Iron Maiden - 'The Book of Souls'

[Nador]

There's a thread about this off the main board but I'd bet that lots of people who post here would eat this album up. It totally slays -- a double disc set crammed with extended length epics, concluding with what in the olden days would be a side-long suite. It's like they've taken the best bits of my favorite three Maiden albums -- 'Powerslave', 'Seventh Son of a Seventh Son,' and 'Brave New World' -- and mixed them all into one sublime metallic symphony. Plus it sounds like the influence of Steven Wilson, Opeth, and Motorpsycho is either intentional or spiritual. Seriously, this could be the 'prog' album of the year, or one of them.

Do yourself a favor, feast your ears, and up the horns!

[DTFan]

Absolutely terrific. And, indeed, progressive. How can it not be when three tracks combine for 42 minutes ? There's only one mediocre track for me (ironically, it's one that many seem to love, "When the River Runs Deep"), the rest is just an onslaught of creativity, inspiration and Bruce sounding better than ever. It's my favorite since the reunion, no questions asked. Probably my favorite of theirs ever but they're so different now from the "Number of the Beast" days that it's difficult to compare.

[Nador]

What an achievement! It's been 35 (!!!) years since their debut, and here they are with a double album that's possibly their best . . . not least because of how 'proggy' it is. This is a really big deal for progressive music, in my humble opinion -- one of the biggest bands in the world, a long running concern, releases something like this, which features an 18 minute long song that wouldn't sound out of place on any number of more traditional prog bands' albums. It's like the whole narrative of prog rock going out of style needs rethinking.

[TheLoony]

For the record, it's "Up The Irons". Probably a typo or you might be referring to the devil's horns, which, possibly, could be spotted at a Maiden show.

[Nador]

D'oh, what a typo! Didn't even notice. Er, UP THE IRONS! (And I was worried that in my over the top praise, I was coming across as a covert street team flunky -- no paid promo dude would ever make that mistake!)

[yamishogun]

I've never been an Iron Maiden fan, but I'm probably missing out.

I did like half of 1999 Brave New World. The Final Frontier in 2010 sounded great and I'd say progressive but forgot to buy it then. Maybe I'll start with the new one.

[Jeremy Bender]

Big fan of Iron Maiden's 80's stuff, after that not so much. I'll have to check out the new album, it sounds interesting.

I saw them live twice, in February 1987 at the Long Beach Arena for the Somewhere In Time tour and in 1988 at the Forum on the Seventh Son... tour. I loved the 1987 show, great setlist. I thought the 1988 show was a little weaker as the setlist wasn't as interesting, it didn't include my favorite Maiden song which is Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Unfortunately, I couldn't go the 2008 shows which are documented on the Flight 666 DVD. I might go see them again, the 2016 tour dates will be announced shortly.

[miamiscot]

I'm really loving The Book Of Souls. That final, 18 minute long track is fantastic. The only song I'm not into is the Robin Williams tribute "Tears If A Clown." Not good. But the rest is terrific.


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[Vic2012]

Is the album in stores yet?

[Vic2012]

Never mind. Release date is 09/04/2015. I'll try to get it tomorrow. If not definitely on Sat. or Sun. Can't wait.

[JKL2000]

Is the album in stores yet?

Ha, ha... good one!

[yamishogun]

And, indeed, progressive. How can it not be when three tracks combine for 42 minutes ? .

[JJ88]

Big fan of Iron Maiden's 80's stuff, after that not so much.

I only have the ones up to and including Seventh Son now myself. I felt that they'd gotten very formulaic, once I noticed all of 'A Matter Of Life And Death' except the last track was in the same key, I cooled on it completely, and started noticing this elsewhere in their recent work. This new one has a buzz around it, yes.

[Nador]

People who gave up on Maiden after 'Seventh Son' might be really pleasantly surprised by 'Brave New World', which came out in 2000. In my humble opinion it's every bit as good as 'Seventh Son' and 'Powerslave'. The playing is super-dynamic and the epics are intricate and dramatic. If you have ten minutes, kick back and give this baby a chance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5Sy_1Pyt74

[Joey JoJo]

Ha, ha... good one!

The Best Buy's around my area (Indianapolis) all stock it. I just picked up the regular edition for $13.99.

[NeonKnight]

Amazon shipped mine last night so I can't wait to hear it!

Everything from Brave New World forward has been super fine by me, in fact we have a thread on just that topic in OT as well. En Vivo their latest DVD features The Final Frontier tour, and I think that seeing and hearing those tunes live first before the album versions really paints those songs in the shades of dark only Maiden delivers.




If this new one takes us to another level- great, great things await on the inevitable Book of Souls tour/DVD.

[SteveSly]

People who gave up on Maiden after 'Seventh Son' might be really pleasantly surprised by 'Brave New World', which came out in 2000. In my humble opinion it's every bit as good as 'Seventh Son' and 'Powerslave'. The playing is super-dynamic and the epics are intricate and dramatic. If you have ten minutes, kick back and give this baby a chance

Agreed, I rank "Brave New World" right up there with their best stuff. All of the albums since Bruce's return have been good IMO.

[DTFan]

Everything from Brave New World forward has been super fine by me

I hate to overstate things but for me this CD is better than anything since the re-union. In fact, by an order of magnitude. The songs are just better. Heck, even without "Empire of the Clouds" it would be my favorite since, and including, BNW and Empire is the most majestic track on this.

[JKL2000]

The Best Buy's around my area (Indianapolis) all stock it. I just picked up the regular edition for $13.99.

Did they also have the deluxe 2cd or whatever?

[Vic2012]

The Best Buy I went to yesterday didn't have it. Gonna try a different one today. I'm not surprised I couldn't find it yesterday. This effing city I live in is so anti-rock, and the dumbass kids that work at Best Buy think that people only listen to hip hop, alternative, country, and latin pop in this town. Well, crossing fingers and hoping I find the album today.

[Orcopian]

Im glad this thread stated, I've always thought of maiden as a guilty pleasure that I shouldn't admit to liking. I Am a fan though and book of souls is pretty sensational based on my first listen whilst mowing the lawn earlier.ive got pretty much all of their back catalogue but mostly only listen the the first 5 or 6, based on the comments I will have to get brave new world out for a listen. Aside from the music I really admire their drive and business model, when album sales were falling they targeted territories where illegal downloads were highest and toured there to make money from the fans that way instead. I got the deluxe version for £13 but it's just a nicer bigger book no extra tracks, still that's ok for £3 more than the standard edition.

[N_Singh]

I remember buying one of their albums that was released a few years ago, and thinking that the singer has lost his voice somewhat . has he recovered ? It seems much less strong than his voice in the 1980s.

[N_Singh]

For the record, it's "Up The Irons". Probably a typo or you might be referring to the devil's horns, which, possibly, could be spotted at a Maiden show.

Clearly a colloquial Football reference. As in Up the Hammers. I think they support West Ham

[JKL2000]

#1 in Pop, Rock, etc. on Amazon.com. And the 2 disk is Temporarily Out of Stock! Dang...

[SteveSly]

I remember buying one of their albums that was released a few years ago, and thinking that the singer has lost his voice somewhat . has he recovered ? It seems much less strong than his voice in the 1980s.

It wasn't one of the albums with Blayze Baily singing on it was it? His voice was very different from Dickinson. Personally I think his voice has held up really well considering his age.