A Matter of Life and Death
Fan Rating:
{$rating} /10
Tracklist
- Different Worlds
Smith, Harris - These Colours Don't Run
Smith, Harris, Dickinson - Brighter Than a Thousand Suns
Smith, Harris, Dickinson - The Pilgrim
Gers, Harris - The Longest Day
Smith, Harris, Dickinson - Out Of the Shadows
Dickinson, Harris - The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg
Murray, Harris - For The Greater Good of God
Harris - Lord Of Light
Smith, Harris, Dickinson - The Legacy Gers, Harris
We said ...
Planned for an early September release in 2006, the band started writing songs at the end of 2005 -- after a short break from their hugely successful festival appearances across Europe and the USA. After Christmas the songs were completed and rehearsed when the band then got together with producer Kevin 'Caveman' Shirley at Sarm West Studios in London to start work on recording the backing tracks.
Kevin Shirley has now co-produced three of the bands studio albums alongside Steve Harris, as well as two of their recent Live DVD's and albums. From this the working relationship between Kevin and the band seems to get stronger and stronger. Says Kevin:
The Beast is back! I feel from the outset we all clicked on this one. We spent two months in the studio, from Go to Whoa - from Nicko's 'tubs up' to final mixes and sequenced master! That's a tiny gestation period for an album. Producing Iron Maiden is like sitting in the head and driving one of those mammoth automatons from Star Wars or Saturday morning cartoons! And there's nothing that can stop it!
I feel incredibly privileged to have been around to see this album born and breathe life. There have been only a couple of occasions in my career when the ENTIRE process of recording felt so complete - and it is on display here.
As on previous projects all of the tracks were performed live and together in one room. No click tracks or computer tightening or manipulation has happened at any stage of the recording. Says Steve Harris:
I think in many ways this has been the easiest album in terms of recording that we've ever done. The whole process of writing through to recording was very natural. I think in terms of the material we've also pushed our boundaries yet again and I think it will please our fans but also really surprise a lot of people as well.
The sound we've managed to get is very powerful for a Maiden record and all of us have pushed ourselves in our own ways to create something that we're all immensely proud of and I think working as quickly as we did with Kevin really was part of that process. We simply can't wait to take this out on the road. We've played some great shows and had a lot fun recently introducing some of our older songs to a new generation of fans. However for us personally we're incredibly excited about getting out and performing these new tracks.'
Says Bruce Dickinson:
This album has to be our best since working with Kevin. There is such a wide scope of musicianship on this album and in parts this album is truly epic. I thought with the likes of Paschendale from the last studio album that we could only hope to surpass that but having now heard the album back as well as sitting with a few select people and hearing their reactions as well I truly believe we have managed it. Every one of us has put everything into this record and it's really paid off. However we've had such fun making it that it's almost difficult to believe what we've managed to achieve in the time it took.'
47 Reviews
i'm sure this will be awesome just like the rest of what iron maiden has donned.!! looking forward to hear it. Up The Irons!!!
1. Different World – When you first listen to the song you instantly think of the Wicker Man and Wildest Dream. Yet as the song goes on, it gets better, Bruce really shines on this song, and his range is awesome. I love the twin guitars during the solo, so vintage Maiden, sends chills up and down the spine. The one thing I like about the song is that it has all elements of all Maiden albums throughout the years.
2. These Colors Don’t Run – The song starts slow with a guitar intro slowly the keyboards and another guitar layer comes along. The song is slowed down version of Flight of the Icarus. Yet all changes in the middle of the song when Maiden changes the tempo of the song and takes the listener back to the times of 7th Son.
3. Brighter Than A thousand Suns – Sounds like a song that should have been on Powerslave. Then in then the middle of the song it goes very melodic and in typical fashion gets heavier as the guitar solo starts, then before you know it Nicko tears it up with double bass. Maiden does a wonderful job of rhythm and time changes that will make any Maiden fan excited. The riff changes are the best in a long time compared to the ones found in Hallowed be Thy Name!
4. The Pilgrim – The song starts with a heavy bass drum and twin guitar licks. In some parts of the song it sounds like Quest of Fire meets Power Slave. The sound is vintage Maiden, and people will love the unexpected time changes throughout the song. The song sounds again very Powerslavish and combines many aspects found in the 7th Son album as well.
