Tyranny Of Souls Reviewed
Here's the first non-fan review of 'Tyranny of Souls', the new Bruce Dickinson solo effort to be released on May 23.As more reviews flock in, we will add them in here (Scroll down for the Blabbermouth review)
Reviewed by Orpheus on 2005/04/14
Bruce Dickinson - Vocals
Roy Z - Guitars
Maestro Mistheria - Keyboards
Ray "Geezer" Burke - Bass (certain tracks)
Juan Perez - Bass (certain tracks)
David Moreno - Drums
"And so we lay, we lay in the same grave, our chemical wedding day"... Those last words from Bruce Dickinson’s final track, "Alchemist" ("Chemical Wedding", 1998) have been haunting my ears for the last 7 years. I must admit that though I always was and still am a huge Iron Maiden fan, I always loved Dickinson’s solo efforts more, during the 90’s. Well, whatever my likes or dislikes may be, we’re talking about one of Heavy Metal’s greatest vocalists/composers ever.
Bruce’s solo works always gave me the chills, always gave me a huge mental boner and made me want to "melt" my CD player because of repeated overuse... With the only exception being his debut solo "Tattooed Millionaire" (1990), which I really don’t like (Dickinson-wise), the releases that followed after his departure from Iron Maiden (after "Tattooed Millionaire"...) till the day they got back together again (in 1999) were pure masterpieces. From the sensory arousing "Balls To Picasso" album (1994) to the Hard Rocking "Skunkworks" (1996) and from - probably his most significant "trademark" - "Accident Of Birth" album (1997) to the mystical vibe of "Chemical Wedding" (1998)...Bruce Dickinson has proven to be one of the "darkest" soul-scavenging Heavy Metal composers around. That’s what made his works always so much different than Iron Maiden yet successful in comparison to other renowned artists’ solo attempts.
I was really anxious and anticipating to stretch my eardrums to the sound of Dickinson’s solo comeback, "Tyranny Of Souls"! I would constantly wonder the same things you’re probably wondering right now as you read these lines. "Is Dickinson going to continue pumping great albums like he triumphantly managed to do during the 90’s or is it unfortunately time for a mediocre or even bad album?"... thoughts like this one tyrannized my soul till the moment I pressed the ‘play’ button.
The Intro nails you to your chair as an electrified atmosphere of mystery pours out of your speakers and onto your floor while Dickinson opens his book of (his metal) revelations. "...didn’t you come this way here before, a million years ago?..." says Dickinson’s voice and I’m getting chills the size of a giraffe’s neck, as if I knew what was going to follow. To put it another way... "Abduction" kicks off and 10 seconds into the track you’re swirling your head round and round while screaming "he’s back!" (with a smile of deep satisfaction arising). "Abduction" doesn’t really remind me anything apart maybe from a bit of "Accident Of Birth" (the album) because it’s heavy with fast tempo shredding guitar riffs.
That certainly hadn’t prepared me for the third track of "Tyranny Of Souls", "Soul Intruders". The song starts off with a really fast double bass drumming (!!!) which really makes you feel as if this is a leftover intro from one of Rob Halford’s songs on his "Resurrection" solo album. It’s one of these times when you really don’t care whether that’s because of Roy Z being involved in all of these gentlemen’s solo works or because of whatever. The intro will get you to drop on your knees and headbang like wild. Of course, though it would be even cooler if the entire track was done in the same pace it kicks off (and ends) with, the slowing down into a more mid-tempo song does not make you like it any less.
"Kill Devil Hill" is an opus! I really needed to hear a Heavy Metal song in the vibe of "KDH". Roy Z’s a true riff-master! This guy should be given tons of credit as a musician because he’s responsible for shaping Heavy Metal into its existing form, during the last 10 years (Dickinson, Rob Halford, Judas Priest, Masterplan, Helloween, Rob Rock etc). He’s either engineered, played the guitar or helped in any other way on so many albums, I’d probably need a huge review just for his (always ongoing) contribution to Metal/Rock.
Now for "softer" moments of daydream travel Dickinson always has something good in store. So, like "Jerusalem" ("Chemical Wedding") or "Change Of Heart" ("Balls To Picasso"), "Navigate The Seas Of The Sun" is a seemingly soft song yet quite heavily filled with meanings only Dickinson knows how to "place" within his lyrics so elegantly. Then we move on to "River Of No Return" which will really remind you of a slight blend of "Chemical Wedding" (once Bruce starts singing) and - then for a few seconds you have a weird feeling - a track off Iron Maiden’s "Number Of The Beast" is going to pop in somewhere at that point. Nevertheless, interesting and in its way profound, as almost the entire album is.
"Power Of The Sun" is another combination of head-crushing riffs and drumming combined with Dickinson’s exceptional vocal performance (as always). Personally I believe that this song will become one of your favorite tracks off this album - most likely...fore sure!
"Devil On A Hog" and "Believil" remind me (especially the last one) of "Accident Of Birth" and "Chemical Wedding" respectively, being probably the "bad" (there’s nothing really bad about this album) points on "Tyranny Of Souls" though "Believil" has a really powerful and mystique atmosphere. The same-titled final track couldn’t be more perfect to end this album. To your unsatisfied hunger, "A Tyranny Of Souls" comes to an end and you find yourself singing "A tyranny of souls, that love has lost, a tyranny of souls, a Pentecost...". An ending only the "Air raid siren" would be able to come up with.
