Friday, 13 August 2010

Is this the final push for Iron Maiden

I'm not a lover of heavy metal music but I do like Iron Maiden and for the last few days I've been listening to a preview disc of their new album, The Final Frontier which will be available in the shops from the 16th August.

"Fans will either think this is our last album or that we're Trekkies!" Steve Harris

It's a fine album  -  in my opinion their best since, Powerslave. The opening track sounds like nothing Maiden have done before, starting off with an effective drum solo that goes on and on and creates a feeling of unease before the guitars kick in and things get seriously heavy.

The track listing:

1. Satellite 15.....The Final Frontier 8:40
2. El Dorado 6:49
3. Mother Of Mercy 5:20
4. Coming Home 5:52
5. The Alchemist 4:29
6. Isle Of Avalon 9:06
7. Starblind 7:48
8. The Talisman 9:03
9. The Man Who Would Be King 8:28
10. When The Wild Wind Blows 10:59

 It's difficult to pick out a stand out track but the album closer, When the Wind Blows , based on grim post-nuclear fallout  novel When The Wind Blows from author Raymond Biggs' is something special indeed. It takes a few listens to get into the grove but it really does get under the skin. But of course Maiden have often used literary sources to good effect in the past, Stranger in a Strange Land is one example on the album Somewhere in time  and the awesome Rime of the Ancient Mariner from Powerslave to mention another.

The album doesn't disappoint - check out the official video below



The Final Frontier - Director's Cut

Iron Maiden | MySpace Music Videos

2 comments:

Machiventa said...

Definitely not their last album... Steve confirmed more tours and albums on KATT radio station interview last month.

Ray said...

'Tis indeed a brill album. Pre-ordering has a bonus as my copy arrived pre-release.
'When The Wind Blows' is a lot deeper as there are two parts. On the one hand media scaremongering while a couple stock up against an impending Armageddon - but there is a punch line at the end.