5. The Longest Day - Well it’s Maiden, but it sounds like a Bruce Dickinson solo song. One thing people will notice on this song is that the guitar riffs have a more crunch to them then usual. Lots of time changes, sounds very epic throughout the song. Bruce never sounded better, again it sounds like Bruce’s material.
6. Out Of The Shadows – When it started I thought of every 80’s band in the world, yet it quickly went into a something straight out of Revelations meets Journeyman. A lot of bluesy elements in the song, very Deep Purple in many parts.
7. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg – Cool intro, very Fear of the Dark. The guitar sounds so cool, very deep and rich crunches when the song kicks in. The best way to describe the song is Fear Is the Key.
8. For The Greater Good of God – best Maiden Song ever. When I heard this at the beginning I thought this song was going to be lame, man was I ever wrong. This song has everything that Maiden is about. A powerful song for today’s time. It’s the best song on the cd, when you guys hear this I promise chills, Goosebumps, and a natural high. This is 7th Son material! The one thing I love the galloping thing from The Trooper, Up the Irons!! Alexander the Great, Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, 7th Son of a 7th Son wrapped in one!!!!
9. Lord Of Light – Starts very slow, David Bowie meets Iron Maiden. After a minute and 42 seconds the song gets pretty heavy. Another song that could be found n the Fear of the Dark album and No Prayer for the Dying!!! I love the keyboard work around the 6 minute mark. I found this to be the weakest song of the cd, yet better than anything on the Dance of Death cd!
10. The Legacy – Starts acoustic. You guys get prepared for another epic, simply beautiful. This song has the best elements found on the epics on Dance of Death.
The verdict, I think its one of the best albums to come out of the Maiden camp in a long time. If I had to rate this in the top ten maiden albums, I’d have to say it’s in the top four.
1. 7th Son (The planets aligned right on that one)
2. Number of the Beast (Really broke ground on Maiden’s Sound)
3. Brave New World (Personal for me, my father died that year, the songs hit home)
4. A Matter of Life and Death (Refreshing that Maiden took chances and it paid off)
Really a great job! Intensity,passion,genius...this is Iron Maiden and this is the best album they've done since the '80
I would really like to see what BIB dude say about this album........I can t wait really !!....the best album that I ve heard in its time of release, thus since powerslave
Best work since the Golden Years... for sure... the guys are in an excelent shape and bruce vocals are really impressive... the band returned to the Powerslave era, people... it´s the real truth...
EMI Australia have fucked up the artwork apparently so no news on the album front here but; if all the compositions are as good as the threee that I have heard on the Maiden website I can not wait to hear the rest and would have to give it a 10.
I agree for 100% with the above-mentioned elaborate review from August 25th. This album is without a doubt one of the best Maiden have ever made. An instant classic!
OK...AMOLAD IS MAIDEN ! don't know how you can give 1 or 3 to such an album while being a maiden fan. It's relly disappointing. Are you sure that you understand what Maiden is all about ?
Be serious. It's so epic, groovy and monstruous. Best album since the golden era. Neo-classic. Job done and well done.
hey French fan, your right.....where is the 9.5 mark ? all right then....
The album
I've waited for since 7th Son of a 7th Son.
I felt I was back in the eighties listening to Iron Maiden when coming home from High school.
Thank you Maiden, you guys are finally back after so many years.
My favourite Maiden Album since 1988.
The best since 7th son. Every track is good but most are incredible. The Longest Day is my favourite, then the Legacy and the Greater Good of God.
Nice semi-acoustic Out of the Shadows.
This album is soooooooooo good
It's beginning to get my all time favourite iron maiden album.
Fantastic!
I agree 100% with what has already been said, BEST ALBUM SINCE 7th SON!! I'm back in school and rockin to my favorite band. What a great album and such a great way to bring me back to the Maiden I love!!
A impressive and very strong record. The most songs are epic with tempo changes. Out of the shadows is almost a ballad with good chorus. Brighter than a thousand suns and For the greater good of god are outstanding. I like all the songs except for some long intros.
I have listened to this album for three days now and I can only say: THIS IS IRON MAIDEN AS I REMEMBER THEM!
An absolute classic alongside The Number Of The Beast & Piece Of Mind!
Thank You Maiden!!!
I read somewhere that when you review a new Iron Maiden album, you can't stop writing. This intrigues me a bit since I feel like I could stop anytime while having difficulties to think of something to write.
Don't worry now, I won't attempt to write a full-fledged review. I won't use ridiculously complicated words to make myself seem like a good writer, and I definitely won't attempt to write a song-by-song review (it's such a pain to think of something to say about every song). I'm just going to put down some initial thoughts on the album.
