Iron Maiden - Dance of Death

Great Album

This album could be bought for the title track alone, but the others are good too. Paschendale is another great one. They're stylistically similar to the old Maiden songs based on classical literary works, but entirely original.

The only thing bad about this album is the cover art. It is truly terrible. If you can't tell from Amazon's pictures, its mostly a computer generated image which appears to have been rendered the day after such a feat was possible. Luckily, that doesn't affect the album at all. October 3, 2007

Maiden go Vintage...

I can see people hating this album, but I really like it and it's really modern sounding. Finally a good album after all those years! I really wanted to like No Prayer For The Dying and Fear Of The Dark, but they were just depressing and slowed down and cluttered with needless songs like "Public Enema Number One" and AC-DC wannabe songs like "Hooks In You" and "Judas Be My Guide". The X Factor and Virtual XI were caca at best, and Brave New World was just... OK. Then this comes along, and I love it. It's in my top 5!

WILDEST DREAMS: 5/5: A good opener. Catchy and singalong-able.

RAINMAKER: 2/5: Why do people like this track so much???

NO MORE LIES: 5/5: This is a very cool track, and sounds different tha anything else they made.

MONTSEGUR: 5/5: Sounds like classic Maiden! I love when he yells "AT THE GATES!!!!! AND THE WALLS!!!!! OF MONTSEGUR!!!!! BLOOD ON THE STONES OF THE CITADEL!!!!!"

DANCE OF DEATH: 4/5: What a great track.

GATES OF TOMORROW: 3/5: Meh, OK. The intro really makes me cringe though.

NEW FRONTIER: 10/5: The best song on the album! Catchy, great rhythm, plus Nicko wrote it!

PASCHENDALE: 4/5: A good song.

FACE IN THE SAND: 1/5: WTF is this crap????? I like the intro, which sounds like the intro to Blood Brothers, but the rest is just awful.

AGE OF INNOCENCE: 5/5: A great song.

JOURNEY MAN: 5/5: Awesome! One of the softer tracks, plus it has one of the best choruses.

So this is a really good album, and buy it if you're a die hard Maiden fan, I say! September 20, 2007

Classic Maiden

This is vintage Maiden at their ferocious best - could this be their best album since Seventh Son??? Effortless and flowing melodies, aggressive staccato power riffs, tight harmonic guitar interplay, fiery yet intelligent solos, key changes, rapid-fire passages, epic story-telling and a progressive attitude make this album a joy to listen to. These guys are no hacks, once again they prove to be talented musicians and songwriters who ply their trade with skill and taste. I absolutely love the minor-major key switches on Montsegur and Gates Of Tomorrow. There are several anthems to add to the Maiden canon but I won't list them all here, and there isn't any filler - all songs are excellent. The keyboards are a nice touch and are tastefully used in some places to create a rich symphonic sound. Finally, the cover artwork is quite impressive and is certainly the best one to date - the inner cover and the CD label image fit the concept nicely. Maiden fans or classic/progressive metal fans - don't hesitate to get this great album. Metallica-style metal fans might not enjoy it as much... July 9, 2007

Good follow-up

On 2000's comeback album, "Brave New World," Bruce Dickinson reunited with Iron Maiden for their first studio album together since 1992. Three years later, Maiden released their 13th record, which was also their ninth with Dickinson, and their first album to feature the songwriting help of drummer Nicko McBrain. "Dance Of Death" continues in the same vein as "Brave New World," because its songs are very long, progressive, and have an "epic" feel. These songs are, on average, over six minutes long, and several of them, including the title track, clock in at well over seven minutes. But, even though the songs never seem to drag on for too long, the album as a whole is overly long and drawn out. The only other thing holding this album back from being a masterpiece is that it has no classic songs.

With that out of the way, there is still a lot to enjoy on "Dance of Death." The three guitarists--Dave Murray, Janick Gers, and Adrian Smith-are all in fine form, as especially showcased when they solo (which they do on almost every song), and Bruce's voice is, of course, also in great shape. Whether crooning, digging deep, singing soulfully, or even going falsetto (which he does in "Montsigur"), Bruce's vocals are impeccable.

The first two songs, "Wildest Dreams" and "Rainmaker," are highlighted by rather long, mazey, winding guitar solos (plus "Wildest Dreams" also has a catchy sing along). "No More Lies" starts out slowly, like a ballad, but it eventually gains speed (with the help of punching riffs and four tasty, back-to-back solos). Other highlights are the wailing, almost careening guitars on "Gates of Tomorrow," and the ambient closer, "Journeyman," which backs clean, acoustic strumming with creatively-placed violins.

It is a no-brainer that "Dance of Death" is yet another great album from these British metal legends, even if it isn't perfect. Recommended to all fans. July 5, 2007

Garish CD cover

Would someone please explain to me the story, intent or purpose behind this album art? What an embarrasment. I mean, it's just ridiculous! We have a painfully out-of-place Eddie/Grim Reaper figure standing in the center of what appears to be some sort of pagan Mardis Gras troupe gone haywire. It looks like something you would see if you combined Crique De Soleil, a Druid ritual and an acid trip during a bad night in New Orleans. Kinda makes me lose my appetite when I look at it....

Derek Riggs, we miss you.

As for the songs, I personally like Rainmaker and Age Of Innocence, but nothing much beyond that. June 25, 2007

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