Iron Maiden has built one of the most reputable legacies of modern music. There is no doubting that. From such a legendary band, the fans can only expect the best. Having said such a thing, I'm issuing the following disclaimer: This review will be extra tough considering Maiden's history and importance to heavy metal music.
First thing's first; the artwork is completely disgusting. I'm not even sure if the artist is even cited in the album. It screams, "My maker must have been trying to emulate In Flames' Reroute to Remain artwork, yet somehow managed a 6th grader's interpretation of the film Eyes Wide Shut." I'm not one to talk blatant shit unless I can do better, and to be honest, I could do better. In fact, Iron Maiden fans joked about making their own covers for Dance of Death and a good 95% were better than the final art. Maiden should have let the fans design it. I find it hard to even take the album seriously with such an awful cover. Please, guys, get Derek Riggs to do your covers again! I beg you!
Alright, now let us venture to the music. Aside from adding a string section on a few songs, there is really nothing new. I hate to say it, but half the album sounds like Maiden were intentionally trying to be as generic as possible, kind of like Bad Religion circa 1998-2000. I also hate to say that Bruce Dickinson's vocal melodies have gotten horribly predictable and there are a few places where it sounds like Dickinson was missing notes or wasn't reaching the same range he was ten years ago. For example, while listening to the chorus of "Rainmaker," I noticed a few places that Bruce had to stretch to hit notes that aren't even that high and should be easy for him.
After blocking out Dickinson's sour vocals, I noticed that "Rainmaker" is actually the best song on the album. The riff is classic Maiden made a little more poppy and perhaps a little Dio-influenced. The title track is another album that can easily become a newer IM classic. Although the song starts off very slow, it finishes with a bang. At about the three-minute mark, a guitar comes in with a folksy melody, and soon, the strings come in and there is pure goodness from there on out. I really wish the first three minutes were cut out though. A few other songs could use some trimming likewise. Just like on Brave New World, there are times when songs drag on into eternity, it would seem.
I won't lie; there are quite a bit of high points to this album. However, I'd rather expound on the lower points because I'm sure no one wants me to rave on about an album that sounds like everything else Maiden has done when they have so much better. Because they didn't change up the sound very much, I don't see how they would expect to gain many new fans, especially with a poor choice for a single. Perhaps "Age of Innocence," another good track, should have been the single for its near-perfect hook in the chorus and its lyrics that would likely appeal to the mainstream's "tortured, pissed off, abused" nu-metal fans.
