It`s nearly 1 month since Iron Maiden released its 15th studio album.

Expectations were high after their last studio effort A Matter Of Life And Death in 2006. Some great tours have followed and the band seems to get better and better. Could it all be transferred to the studio? There are different opinions on the recording methods Maiden use these days. The last 3 albums have been recorded pretty much live, at least the basic tracks.  Solos, guitar parts, some vocals parts have been added later. In result the albums have a very live feel to them. Some say it capture the band in their real enviroment, others say the sound suffers. Some say the producer Kevin Shirley fail to capture their live concert sound. I don`t know – I miss their more polished sound from the golden era but also like the new “this is who we are, take it or leave it” sound.
Soundwise I think The Final Frontier is the best since Seventh Son.

The Final Frontier is a massive and varied album. It`s their longest studio effort to date with several potensial epics. I range the classic Maiden albums as their best, but I also love the more progessive and “grown-up” style on the last albums. Specially on this one. The music itself seems to have developed a lot. Adrian Smith has had a lot of ideas and influence on this album. Some of the instrumental parts are very impressive and new to the traditional Maiden style. Listen to the middle section of Isle Of Avalon. I see new styles throughout the entire album, and this for a bands career lasting over 30 years.

To put it straight,  at this point, I think it`s the best of the post reunion albums. It`s also the best Maiden album since 1988. Only time will tell if Brave New World beats it. It has a very strong album feel to it, and should be reviewed as one piece. If I had to say one weak link, it had to be El Dorado.  Also the first part of Where The Wild Winds Blow is neither of my taste. The rest of the album is simply great.

The intro, Satelite 15..The Final Frontier is something new and sounds great even it`s straight from a Adrian demo. The first intrumental part sounds really heavy and stand out as something really different. The second part is straight forward signature Maiden. Great solo from Adrian. The title track El Dorado is a good rocker but nothing special really. Nice solos from Adrian  and Dave though.

Mother Of Mercy sets up nice with great vocals and then bursts into a heavy build up. It`s a heavy track with some classic riffs during the chorus.

Coming home is a slower piece, again showcasting some of Bruce`s best vocals. Real strong track with a great instrumental section. It could be from one of Bruce`s solo efforts. 

The Alchemist is a fast track and definitly a grower.

Then the albums string of epics starts.

 
Isle Of Avalon was the track I had the highest expectations after a preview posted on internet. And it is great. It has a intro with vibes from Seventh Son. The middle part makes me think of Dream Theater and Rush. Some very interesting and complex pieces going on. 

Next up is Starblind, my fave on this album. This is magic. It`s real epic and had that vintage flavour to it. Bruce shines and give it all. Adrian`s doing some reinvented stuff in his solo parts. He has really evolved as a guitarist over the last years.

The Talisman is Janick`s effort on the album. An athmospharic intro developes into a sea battle with great melodies and a soaring chorus by Bruce. Again a surprising instrumental midsection. Some great skills here. The best track by Janick to date? Maybe.

The Man Who Would Be King. A Dave intro in minor key, the track continues in a very atmospheric way.  A real grower which must be listened to a lot before any opinions can be made. The feel to this track is hard to describe.

The last track on the album When The Wild Wind Blows, is a strange piece. At first I didn`t like it. After many listenings I really liked some parts. The drumming and groove midway into the track is great. I`m not that into the first part. Anyway that`s the part many others like..

This is a really strong album, the overall feel, the atmosphere, the skills involved, specially from Adrian, Bruce and Nicko. What strikes me the most is the will to develope and try new things and still be able to deliver new and long time fans like me, a true first class musical experience.

9/10

Once again a live recorded album with little or no mastered. In my opinium it suffers slightly as a result of this. Sometimes it would have been nice with a more polished album like the golden era ones

8/10

The biggest issue for me is the sound. The band decided to release it without being mastered. The result is a very raw, unfinished sound quality. The album cover was heavily debated by the fans and it is far from my fave album artwork.  

The tour and many of the tracks worked out great live, Paschendale being the highlights of the concerts 2003.

7/10

The build up to this album was just like when I was a new fan. This is the album that sets metal and Iron Maiden back on the map. Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith are finally back and making this album almost as good as any previous IM album!! The rest of the members, Steve Harris, Nicko McBrain, Jannick Gers and Dave Murray are also back in fine style. Finest moment are Ghost of the Navigator, Brave New World, Dream of Mirrors, The Nomad and The Thin Line Between Love And Hate. Great

9/10

The lowest point in Maiden history. Looking back and knowing the strenght and quality of the band in 2010, it`s a mystery how Steve harris could let this release go through. It must have been difficult times. One hightlight is The Clansman which is now a classic and live classic. Otherwise, the albumis a low point both musically and songwise. Disappointing, more to say

4/10

The first album as a fan without the mighty Dickinson. An unthinkalble thought really. But it was the reality. Unreal to say the least. For me, it is the first step as a step to nowhere. Blaze is a weak singer for any music, and just not capable for Maiden standards. It`s the band itself to blame for hiring him. The album features some strengh when it comes to songwriting as the opening track Sign Of the Cross, later performed by Bruce on the Brave New World Tour. Other than that it pretty much fails to meet the former standards of the band.  But there were worse yet to come..

5/10

Fear Of The Dark was a quite well received album when it was released. It features the live classic Fear Of The dark. For me it`s an average album with some hightlights. I remember hearing Be Quick Or Be Dead on Radio Luxenburg, i was a bit sad that night of 1992. Now I think that track rocks. The Fugitive is also great. It had the signs of what to come, the biggest letdown in my life as fan, the departure of lead singer Dickinson.

7/10

No Prayer For The Dying. The first new album as a fan, I became a fan just after the release of Seventh Son. I still remember reading Kerrand and Metal Hammer reviews. It was great times, but I guess I was a bit disppointed of the album. It was a step in the wrong direction. Adrian Smith left the band..Bruce did a did a different way of singing, more raspy and with lower register. The sound and music were simplified, so was the production. It features some great tracks, Tailgunner, Holy Smoke, Public Enemy No 1 and Run Silent Run deep.

7/10

This is a classic. “Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son”. The title is epic as hell. This was my first meeting with the band and the music. First Can I Play With Madness, then the title track Sevent Son..I was hooked straight away. It was a instant thing. This was MY music.

Everything is great about this album. Nothing more to add really. Powerslave and SSOASS holds the title for best Iron Maiden.

10/10

Somewhere In Time is one of my fave albums. Every track is great. The artwork is phenomenal. Such mythical and detailed. Who can not be hooked by this universe?

The title track is nothing less than a masterpiece.

10/10