Iron Maiden boldly embarks upon The Final Frontier
Brit-metal titans continue to evolve classic style with latest disc
Brit-metal titans continue to evolve classic style with latest disc
Iron Maiden: Adrian Smith, Nicko McBrain, Bruce
Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray and Janick Gers
flanked by space-traveling mascot Eddie. The Final
Frontier is the band's 15th studio album.
Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray and Janick Gers
flanked by space-traveling mascot Eddie. The Final
Frontier is the band's 15th studio album.
Iron Maiden
The Final Frontier
Universal Music Enterprises / EMI Records
www.ironmaiden.com
By Thom Copher
Iron Maiden, at thirty-plus-years and counting, has reaffirmed with its
latest opus - The Final Frontier - why it continues to be the mightiest
heavy-metal band on the planet. Frontier (studio album number 15)
generously spreads the classic Maiden sound over its 76:35 running time;
however, there are a few twists, courtesy of varied songwriting
contributions, which keep things interesting.
Frontier is ushered in with a two-part composition which exemplifies this
bonding of tradition and experimentation. The moody, tribal thud on the
interlude "Satellite 15" finds the album's space-traveling character
realizing the possibility of Earth's demise as the cornerstone for his own
fate. This morphs into the title track which conjures visions of packed
football stadiums challenging Bruce Dickinson for vocal supremacy with the
repeated chorus "The Final Frontier... The Final Frontier!"
As the album progresses, Maiden delivers (for the most part) what we've
come to expect. There are mid- to up-tempo gallops ("El Dorado,"
"Mother of Mercy," and "The Man Who Would be King" are notable, here)
The Final Frontier
Universal Music Enterprises / EMI Records
www.ironmaiden.com
By Thom Copher
Iron Maiden, at thirty-plus-years and counting, has reaffirmed with its
latest opus - The Final Frontier - why it continues to be the mightiest
heavy-metal band on the planet. Frontier (studio album number 15)
generously spreads the classic Maiden sound over its 76:35 running time;
however, there are a few twists, courtesy of varied songwriting
contributions, which keep things interesting.
Frontier is ushered in with a two-part composition which exemplifies this
bonding of tradition and experimentation. The moody, tribal thud on the
interlude "Satellite 15" finds the album's space-traveling character
realizing the possibility of Earth's demise as the cornerstone for his own
fate. This morphs into the title track which conjures visions of packed
football stadiums challenging Bruce Dickinson for vocal supremacy with the
repeated chorus "The Final Frontier... The Final Frontier!"
As the album progresses, Maiden delivers (for the most part) what we've
come to expect. There are mid- to up-tempo gallops ("El Dorado,"
"Mother of Mercy," and "The Man Who Would be King" are notable, here)
which, over the years, have perfectly laid the foundation for Dickinson's neo-operatic vocal style. The band's distinctly
unique three-guitar attack (brilliantly played out by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers) takes center stage on
"The Alchemist," "Starblind," "Isle of Avalon" and "The Talisman."
Bassist Steve Harris, who is universally synonymous with all things Iron Maiden, once again proves to be the band's
anchor, having a hand in all ten tracks on Frontier. (He also shares co-production with long-time associate Kevin
"Caveman" Shirley.) However, guitarists Murray, Gers and Smith (who is credited on six of the tracks) weigh in on all
songs aside from Harris' eleven-minute "When the Wild Wind Blows" which, as mentioned, provides (at this point in
Maiden's history) some mandatory flair. The standout, here, is the ultra-rare (dare I say) ballad-ish "Coming Home."
All things considered and put into perspective, there's not a whole heck of a lot that one can say about a band which has
so meticulously constructed its canon except this: You're either on board or you're not. Whether The Final Frontier is
Iron Maiden's swan song (as has been hinted) or (as space, the final frontier, itself) the gateway to new beginnings, it is
a testament to a band which has, for over three decades, pushed the envelope for the heavy-metal cause.
unique three-guitar attack (brilliantly played out by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers) takes center stage on
"The Alchemist," "Starblind," "Isle of Avalon" and "The Talisman."
Bassist Steve Harris, who is universally synonymous with all things Iron Maiden, once again proves to be the band's
anchor, having a hand in all ten tracks on Frontier. (He also shares co-production with long-time associate Kevin
"Caveman" Shirley.) However, guitarists Murray, Gers and Smith (who is credited on six of the tracks) weigh in on all
songs aside from Harris' eleven-minute "When the Wild Wind Blows" which, as mentioned, provides (at this point in
Maiden's history) some mandatory flair. The standout, here, is the ultra-rare (dare I say) ballad-ish "Coming Home."
All things considered and put into perspective, there's not a whole heck of a lot that one can say about a band which has
so meticulously constructed its canon except this: You're either on board or you're not. Whether The Final Frontier is
Iron Maiden's swan song (as has been hinted) or (as space, the final frontier, itself) the gateway to new beginnings, it is
a testament to a band which has, for over three decades, pushed the envelope for the heavy-metal cause.