Iron Maiden - Brave New World


Year of Release: 2000
Label: EMI Records
Catalog Number: 62208
Format: CD
Total Time: 66:57:00

The long wait is over for thousands (millions?) of Iron Maiden fans. Brave New World was released today. This CD may be a "dream come true" for many of you out there. Rumours of a powerful new line-up have simmered around for years. Bruce Dickinson has always been THE Maiden singer in my books. His past CDs have been more Maiden than Maiden themselves. Dickinson joined forces with former Maiden axe-slinger Adrian Smith on the Accident Of Birth CD. A killer metal CD that showed the metal community what was in store for them. Iron Maiden became a "three-legged" horse after the departure of Dickinson, the replacement singer didn't fit in at all - thank God he has gone. The new and improved line-up consists of no less than 6 members! The classic Maiden members, Dickinson, Smith, Murray, Harris and McBrain, who recorded masterpieces such as Piece Of Mind, The Number Of The Beast, Live After Death - the list is long. Janick Gers, who replaced Adrian Smith back in 1990, on the No Prayer For The Dying CD, is also still going strong, and has co-written 4 of the 10 new songs. Iron Maiden has 3 guitar players! It will be interesting to hear this combination live.

OK, let's dig in and have a look at Brave New World.

What can I say? This is true Iron Maiden, like it's never been before. It's like traveling back in time and re-living Maiden's golden age in the 80s. Everything is present; Dickinson's incredible voice, twin (triple?) guitar melody lines, unforgettable choruses, semi-progressive instrumental themes in true Iron Maiden fashion and a killer production. The CD is produced by Kevin Shirley, his guidance has helped. The clarity of today's Maiden sound is utterly different to the other CD's. The mix has brought forth more punch in the drums and heavier guitars, this fits Maiden's style well. Steve Harris is the co-producer - he is Mr. Iron Maiden, so nothing has been left to chance. Picking out my favourite tracks is a difficult task. "The Wicker Man," their first single, is an up-tempo catchy tune, if the chorus lyrics: "Your time will come...," doesn't get you singing along, nothing will. The title track, "Brave New World," starts of with a lovely clean guitar riffs accompanied by great vocals and ends up with a classic Maiden ending. "The Mercenary" is a real bundle of staccato riffing - it's headbanging time guys! "Nomad" sweeps us of to the desert with fluid Arabic influenced guitar lines, really cool!. The only track that doesn't hold water is track 10, "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" - boring! The British masters of metal have made magic again. I never thought that a new Maiden CD would move me like this. There have been far too many comebacks lately, most of which haven't lived up to their expectation. I'm pleased to say that Maiden have proved that they can still write timeless songs. OK, it's not the best Iron Maiden CD ever, but it's close, very close.

If you're new to Iron Maiden: BUY IT! If you're an "old" Iron Maiden fan: YOU'VE ALREADY BOUGHT IT!

Mr. Derek Riggs has once again painted the cover-art - Eddie rules in the brave new world.

UP THE IRONS!

[This review originally appeared November 2002 at the ProgPower Online review site -ed.]
Tracklisting:
The Wicker Man (4:35) / Ghost Of The Navigator (6:50) / Brave New World (6:18) / Blood Brothers (7:14) / The Mercenary (4:42) / Dream Of Mirrors (9:21) / The Fallen Angel (4:00) / The Nomad (9:06) / Out Of The Silent Planet (6:25) / The Thin Line Between Love & Hate (8:26)

Musicians:
Bruce Dickinson - vocals
Janick Gers - guitars
Steve Harris - bass, keyboards
Nicko McBrain - drums
Dave Murrary - guitars
Adrian Smith - guitars

Discography:
Soundhouse Tapes (1979)
Iron Maiden (1980)
Killers (1981)
Number Of The Beast (1982)
Brain Damage Tour Of Europe (1983)
Piece Of Mind (1983)
Powerslave (1984/2002)
Live After Death (The World Slavery Tour) (1985/2002)
Somewhere In Time (1986/2002)
Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son (1988/2002)
No Prayer For The Dying (1990/2002)
Wasted Years...Stranger In A Strange Land (1990)
Fear Of The Dark (1992/2002)
10 CD Box set (1992)
A Real Live One (1993/2002)
A Real Dead One (1993/2002)
Live At Donnington '92 (1994)
The First Ten Years (box set) (1994)
The X Factor (1995/2002)
The Best Of The Beast (1996)
The Best Of Iron Maiden (1996)
In Profile (1998)
A Real Live Dead One (1998)
Virtual XI (1998/2002)
Eddie's Head (1998)
Ed Hunter (1999)
Brave New World (2000)
Rock In Rio (2002)
Eddie's Archive (2002)
Edward The Great: Greatest Hits (2002)
Dance Of Death (2003)
No More Lies (ep) 2004)
Death On The Road (2005)
The Essential Iron Maiden (2005)
A Matter Of Life And Death (2006)
Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of 1980-1989 (2008)
Flight 666 (2009)
The Final Frontier (2010)
En Vivo (2012)
The Book Of Souls (2015)
The Book Of Souls - Live Chapter (2017)

Behind The Iron Curtain (VID/DVD) (1985)
Maiden England (VID/DVD) (1988)
Video Pieces (VHS) (1991)
Live After Death (1991/2008)
From There To Eternity (DVD) (1993)
Raising Hell (DVD) (1993)
Metal Hammer (DVD) (2000)
Number Of The Beast (VHS/DVD) (2001)
Rock In Rio (VHS/DVD) (2002)
Visions Of The Beast (DVD) (2003/2004)
Legacy Of The Beast (DVD) (2004)
The History Of Iron Maiden, Pt. 1: The Early Days (DVD) (2004)
Death On The Road (DVD) (2005/2006)
Different World (DVD) (2006)
The History Of Fear (DVD) (2007)
Rock Case Studies (DVD) (2007)
Critical Review: Iron Maiden Album (DVD) (2007)
World's Greatest Albums (DVD) (2007)
...And The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (DVD) (2008)
Castle Donington, England (DVD) (2008)
In Italy (DVD) (2008)
Live After Death (DVD) (2008)
Flight 666 (DVD/BR) (2009)
Dawn Of The Damned (DVD) (2009)
En Vivo! - Live At Estadio Nacional, Santiago (2012)
Maiden England '88 (2013)

Genre: Traditional Metal

Origin UK

Added: December 18th 2004
Reviewer: Dylan
Score:
Artist website: www.ironmaiden.com
Hits: 3191
Language: english

  

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