The Iron Maiden Thread v. The Merge of Souls

[wolfking]

I'll echo about the production on DOD.  It took me a long time to look past, it's horrible.

[sfam2112]

I have a feeling that Bruce is also trying to prove the point that he can still perform the songs in the original key fairly well. He might also honestly think that the songs wouldn't sound as good if they dropped the tuning by a half step.

The only exception I can think of is "Lord of The Flies" from Death On The Road being a full step down... probably so he can do his Bruce thing and sing the ending an octave higher more comfortably. 😝

[Mladen]

Oh good point, I completely forgot about that.

[NoFred]

S Tier:
Dance of Death
Senjustsu
A Matter of Life and Death

A Tier:
Brave New World
Final Frontier
Book of Souls

DoD is my favorite across eras (not thinking about production quality) and while Senjustsu is somewhat self-derivative it’s got the better versions.

[nobloodyname]

Something else that got lost in Dance of Death was a few harmonized guitar parts in Montségur -- I had to explore the multitrack surround version and do a personal mixdown to figure those parts out (would love to share them if anyone's interested, in fact, and if that isn't against forum rules).

Oooh, good shout on the 5.1 version of Dance of Death. I'm sure I have that somewhere.

Where is that?  I didn't know any of the Maiden made it to 5.1.

Here you go, fellow: https://www.discogs.com/release/2014910-Iron-Maiden-Dance-Of-Death

[wolfking]

I have a feeling that Bruce is also trying to prove the point that he can still perform the songs in the original key fairly well. He might also honestly think that the songs wouldn't sound as good if they dropped the tuning by a half step.

The only exception I can think of is "Lord of The Flies" from Death On The Road being a full step down... probably so he can do his Bruce thing and sing the ending an octave higher more comfortably. 😝

I keep forgetting about this one.  I think that's the only time ever they have played a song in a different key.

[goo-goo]

Something else that got lost in Dance of Death was a few harmonized guitar parts in Montségur -- I had to explore the multitrack surround version and do a personal mixdown to figure those parts out (would love to share them if anyone's interested, in fact, and if that isn't against forum rules).

Oooh, good shout on the 5.1 version of Dance of Death. I'm sure I have that somewhere.

Where is that?  I didn't know any of the Maiden made it to 5.1.

Here you go, fellow: https://www.discogs.com/release/2014910-Iron-Maiden-Dance-Of-Death

I need to see if I have this one in storage. Just set up an Atmos/Surround system in my home office and some of the little details that get buried in a regular stereo/compressed mix sound amazing in a 5.1 setting. I know I have Balls to Picasso by Bruce but haven't dug up all the boxes from the last move. 

[Stadler]

Something else that got lost in Dance of Death was a few harmonized guitar parts in Montségur -- I had to explore the multitrack surround version and do a personal mixdown to figure those parts out (would love to share them if anyone's interested, in fact, and if that isn't against forum rules).

Oooh, good shout on the 5.1 version of Dance of Death. I'm sure I have that somewhere.

Where is that?  I didn't know any of the Maiden made it to 5.1.

Here you go, fellow: https://www.discogs.com/release/2014910-Iron-Maiden-Dance-Of-Death

Thank you!!!

[Samsara]

My two favorites from the reunion era are still very clear to me:

Brave New World
A Matter of Life And Death

>>>Those records, to me, are ones I can put in and just play, and really feel a good ebb and flow with. Everything else from the reunion era...I like them. But I tend to cherry pick a bit.

But BNW and AMOLAD just have this...spark to them, this engagement, that I haven't found as complete works with the other reunion era albums.

As for the classic era, my favorite Maiden record is Piece of Mind. Then probably Seventh Son, The Number of The Beast, Somewhere in Time, and Powerslave. The others...again, I like them, but I tend to cherry pick more on them.

[cramx3]

Walmart exclusive
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bruce-Dickinson-The-Mandrake-Project-Limited-Edition-Walmart-Exclusive-Autographed-Print-and-Stencil-Heavy-Metal-2-LP/5195359990?from=/search

I actually bought this  I don't even collect Vinyl, but seemed cool.  I'll buy the digital download of the album on release and hold onto this.

Forgot I ordered this, should arrive tomorrow.  Curious about the autographed print.  I might want to get a nice frame and hang it.  I don't even have a record player to listen to it 

[wolfking]

Shit, I didn't realise this was out today.  Well, tomorrow for most of you lot.