A Matter of Life and Death retains some of the flaws that plagued its two predecessors. Kevin Shirley's production is still light-years away from Martin Birch's in quality. The album as a whole suffers from most songs being built around the same basic pattern - calm intro followed by a riff, a couple of verses, the long instrumental part and then the final choruses. Some songs are a bit too long for their own good, sometimes caused by unnecessary repetitions. The guitar solos have been better. And Bruce's voice has definitely been in better shape.
Well, I've listed a fair bit of negative aspects now, so I'll move on to the more positive stuff. This album is easily the best since the 1999 reunion, and while it's not quite on par with Piece of Mind, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son or The X Factor, it's a more than worthy addition to Maiden's discography. Not every song is particularly great, but neither did I find any song that bad, and there are no real stinkers like Gates of Tomorrow or New Frontier. The first two songs aren't that remarkable, but Brighter Than a Thousand Suns sets the mood for the album nicely, and although it might have improved from being less repetitive it's a strong song nevertheless, as is The Pilgrim, which has some amazing riffs.
Another really great song is The Longest Day, with its atmospheric opening verses, catchy chorus and fantastic instrumental mid section. The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg has a great riff, but it's one of those songs that should have been shorter and the one-in-a-million slow intro doesn't really add anything.
What does add something though is the final three songs. For the Greater Good of God is a typical Harris-penned epic, but the catchy chorus and memorable instrumental part sets it apart from the album's lesser songs. It is, however, not as good as the two closing numbers. The intro of The Legacy is the best of all the endless calm intros, equaled only by that of Lord of Light, creating a haunting atmosphere enhanced by a brilliant riff and some great verses. The closing verses are a little too similar, but that's a minor flaw. And Lord of Light is just as good, maybe even better. Lyrically it's probably the most interesting track, and I won't even bother to select certain good parts because it's all absolutely brilliant.
Seeing as I've written quite a bit now I think I'll stop here.
Ahh....I was very surprised to hear the release of this album. I bought it with lot of enthusiasms...and really found this album great..the first tract is superb, similarly the reincarnation of benjamin breeg is tooo good.ot of the shadows is excellent..this album made my day...love you maiden and keep up this brilliant work..i shall give it 10/10...great!
this album is the most finely refined of all the iron maidens after powerslave.very goooooood :) Cheers!! for maidens
In my opinion, this is Maidens best album sence 7th Son Of A 7th Son. Today my buddy calls me and asks me what is my favourite song off the album and I told him I don't have one. The tracks are so amazing it wouldn't be far to select just one. Fantastic album Maiden just simply fantastic.
Best album in years. On a par with BNW and up there with NOB, POM & 7th Son. Classic.
This album retains this special "maiden" feeling while it's discovering new ways of metal music expression. Better than many Maiden albums and other metal albums that are now on the go but I think that after 26 years this is as good as it gets. Yet, a great album not only for a Maiden fan but for every rock and metal fan!!!
very good album!
brighter than a thousand suns and the longest day the best tracks, but all the album is wonderful! UP THE IRONS!!!
This album is so great that I listen to the record over and over and over. This record has various elements that meets the quality, perfection, inspiration and feeling. The lyrics for me is very important and it goes along with the music. Rock n' Iron.
This album is so great that I listen to the record over and over and over. This record has various elements that meets the quality, perfection, inspiration and feeling. The lyrics for me is very important and it goes along with the music. Rock n' Iron.
Well, It's never easy to deliver a non-biased, thoroughly objective review of an album by a band you hold most dear (ugh..."More tea, vicar?"). Anyway, I was hoping to get this, personally fantastic year, to its final quarter with another blistering Iron Maiden album, as an icing on a cake, and apparently I needen't have worried, judging from the result we got, that is.
A Matter of Life and Death is Maiden's most mature, most complete work to date, and that being for the following reasons:
- uncompromizing songwriting, aka "we don't give a fuck our songs are 9 minutes long" type of thinking (which is this reviewer's personal delight since I'm addicted to Maiden epics. I'll take a 9 min song over a 3 min one any day, but that's just me and my progressive preferences)
- complexity of song structure, changes of tempo and all the goodies we've been given on previous two albums (BNW is my favorite, DoD was excellent but with a few fillers), only taken to a higher level, this time.
