Bruce Dickinson - Accident of Birth

All New Material Also Features Ex-Iron Maiden Member Adrian Smith. Album Details

Back with a vengeance

I was unsure of this album, as I wasn't completely bowled over by his "Balls to Picasso" release. But I gave it a go, and it proved to me that Bruce Dickinson could survive after his departure from Iron Maiden -- IMO, it was the first of a successful string of albums (Chemical Wedding and Tyranny of Souls followed). Of course, it helped to have fellow Maiden alum Adrian Smith on guitars. A bit different feel than Maiden (for singer and guitarslinger alike), certainly grittier, but the writing is angry and a bit esoteric (allusions to astrology, Crowley, etc) which makes for general metal fun. Being different from Maiden, in this case, is not bad. Songs are solid lysically and musically. Some out-and-out rockers here, interspersed with some really thoughtful and moving moments. The last track is simply haunting. November 9, 2007

"Cover your Eyes with the Velvet Hands of Darkness"

I took the title from the chorus of "Welcome to the Pit" to display Bruce's powerful writing and dark vision. Anyone familiar with his body of work knows his vocal skills and songwriting prowess, but he and his band kick it into another gear here. I concur with the other reviewers who pronounce AOB better than IM's efforts of the 90s; the Bruce/Adrian wrting/performing duo shows the potential that Maiden and all of Heavy Metal can be. If you love Maiden, you'll love this, yet it isn't a clone. Its a progression and improvement from Bruce's previous solo records.

"Freak" is a clarion call signalling the power and melody on this disk. "Starchildren" is menacing with fantastic vocal power. Some of this disk is pretty Maidenesque, like the anthemic "Road to Hell" or "The Ghost of Cain." Others, like "Omega" and "Arc of Space" with acoustic solos and strings possess range and color departing from anything Maiden ever did. Bruce's personality delivers the title track; he's still the Air Raid Siren but even more on this phenomenal effort. My only complaint is that the production throughout should have been heavier, harder punching. I would deduct only 1/2 star.

On Iron Maiden's records, I love the contrast of Steve Harris' songs with Bruce and Adrian's. They compliment each others, but you can't help but conclude after this ear blistering experience that Bruce, Adrian, Roy, and co. have written the blueprint for what Maiden could achieve. Incidently, I think their efforts since Brave New World, especially A Matter of Life and Death, bear this out. AOB sets the standard. Its power, melody, and vocals outshine all of the 90s nu-metal. I recommend this to anyone remotely interested in Hard Rock/Heavy Metal.

This review only includes the original 1997 disk. June 13, 2007

Bruce rocks without Maiden

This is a terrific metal album as a whole, proving that Bruce Dickinson not just a fantastic voice, but is a great songwritter also. adrain smith also made an apperance in this album, and chemical wedding as well. he is surey a huge reason this album works so well, as he is another fantastic guitarist and songwriter. although i would disagree with a certain someones claim that he and adrian are the backbone of maiden...(steve harris wrote pretty much all the fan favorite songs himself---wrathchild, the trooper, hallowed be thy name, aces high, numer of the beast, run to the hills, etc).

im glad that bruce desided to go with his own unique sound to his music instead of trying to emulate iron maiden. there is a touch of maidenesk sounds in the album but as a whole it is truly a masterwork that bruce can call his own.

this is probably his best album he put out solo, i wasnt that impresses with some of his earlier stuff like skunkworks, balls to picasso (although i loved tears of the dragon) and tattoed millionaire. chemical wedding is the follow up album to this one and that is a strong album also. April 8, 2007

Dickinson's best album outside of Iron Maiden

THE BAND: Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Adrian Smith (guitars), Roy Z (guitars, mellatron, piano), Eddie Casillas (bass), David Ingraham (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1997) 13 tracks clocking in at approximately 58 minutes. The digitally remastered version (2005) contains 9 bonus tracks - 1 new track, and 8 demo or radio edits. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing pictures of Bruce (2 with Adrian), the players, song titles/credits & lyrics, and thank you's. Recorded at Silver Cloud and Sound City Recording studios in Los Angeles, CA. All songs written by Dickinson and Roy Z (except "Welcome To The Pit" & "Road To Hell" by Dickinson and Smith). Illustration from long time Iron Maiden collaborator, Derek Riggs. Label - CMC International Records.

COMMENTS: To date, Bruce has half a dozen or so solo albums... and "Accident Of Birth" is still my favorite. Roy Z is the man behind the production - brilliant sound, as well as his guitar and piano playing. Adrian Smith has confirmed that he belongs with Dickinson wherever he goes. Confirmation that Smith is/was one of the driving forces with Dickinson in one of Britain's finest metal acts ever - Iron Maiden. "Accident" starts of with one of my all-time favorite Bruce tunes (with Samson, Iron Maiden or solo)... "Freak" - it's hard driving, fast paced and in your face - truly a great beat with storied lyrics. Other stunning tracks include the acoustic "Taking The Queen" (another great story being told), the heavy 6+ minute "Darkside Of Aquarius", "Man Of Sorrows" with its piano and orchestra arrangements, as well as the title track - one of the heavier tracks on the disc. The album closes with two stellar tunes featuring some amazing acoustic, spanish and electric guitar work - "Omega" and "Arc Of Space". This is one of those albums that contains no filler... I can let this play all the way through and enjoy every track. A classic (5-stars).
July 11, 2006

What Iron Maiden should have evolved into.

After 7th Son Iron Maiden had lost me, the song writing had dropped off significantly enough where I thought the end was near for the once legenday Godfather of Heavy Metal. After Bruce left Maiden, indeed it seemed like the end had come.

Hearing Maiden without Bruce, and Bruce without Maiden just didn't appeal to me so I decided to move on...

until I caught wind that former guitarist Adrian Smith had joined Dickenson on this recording, so I thought I give it chance...

After hearing this album I could almost have been fooled into believing that this was a new and improved Iron Maiden, and it proved many things to me, first the backbone of Iron Maiden's sound may indeed have been Adrian Smith and Bruce Dickenson, second the song writing is some of the best i've heard of coming from the mouth of Dickenson along with the fimiliar sound of Maiden, which led me to wonder if Murray and Harris had actually been the ones responsible for some of the deterioration in song writing, while Smith and Dickenson could have been a strength if given more control...this album has that much life, drive and energy to it.

Obviously this album lacks the classic dualing guitar sound Maiden is infamous for, and occasionally I notice the lack of Steve Harris,and Nico's tribal drum beats, but I'll say that if this album's front cover had been disguised as actually being Iron Maiden many people could have been fooled,and a vast majority of Maiden fans would hail this album as a fresh new sound for the group, and overall success in reinventing itself.

But it's all insignificant now since Bruce and Smith have both returned to Maiden, although Maiden's latest two efforts with Bruce and Smith have a vintage quality and are decent overall, it's clear that they are recycling, except for a track or two on this album it's a shame that this isn't more of the sound Iron Maiden had evolved into...

March 23, 2006

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