have such top drawer songs, and a couple of factors that just keep them off all-time classic status, but I love all three.

BNW being released obvs was an incredible moment but the album has never satisfied me as a whole,  despite some great tracks.

I almost never play TBOS anymore. By far my least favourite reunion record. Feels unfinished / rushed / unedited. Eternity is wonderful, though, and easily outshines everything else on it.


TFF is a really interesting one. It doesn't start or finish well, imo. The intro and title track don't deliver the awesome space vibe that they promise. El D has a fun opening riff but doesn't move me as a track. MoM is fine but forgettable. THEN - Coming Home through to The Talisman (best maiden track since the SSOASS era?) is absolutely fantastic. Complex, groovy, evocative. Just brilliant. TMWWBK is almost great and I know lots love it. WTWB is a dud for me. Close but no cigar. That repeating unison verse melody that Bruce and one guitar play is a horrible arrangement and goes on and on. And the lyrics don't conjure the nuclear feels for me either. If the whole album was like that prime middle section, it would easily top my reunion ranking.

[TAC]

Adrian Smith turns 67 today!