Bruce Dickinson - The Chemical Wedding

Bruce is Da Man!

This in my humble opinion of loving metal for over 34 yrs is simply a "MASTERPIECE". Most of the reviews have already said what I would say.
The Production, The songwriting, The musicianship, etc. In the 90's I had given up on Maiden when Bruce left and they had Blaze..I couldnt get into that, but when Bruce started his solo career it was like the second coming of Iron Maiden.

Some of my favorite tracks are:

The Tower
Gates Of Urizen
Machine Men August 13, 2008

Top-notch release

Bruce Dickinson's solo career was at a mighty high peak with "The Chemical Wedding." While Iron Maiden struggled in a big-time way without Bruce, the former IM singer, who later re-joined the band in 2000, soared with 1997's "Accident Of Birth" and then 1998's mega follow-up "The Chemical Wedding."
Bruce's teaming with fellow ex-Maiden standout, Adrian Smith, certainly helped both releases. However, it seemed Bruce shined like never before on this 1998 release as did Smith, both in the two songs he helped co-write and with his overall guitar playing.
What helped make "The Chemical Wedding" so strong was the fact virtually the entire production team from the previous album remained intact. The band was the same along with the same producer and many of the same key personnel behind the scenes. The record company was also the same and knew how to push the album to Bruce's fans, who seemed to be excited about his career once again. Remember prior to "Accident..." Bruce had wondered if "anyone cared about anything he ever recorded again."
While Iron Maiden released "Virtual XI" the same year, it simply did not measure up to "The Chemical Wedding." It wasn't for lack of effort on Steve Harris and company's part. Fans just didn't accept them without Bruce. That's why it was strange that Bruce - and Adrian - decided to rejoin the Maiden ranks following the 1999 Chemical Wedding World Tour. They both had proven they didn't need Maiden. Yet, perhaps for the legacy of the band they went back and the group has since released three more albums although none of the caliber of "The Chemical Wedding."
This is a five-star release. Top notch from track 1 to track 10. A must have for metal fans. April 18, 2008

Absolutely love it!

I was in a used CD store last night when I found a copy of this in the metal section, and being a fan of Iron Maiden (I'm seeing them on June 6th, can't wait!), and Bruce's voice (he's my hero too), I just had to pick this up, and it was definitely money well spent. If you're looking for another Iron Maiden type CD, then you'd be better off buying something else, as this is darker and 10x heavier than anything they've ever released. I really like "Gates of Urizen", "Chemical Wedding", "The Alchemist", "Trumpets of Jericho". If not, there's not one bad song on here! Adrian Smith joins Bruce's side in playing guitar, and he does a damn fine job. The lyrics are also darker and Bruce's singing style is very agressive. Overall, if you're a Maiden fan, pick this up! March 30, 2008

2nd '5-Star' album in a row from Bruce Dickinson & Co.

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

THE DISC: (1998) 10 tracks clocking in at just over 57 minutes. The digitally remastered version (2005) contains 3 unreleased bonus tracks. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing 2 band pictures, 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 "Killing Floor" and "Machine Men" by Dickinson and Smith). Cover art - The Ghost Of A Flea" by William Blake (1819). Label - CMC International Records.

COMMENTS: "The Chemical Wedding" picks up where the prior year's "Accident Of Birth" left off. Dare I say Adrian Smith and Roy Z rival the dueling axes of Bruce's other famed band... Iron Maiden. Highlights include the opener "King In Crimson" - about the arrival of the devil himself... starts out slow and then the rest of the band joins in and picks up the pace; the title track is a heavy and slow methodical chugger dealing with death; the softer "Jerusalem"; my 2nd favorite song on the disc featuring some very heavy rhythm guitars "Trumpets Of Jericho"; and the Maiden influenced 8+ minute "Book Of Thel"... the hardest, catchiest, grooving melody on the disc (much like "Freak" did on "Accident" - it grabs you and simply won't let go). Not to mention the downslide of Bruce's old band Iron Maiden with substitute singer Blaze during this time - Maiden would rise to fame again in 2000 when Dickinson and Smith would re-join (see Maiden's comeback album of the year in "Brave New World"). I can listen to "Chemical Wedding" the whole album through and not hit the skip button... absolutely no filler. I put "Chemical Wedding" right up there on the same lofty perch as "Accident Of Birth" as a close 2nd best album from Dickinson (5-stars). July 11, 2006

You are Not Going to Believe this But...

I bought Chemical Wedding a couple of years back and I don't remember why, but I listened to it once and threw it in my closet where it sat until tonight. I was surfing this site and I saw all the beyond great reviews on this album, so I searched high and low and after about 10 minutes or so I found this disc in my junk box. After spinning the disc again, I realize now what a HUGE mistake I had made on that fateful day years ago. This album totally rocks! How often can you play an entire CD without wanting to skip a song or two? There is no filler here at all. My favorite tracks are The Book of Thel (Best Track), Jerusalem, Chemical Wedding, and Trumpets of Jericho. The two weakest, but still good tracks are Killing Floor and Gates of Urizon. Chemical Wedding blows away the last two Iron Maiden albums even with Bruce Dickinson back due to the smart lyrics and excellent musicianship. I am going out to buy the newer solo album by Bruce tomorrow even though it will most likely not top this one. I have heard good things about it, so if it is half as good as Chemical Wedding, I will be in for another treat that will never find its way to my closet. September 2, 2005

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