- the dominating theme of the album, which was, unlike ever in their career, more relevant and thought provoking than ever, in this terrifying backward ass of a world of today.
As with their previous effort, it took me some time (albeit, shorter) to fully appreciate its Highness AMOLAD, and despite a few easy-to-ignore hicups, namely These Coulours Don't Run and The Pilgrim, I was, and still am, stunned by the coherency and persistancy of well realized ideas for new songs, after more than 25 years of writing them. Definitely THE metal band of such longetivity that provides a music this phenomenal after a years of not letting the fans down, ever (Blaze Bailey criticizers would point out an album or two as a proof against this claim). The seemingly neverdieing inspiraton of Steve Harris and Adrian Smith doesn't cease on this one, as we are blessed with more blindingly magnificent tales of darker side of psyche manifested in warfare, directly or indirectly caused by the virus and THE malice of today and, for that matter, of history - the religion and, more importantly, the wrong interpretation of it. An absolut beaut of an album is ending in a traditionally grandioze fashion with a song that's possibly the best on the album, alongside For the Greater Good of God and Lord of Light (a prasie to Lucifer, is that what this one is? Surely would give the moralists something to bash about. Anyway, as a "light bearer", for that's what his name means, that is a bringwer of knowledge to human kind, I can't think of a character LESS assosiated with a "doom of mankind and a archetype of evil", and...oh, just don't get me started now!).
If it's the final we're gonna see (though that's not what bandmembers said), it is more than I could have hoped for. Thank you Maiden, for making this year even greater for me, and making it at least a little better for those who can't say had it all going for them in 2006.
I suppose I'd write "up the irons" now?
Oh, well...UP THE IRONS!
Very good album. The first time you hear it, it will be a little boring..I don´t know, that was my own experience...but I have talked to people about it and all said the same. I think Dance Of Death was better than this one, but A matter of life and death is kicking my ass as the days go by more and more...I think I will like it as I like Dance of death. Hasta luego compañeros!
Very good album, but production is weak (guitars not always clear and drowned in the mix on many parts). Bruce vocals sound out of tune on some parts and not as good as they used to be.
Heavy, Melodic, New, lively, and awesome are words that come to mind. Although a few of the songs should have been cut down in length for easier listening, there mostly all great. Some chorus lines are kind of lame, but they are quickly forgoten with the heavy attack of the next developement. Highlights are Breeg, Brighter than, the legacy, and Longest Day. Different Worlds is just alright along with These Colours. Lord of Light is weak, and Out of the Shadows has both excellent and poor qualities. Tears of the Dragon is much better than Out of the Shadows by far, but still the album is fantastic. cant wait for a live version!!!!
Oh God, this is a masterpiece, a fucking masterpiece !
good album...maiden can do better than this,that's for sure..
Brilliant ,masterpiece. The best workthe band has ever done. More complex, ranging than anything before. Just put in in your player and thoroughly enjoy.
This is a great great album. If you have not got it yet then you absolutely must go get it.
I heard this playing in my local music store and was blow away. I purchased it and have not removed it from my CD player since. I am completely addicted to the range and complex qualitiy of this album. Every band member has surpassed themselves with this their best most progressive work to date. I stopped following maiden when Blaze joined the band- nothing against him, but he's no Dickinson.
Hearing this album when I did has led me back to maiden and my life is more complete for it. Music is a funny thing it has the power to make you smile when you are down and to make you cry when you are high. I would like to thank the band and Kevin Shirley for bringing this most increadible piece of musical genius to us all. Not to put to fine a point on it, the music on show here has changed my year. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
I have also now bought Brave N W and Dance of Death which are strong albums with some great songs also. I jusy hope maiden in the current format can enjoy what they do and each other enough to stay together and produce as much groundbreakibg material within the maiden bounderies as is possible. What a band what an album what a masterpiece. Keep it going boys I ca not wait to see this performed live.
Simply great !!!!!! The greatest album since 7th son, I can listen to this album for 24/7 and never get bored of it, Well done guys, Long live eddie........
War.
Life.
Death.
A bleak outlook this whole album paints of the world. But at least it kicks major ass. Awesome riffs, lyrics and the Legacy is simply put... stunning.