[wolfking]

I'll listen to the full thing over the weekend but was interested in Eternity Has Failed.  Probably used to the Maiden version but this version is a lot slower and seems to lack the energy of Maidens.  The middle section is just some uneccessary long shredding from Gus G over the top of similar melodies too.  Doesn't seem to fit.  Not sure why Gus is on here.  Dunno, again just different and not used to it.

[MirrorMask]

Heard it once, the first impression is that Shadow of the Gods is the highlight!

[WardySI]

...  The middle section is just some uneccessary long shredding from Gus G over the top of similar melodies too.  Doesn't seem to fit.  Not sure why Gus is on here.  Dunno, again just different and not used to it.

Gus G? Did I miss something or or do you mean Roy Z?  Roy Z has been playing with Bruce forever which is why he's on this original version of Eternity if you mean Roy 

And that said I agree.  Interesting as it is personally would've left this as a bonus track or as the B-side to Ragnarok 7".

[nobloodyname]

I think it should have remained a solo track only. We'd have been saying what a good track it is. Other than the difference in speed, and the addition of a bit of a frippery, both versions are remarkably similar.

[Grappler]

I think it's a really cool record, once I get past the fact that it's not going to be Chemical Wedding Pt. 2

I like his version of Eternity - it's slower, with a heavier riff and a little doomier.  It's neat to see how Maiden changed the song.  Shadow of the Gods is cool and I love that Priest riff 2/3 of the way through, where Halford would have sung (for the Three Tremors project). 

There are a few other songs that I really like too.

[devieira73]

Listened a few times already and I can tell it's a great album, one of this years best, no doubt! Something a little below of Accident and Chemical, as expected, but also with a bit more variety which is really nice.
About Eternity, I really dug to have a proper guitar solo in the middle section, although I prefer the faster paced Maiden's interpretation. It kind reminded me of Flight of Icarus, in a sense that Bruce prefered it slower and Harris, faster. As a result, we have the PoM version and LAD version, but, in this case, the PoM version was better. But all four versions of these songs are really good!
Sonata is really excellent (but I'm not implying it will the most beautiful song you'll hear this year! ) and I thought the commentaries about it being so unexpected a bit exaggerating . It isn't so far from Bruce's style, just throwing a bit of Pink Floyd on it.

[DoctorAction]

Shit, I didn't realise this was out today.  Well, tomorrow for most of you lot.

Bollocks! Me too. 

(Runs to the Spotify...)

[ProfessorPeart]

Got my deluxe edition today. It's much bigger than I expected. I would say it's about the size of something that would hold a 45rpm single record. Very well done.

[cramx3]

Gave a listen this morning on youtube and thought it was a good listen, but also felt like the production was poor and that it may be a bit too mid paced for my tastes, but it was still good.  I'll hold back on any "album of the year" thoughts because right now, it's not that.  Looking forward to more listens and having the album grow on me

[DoctorAction]

First listen. Not TCW or AOB but absolutely solid. I also would have tweaked the mix a bit had it been me. Bruce is a little too loud and there could be more low end beef but these are quibbles. Looking forward to seeing him live in a couple of months!

[devieira73]

I'll echo about the production on DOD.  It took me a long time to look past, it's horrible.

I must say that Dance of Death's 2015 remaster brought the album from worst sounding album on the reunion era to the two of the best sounding albums, along with AMOLAD. Maybe my favorite, because of the volume of the guitars, closer to the classic era.

[nick_z]

One listen in...eh...first impression is not super-positive for me. Love Bruce's solo stuff, so I was looking forward to this. The two pre-release tracks didn't blow me away and, while there's some good variety throughout the whole record, the overall impression is, again, "not blown away".

Don't particularly love the way it all sounds, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of "drive" in the performances. Some random thoughts:

- Resurrection Men is kinda cool with the western-sounding mood. Some things work, some not as much, but this is one I enjoyed more than others
- Agree with Kade's comments on Eternity Has Failed. Might be a matter of familiarity, but I miss the gallop of the Maiden version. When the band comes in, on TBOS, it's a truly fantastic moment. Here, it's more subdued. Cutting some of the stuff at the end was a good idea, though
- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material
- Who thought it was a good idea to have Bruce quite literally scream WHOA WHOA in your ears on the final choruses of Face in the Mirror??  That was quite jarring, to say the least
- Also agree on Shadow of the Gods being a highlight
- Sonata is, indeed, a bit weird. Not bad, but it kinda meanders towards the end

I will revisit, of course, but I can't deny I'm a little disappointed for now.

