Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975. The band are directed by founder, bassist and songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the group has released a collective total of thirty albums: fourteen studio albums; seven live albums; four EPs; and five compilations.
Pioneers of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Iron Maiden achieved success during the early 1980s and, after several lineup changes, the band went on to release a series of platinum and gold albums. These include the US platinum-selling landmarks The Number of the Beast in 1982, Piece of Mind in 1983, Powerslave in 1984, the acclaimed live album Live After Death in 1985, Somewhere in Time in 1986, and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son in 1988. Their second most recent studio effort, A Matter of Life and Death, was released in 2006 and peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and at number 4 in the UK and is also one of the few rock albums to be certified platinum in India. Their newest album, The Final Frontier, will be released on August 16, 2010.[1]
As one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, Iron Maiden have sold over 75 million records under EMI and a total of over 100 million records worldwide with almost no radio or television support.[2][3][4][5] The band won the Ivor Novello Award for international achievement in 2002,[6] and were also inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk in Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California during their United States tour in 2005. As of October 2009, the band has played just over 2000 live shows during their career. For the past 30 years, the band has been supported by their famous mascot, “Eddie the Head“, who has appeared on almost all of their album and single covers, as well their live shows.
Brave New World is the twelfth studio album by Iron Maiden, released on 30 May 2000 (see 2000 in music). It marked the return of longtime lead singer Bruce Dickinson (who left in 1993) and guitarist Adrian Smith (who left in 1990) to the band. It was also the band’s first studio recording with three guitar players, as Janick Gers stayed with the band after Smith’s return.
The album art and title song are references to the novel of the same name written by Aldous Huxley. The upper half of the album art was done by Derek Riggs, and is the last new artwork done by Riggs to be used on an Iron Maiden release. The bottom half was done by digital artist Steve Stone. Similarly, the line ‘Brave new world’ is repeated in the pre-chorus in an earlier song by the band, “Stranger in a Strange Land“, from Somewhere In Time. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson calls this his favorite album, replacing Piece of Mind.
The songs “The Wicker Man” and “Out of the Silent Planet” were both released as singles. “The Wicker Man” was released in the U.S as a promo single with extra vocals in the chorus.
Brave New World Tour was the tour supporting the album. During the tour, the show in Rock in Rio was released as a live album.
Brave New World peaked at the seventh spot of the United Kingdom charts, and has since been certified Gold.[2] In the United States, it debuted at 39th of the Billboard 200,[3] and sold over 307,000 copies. [Wikipedia]
The Wicker Man—-Beginning in classic old school Maiden style, you have a nice intro from Harris and Co. that builds to allow the entrance for Dickinson’s vocal. hearing him back in the band was like a dream come true and this recording is like he had never left and the Blaze era was simply a memory. The classic and familiar Harris style is all over the song and delivers exactly what you would expect. Although Bruce sings in a lower tone, when the band comes together on the chorus this is like the old days…this is incredible.
Ghost Of The Navigator—-This has that wonderful build up that that band like to put at the beginning of its songs, the anticipation that makes you crazy as you wait for the entire band to enter and blow your brains out. You are rewarded greatly on this opus of a song..when Bruce enters with his vocal you will find a huge smile on your face…the vocal is stellar as his tone is much more familiar and the drums literally blow you away. The down shift of the bass is masterful and the chug, chug, chug of the music is so welcome it becomes like your favorite pair of socks. This is wonderful, classic and necessary!!!
Brave New World—-With a wonderful guitar intro that builds the anticipation, you will not be disappointed when the song finally kicks into high gear. The lyrics are intense and the opening vocal is almost pretty…you know that this is not to last and you are right…when the song goes to full throttle, you just sit back and wonder how you ever got along without the classic Maiden line-up. Bruce delivers a vocal that is as stellar as the old days, pushing his chords to hit notes he never really visited in his solo career. Again. the drums on this track are stellar and Harris wields his bass like a weapon…consuming anything that gets in the way of his riffs. This is fantastic!!!
Blood Brothers—-With a wonderful bass line intro and what sounds like some strings running underneath, you just know that this will be yet another epic song. Dickinson enters a bit more sedate as the song builds the anticipation and almost makes you salivate. The vocal kicks into a nice range, but it is nothing compared to the early vocal histrionics that Dickinson used to display. None the less, this is loaded with the classic sound and a band that sounds like it never spent a day apart…welcome to the fold!
The Mercenary—-One of the shortest songs on the release, at 4 1/2 minutes, the band gets busy right away. No interludes or build ups, the music begins with the first second of silence. The drums are so forward in the mix, they threaten to explode your forehead. Bruce delivers a vocal that is full of urgency and vehemence. This is stellar…powerful, fast and with that familiar smile inducing Maiden sound!!!
Dream Of Mirrors—-Clocking in at almost 10 minutes, the intro to the track is non existent…the vocal and the bass begin at the first second of silence…the slow and ambient intro follows the blast of sound…just enough to put you off-balance and pay close attention. Bruce delivers a vocal that is relaxed and introspective at the onset, the lyrics full of mysticism and evil if that is how you choose to perceive it. This is magical….the classic Maiden sound rides underneath all of the slow playing. when the song begins to open up, it becomes one of the largest songs that Maiden has ever recorded. The Dickinson wail is in full effect even if he does sound a bit strained. This is wonderful…there are all kinds of musical swings and moods…the vocal loud and quiet all culminating in a magnificent Maiden classic that will live for years to come. This is pure magic…abscence makes the heart grow fonder!
The Fallen Angel—-I’m telling you, despite what anyone says….Nicko is one of the best drummers in modern age Metal ever!!! These drums on this release are incredible. The bass of Harris is predictable and as you would expect and demand. Bruce enters with his vocal..sounding a bit strained but familiar and welcome as always. This is stellar…huge in sound, energetic and containing every maiden trick in the book. Magnificent!!!
The Nomad—-I can’t quite tell you why, but this song remains one of my favorite tracks on this release…clocking in at over 9 minutes in length, there is something about this vocal that just makes me boil over with pleasure. This is remarkable!! This has a nice downshift delivery in the bass that automatically catches your attention. The music is all over the place but the guitars land directly in the center of your face, smacking you around like a bar fight. The bass is stellar and the drums are magnificent. this is Bruce circa 1983 when he propelled the pace of the band. This is incredible…I have never heard this live…it would be interesting to see how this transports to the stage….none the less, I have this and have turned to it over and over and over and over!!! Definitely one of my top 20 Maiden singles. This is freakin’ brilliant!!!
Out Of the Silent Planet—-Beginning with that classic Maiden build up, the song is slow to kick into high gear, but you have the nice contrast of the bass and the lead guitar to capture your attention for a time. Bruce enters with a nice vocal that is bolstered by a choir of voices thanks to the band. When the band does kick into gear, it is with that familiar Maiden sound that has led them for over 30 years…if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. This sounds much more like a Dickinson solo track that a Maiden track, but none the less it works masterfully. This is hyper, bass driven and accented by one of the best drummers around. This is excellent!!!
The Thin Line Between Love And Hate—-Beginning with a remarkable deep sound, this is the first track from this band I have heard in quite sometime that does not immediately give away who they are. By the second or third bar, the music is more familiar but delivered a bit harder and edgier. This is nice, but it lacks the familiar and expected sound. this is much more guitar aggeressive…the bass sitting in the backdrop a bit. The drums are huge and Dickinson delivers a vocal that sounds at times much more Nu-Metal than you would expect…but when he hits some of those notes, I find myself surprised that he can still do that. This is different, but still really nice!
***** out of 5 [!!!!!]
|