Metal itself as a genre is one that either you love or you hate, made up of countless subgenres that Metal heads often get into heated arugments about daily, however it seems that there is one unifying element of Metal. Used as a subject in the BBC’s Mastermind series three times along with being the first international band ever to play India,owning their very own Jumbo Jet and having one of the most iconic mascots in the entertainment history Iron Maiden are in every sense of the word visionary.
[tracklist]
Disc One :
1. If Eternity Should Fail
2. Speed Of Light
3. The Great Unknown
4. The Red And The Black
5. When The River Runs Deep
6. The Book Of Souls
Disc Two :
1. Death Or Glory
2. Shadows Of The Valley
3. Tears Of A Clown
4. The Man of Sorrows
5. Empire Of The Clouds
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]92:00[/length]
[record_label]Parlaphone Records[/record_label]
[release_date]September 4th 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
Having pushed back the announcement of the new album due to Dickinson’s cancer scare the band have at long last revealed their trump card. With their impenetrable back catalogue the band could have easily coasted through their new release, yet instead still forty years on the band decide to make history with their first ever double album. The complete nintey two minute listen is one that Iron Maiden fans will relish the world over. Opening with dry ice summoning keyboards of “If Eternity Should Fail” contrasted with a lone Bruce beginning his sermon before the quintessential gallopping riff hurtles onto the scene and it’s back to classic Iron Maiden. Acting very much as an introduction to the album’s grand theme which though not specifically a concept album contains many references to the soul and humanity itself. Title track “The Book of Souls” opens with a forelorn acoustic guitar, seemingly running out of steam mid way through until a brand new burst of energy erupts from the band giving the song the identikit second wave that the band are notorious for.
Seperated into two discs the album’s both coexist fantastically. Often one disc might lean slightly on the other, instead all eleven tracks on the album are essential. Varying in length from single “Speed Of Light” which packs a Two Minutes To Midnight sized punch which has no doubt embedded itself already as a Maiden classic, to the gargantuan finale “Empire Of The Clouds“. The first song to be written solely by Dickinson since the years of Powerslave sees piano in the Maiden repertoire and though the track might clock in at eighteen minutes long never feels forced or irksome a definite highlight and a fitting grand finale.
Though many of the tracks might detail the classic Iron Maiden subject matterWorld War One fighter pilots et al, the heartfelt “Tears Of A Clown” details the depression that the late Robin Williams went through when we lost the childhood treasure last year. Where The Book of Souls excels however is the sense of accessiblity, catering to all kinds of Iron Maiden fan, the second disc’s opener “Death Or Glory” recalls the classic singles that the band so effortlessly put together though for those seeking that quintessential epic something with more of a weight to it the Harris scribed “The Red And The Black” will no doubt saite those hungry for the more progressive sections of the band’s history. Which after the throaty bass line introduction follows the classic Harris formula.
Tying into it’s subject matter The Book of Souls retains a sense of the theatrical, not a sense of the overimposing but modesty. Whatever style of song the band might be performing each song sits perfectly next to the other. Not to mention the fantastic musicianship exhibited by all of our band of brothers, with some of the best harmonies coming from Smith and Gers a particular highlight of “The Great Unknown” along with the evolution of McBrains playing. Hi hat and snare combinations of McBrain get a rejig breathing a new lease of life into an often tired delivery. Kevin Shirley the elusive seventh member of Iron Maiden is as present as ever, handling production duties masterfully each member sits perfectly in the mix.
Forty years on and Iron Maiden are still one of the banner men of not only Heavy Metal but the entire spirit of Rock music itself. With a sound that has over time led them to transcend any trend that might come their way the band appeal to every kind of audience. Regardless of age, taste or opinion there will always be a point in any Metal head’s life where Iron Maiden were present. The Book of Souls is a testament to the band’s unconquerable work ethic, pioneering creativity and musical genius. If it is destined to be the final work of the band then the cinematic offering is the perfect conclusion to one of the most forward thinking bands in Metal’s history.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]Forging ahead forty years on the East End lads are still as pioneering as they were in 1975. An absolutely stupendous and ambitious addition to their collection that all Metal heads should own.[/why]