Hello Maidenpeople out there. I think its a good album and the best since 7 th son album. Bruces voice is great and i like Steves bass, just like the old times and also the drums. The thing i dont like is that the album has to naked sound. It sounds almost that the band playing in a garage. This sound started back to No Prayer album. I would like to here more guitar solos, bass riffs, no they playing almost the same thing. Dont get me wrong, i like the album and it has good things but i miss the sound like 7th son even if i think its good to experience with sound. Just listen to Killers album or Somewhere in Time, what a nice guitarsolos with bass sound. But like i said, the new album is good and i hope Maiden are with us many more years. Take care all Maiden fans out there. Cheers/Mike
Wow! This is probably one of their best albums ever. They have almost perfected the style they established with A Brave New World and improved with Dance of Death. This is the ultimate perfection of their proggy melodic yet har hitting heavy metal style. Buy this album, it's rea matter of life and death.
Different World:
Unlike the rest of the Cd the song is very upaced.
These
Colours don't run:A bit slow but very good
Brighter than a thousand suns: more epic than the epics
The Pilgrim:The weakest and worst song.
The longest day:
typical
song for the album
Out of
the shadows: Very odd song i
don't get what inspired them to write this one,yet Bruce does his best singing
The Reincarnation...: very slow song
not very good
For the greater good of god: Best song on the album.
Lord of Light: While most of the songs on the album
are slow only : this song , Different World and the Pilgrim are.
The Legacy: Graet song 3rd best song.
average. every track kind of sounds the same. slow intro, high pitched vocals most of the time, and a slow ending (only different world and the pilgrim differ from this)
it would have been a great album, but to me all the songs sounded way to similar to each other. i think that's why so many people think it's a boring album
iron maiden so far have got so many great reviws off this album having sold over a hundred thousand copies in the u.s aloe this is heading to be maidens best selling album yet.
i remember when i bought this album. since the first time i heard it i fell in love with it. It's a very heavy album and i am sure is the best heavy metal album of the year, tell me if i'm wrong.i don't know why people say this album is boring. For me is the best since ssoass(im not saying that BNW or DOD are bad) but this album has an speciall feeling that i can't describe. and im sure im not the only one who thinks like this.
When I first listened to Different world I wasn't pleased,
Maybe
because the album's i owned before that were: powerslave,live after death and 7th son.As You can see i've not grown accostomed to the new sound the band had addapted.Anyway, i like the album alot more than i did, and since then have bought brave new world.
p.s. another good band is Def Leapord, f-f-f-fool'n!!
My husband influenced me on Maiden, and he bought me this ablum for Christmas. WOW!! Absolutely killer! My favorite is Benjamin Breeg. It has that driving force that makes you wanna listen to it over nad over again, you know? But I also love Different World, These Colors Don't Run and The Longest Day. Truthfully there's not a bad song on there! I have read a lot that this is their best album since 7th Son. Alas, I don't even have it! But the songs on this one fit right in with Clairvoyant, Can I Play With Madness, and The Evil That Men Do! My alltime favorite is Powerslave. But this album is right up there! You need to listen to it a few times to let it sink in. Do that and it grows on you! So i would have to agree that this is their best ablum in 18 years! UP THE IRONS!!!
Fantastic Album. The Best Maiden Album ever.
having been a fan in the eighties and lost touch in the nineties, i bought the album in september really to see if the return of smith and dickenson could capture the "good old days". It took a few listens to get used to but i now rate this album as thier best yet. The "live" recording for me is preferable to the sound on SIT and SSOASS . I went to the earl's court show on 23rd and it was great live, i certainly didn't feel disappointed not to hear the hits.
When it comes to good old Maiden, they never give up. Their epic compositions span a great career of 30 years. And their most recent album, AMOLAD, is a proof of their intense musicsmanship, versatility, and resilience in the music world. Never running out of subject matter, their songs now focus on the aspects of war and in some songs, how religion affects us throughtout our lives.
Album Pros : Outstanding lyrics and subject matter, Musically excellent with trademark instrumentals,nice harmonies, Nicko's madman drumming, Arry's ever clanky bass and Bruce's powerful voice. The album closer is outstanding, The band members all have great syngergy. Favorite songs: These Colours Don't Run, Brighter Than A Thousand Suns, The Longest Day, For The Greater Good Of God, The Legacy.
Album Cons: Guitar Solos are WAY too short. WAY, WAY too SHORT.
Love the new album kicks ass rules 10+ for this album maiden just keeps on kicking ass and doesn`t stop kicking ass love the opening song different world rules all the songs kick ass maiden never stops what they do and thats writing great songs and making kick ass albums
Testing album reviews.