[RodrigoAltaf]

One listen in...eh...first impression is not super-positive for me. Love Bruce's solo stuff, so I was looking forward to this. The two pre-release tracks didn't blow me away and, while there's some good variety throughout the whole record, the overall impression is, again, "not blown away".

Don't particularly love the way it all sounds, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of "drive" in the performances. Some random thoughts:

- Resurrection Men is kinda cool with the western-sounding mood. Some things work, some not as much, but this is one I enjoyed more than others
- Agree with Kade's comments on Eternity Has Failed. Might be a matter of familiarity, but I miss the gallop of the Maiden version. When the band comes in, on TBOS, it's a truly fantastic moment. Here, it's more subdued. Cutting some of the stuff at the end was a good idea, though
- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material
- Who thought it was a good idea to have Bruce quite literally scream WHOA WHOA in your ears on the final choruses of Face in the Mirror??  That was quite jarring, to say the least
- Also agree on Shadow of the Gods being a highlight
- Sonata is, indeed, a bit weird. Not bad, but it kinda meanders towards the end

I will revisit, of course, but I can't deny I'm a little disappointed for now.

My actual score for the album was 7.6, but the editor "conveniently" rounded it up to 8, which in my opinion paints a whole different picture. I think 7.6 matches your overall perception of the album.

[wolfking]

...  The middle section is just some uneccessary long shredding from Gus G over the top of similar melodies too.  Doesn't seem to fit.  Not sure why Gus is on here.  Dunno, again just different and not used to it.

Gus G? Did I miss something or or do you mean Roy Z?  Roy Z has been playing with Bruce forever which is why he's on this original version of Eternity if you mean Roy 

And that said I agree.  Interesting as it is personally would've left this as a bonus track or as the B-side to Ragnarok 7".

Gus G provides the solo to this track.

[NoseofNicko]

Really enjoying The Mandrake Project.

[cramx3]

One listen in...eh...first impression is not super-positive for me. Love Bruce's solo stuff, so I was looking forward to this. The two pre-release tracks didn't blow me away and, while there's some good variety throughout the whole record, the overall impression is, again, "not blown away".

Don't particularly love the way it all sounds, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of "drive" in the performances. Some random thoughts:

- Resurrection Men is kinda cool with the western-sounding mood. Some things work, some not as much, but this is one I enjoyed more than others
- Agree with Kade's comments on Eternity Has Failed. Might be a matter of familiarity, but I miss the gallop of the Maiden version. When the band comes in, on TBOS, it's a truly fantastic moment. Here, it's more subdued. Cutting some of the stuff at the end was a good idea, though
- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material
- Who thought it was a good idea to have Bruce quite literally scream WHOA WHOA in your ears on the final choruses of Face in the Mirror??  That was quite jarring, to say the least
- Also agree on Shadow of the Gods being a highlight
- Sonata is, indeed, a bit weird. Not bad, but it kinda meanders towards the end

I will revisit, of course, but I can't deny I'm a little disappointed for now.

My actual score for the album was 7.6, but the editor "conveniently" rounded it up to 8, which in my opinion paints a whole different picture. I think 7.6 matches your overall perception of the album.

On my first listen I was thinking like a 7 might be fair.  But of course, I need more listens.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

checking this out now

[TAC]

I've just started my first listen.

[TAC]

It's weird that he'd cover Rock You Like A Hurricane two songs in. I wasn't expecting that.

[TheHoveringSojourn808]

solid album. really enjoyed it

[TAC]

- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material

Thinking Skunkworks on this one, actually.

[cramx3]

- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material

Thinking Skunkworks on this one, actually.

Yeah, that guitar riff is total skunkworks to my ears.

[nick_z]

- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material

Thinking Skunkworks on this one, actually.

Yeah, that guitar riff is total skunkworks to my ears.

The opening riff is almost the same as Freak, though!

[cramx3]

- Mistress of Mercy tries a bit to be a re-write of some of the Accident material

Thinking Skunkworks on this one, actually.

Yeah, that guitar riff is total skunkworks to my ears.

The opening riff is almost the same as Freak, though!

Ha, I hear that now that you mention it, but immediately was thinking skunkworks my first two listens.