9/3/03
CD
Dance of Death - Iron Maiden
My first impression of the album as it began to play was that Iron Maiden had missed the mark. The first two songs seemed lacklustre and well below the regular Maiden standard (this impression is far from true though, repeat listening shows them to be sturdy if a touch subdued in comparison to the rest of the album). Then the third song hit and it kicked serious butt. I thought I was floored then along came the fourth song and it blew me away. With their previous album "Brave New World" Iron Maiden hit a new height of technical excellence with their music. This new album continues with that dizzying level.
However the band is not resting on its new laurels. Iron Maiden has forged ahead blazing a new trail across the Metal landscape. Pulling influence from their most recent albums, the stylings of former lead vocalist Blaze Bayley, and Bruce Dickinson's successful solo career, Dance of Death is an eclectic mix of reminisces, shades and emotives of the band's past, and forays into the future of metal. From the blistering locomotive rush of "Montsegur" to the almost orchestral title song, to the techno touches in parts of "Paschendale" Iron Maiden shows the most of its Prog(essive)-Metal side that we've ever seen eclipsing the cinematic sound of "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" and the new ground broken by "Virtual XI".
Beside the heightened complexity and advanced technical merit of the album Dance of Death is a showcase of the best vocal work to ever come out of the "Air Raid Siren" Bruce Dickinson. Much as the musical style of the album is all over the place even within single songs so is Bruce's vocal stylings as it matches moods, works in contrast to the scoring, and just generally pushes the envelope. This is Maiden at its best, most ground breaking, and stylish. Yet at the same time the new album does not shame the former albums. Iron Maiden has often been highly prog in the past, and their musical has never been simplistic. They've simply sharpened up, and no doubt having three guitarists and one bassist doesn't hurt.
(
Thank you for reading my review.
Bob Male)
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