To conclude this long album review (how could it not be long when we’re talking about someone like Dickinson?) I want to say that it’s always great when one of your favorite artists manages to beat your fears of failure down to the ground, proving that Heavy Metal will overcome these times of utter musical crap (more or less - though we’re getting out of that situation slowly, slowly - starting with 2004 and this year). If you want to put your money where it’s worth it then just go buy "Tyranny Of Souls" when it’s out and let’s all just raise our middle fingers towards trendy non-believers and headbang to the sounds of this awesome album!
- Album Highlights: "Abduction", "Soul Intruder", "Kill Devil Hill", "Navigate The Seas Of The Sun", "Power Of The Sun" and "A Tyranny Of Souls"
P.S. No, I have no idea who Maestro Mistheria is, the "mystery" keyboardist on this album. Some things remain well kept secrets...or we’ll have to find out soon, I guess.
P.S. I love Dave Moreno’s drumming!
"As the wind wips over the hillside
Twenty knots over Kill Devil Hill
Steady wind blows over the sand
Twenty knots over Kill Devil Hill
As the breezed went straight as an arrow
It begun over Kill Devil Hill
Gasoline and the wind in the wires
Kill Devil Hill and the way to the sky"
4/5 Excellent
Source: Metal Temple.com
19 Comments
(after reading this, scroll down even more for Bravewords review)
Here's Blabbermouth's take:
Rating 8.5 (out of 10)
There's a silent majority of us out here in IRON MAIDEN fandom. Sure, we're happy when Steve Harris warms up a plate of reheated past glories, hires a community college dropout to whip up some artwork (that "Dance of Death" cover… sheesh!) and graces us with another increasingly clunky, bloodless, self-important MAIDEN album. It's kinda like going to see a big summer movie sequel — think "Jurassic Park 3". Sure, you plunk down your money, and it's okay. But are you excited about it?
We save our real enthusiasm for the BRUCE DICKINSON solo albums. When the Air Raid Siren collaborates with Roy Z, the results are seldom less than stellar — for my money, "Accident of Birth" and "The Chemical Wedding" are both better albums than anything under the MAIDEN name since "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son" back in 1988! There's a hunger here — Bruce sounds like he gives a shit about the subject matter at hand, and about singing. There's also a conciseness — long songs can be cool, but if you've got four minutes worth of ideas, here's a novel concept — say it in four minutes. Roy and Bruce are masters of efficiency — songs rarely overstay their welcome or feel bloated and dull.
"Tyranny of Souls" boasts a somewhat heavier sound, but also veers off into impressive detours. The acoustic "Navigate the Seas of the Sun" is a laid-back, almost sedate ballad with understated strings and a bridge that's classic Dickinson. "River of No Return" is moody and sinister, with a menacing and infectious guitar riff, but when the chorus comes around, it's all Bruce, soaring into the arena rafters with one of his patented hooks. This man just owns choruses — I don't know what the "river of no return" is, nor do I care, but I'll be singing that damn line for the next three weeks.
Barn-burners like "Power of the Sun" may lack the bwonging upfront bass lines of Harris or Nicko McBrain's clattering fills, but they swell with exactly the metal spirit and sheer exuberance that I wish MAIDEN still possessed. The soloing is inspired, the riffs meaty, and the songs actually hit that “classic, yet modern" mark so often mentioned (and so rarely attained) by aging musicians. The mood of the album shifts frequently, from the sinister snarl of "Believil" to the epic title track, to the more summery rock and roll feel of "Devil On a Hog" (a nod back to Dickinson's early '90s solo efforts). Through it all, however, runs this sense of urgency, an aggressive passion for the music that really brings each track to life.
"Tyranny of Souls" marks three in a row for BRUCE DICKINSON (four if, like me, you thought his "radical departure" on the SKUNKWORKS album was another fine metal record). Ten more classy, heavy, high-quality songs from one of the all-time great voices of metal (and one of its most underappreciated guitarists/producers) — what more could you want?
- Keith Bergman
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermo...px?reviewID=270
Cheers
There's a silent majority of us out here in IRON MAIDEN fandom. Sure, we're happy when Steve Harris warms up a plate of reheated past glories, hires a community college dropout to whip up some artwork (that "Dance of Death" cover… sheesh!) and graces us with another increasingly clunky, bloodless, self-important MAIDEN album. It's kinda like going to see a big summer movie sequel — think "Jurassic Park 3". Sure, you plunk down your money, and it's okay. But are you excited about it?
Well that's just ridiculous. There are plenty of us Maiden fans who enjoyed Dance of Death, and a lot who consider it their favorite album. It's not my favorite album but it's certainly much better than "okay" or "increasingly clunky, bloodless"self-important MAIDEN album". It's one of the greatest metal albums of the past decade. Infact, many newer bands cant even make an album that good.
I think the constant comparison to Iron Maiden is silly. Let Bruce be Bruce when he's only being Bruce!
Why compare it to Maiden always? Yes, I love Maiden for what they are. I do not want them to have downtuned, muddy guitars. I am a Maiden fan, there is a reason why I fell in love with their music, why would I want that music to be much different now?
These people should move on. It wouldn´t matter if Maiden did Piece of Mind Part II, they still wouldn´t approve. Fuck ém!
For the record, I still think Bruce´s voice sounds at it´s best with Maiden.
BRUCE DICKINSON Tyranny Of Souls (Sanctuary)
Although there are ten tracks listed, one's an intro, so you're left with nine songs at 44 minutes total - vinyl length. One's a pretty cool, non-cliched ballad, one a power metalized semi-ballad, and then what's left is a seven song metal suite that has a bit of a simple, straight-eight post-NWOBHM vibe, the calm of a few slow structures pierced way out the other side with balls-out metal ravers 'Power Of The Sun' and opening explosion 'Abduction'. But yes, the overall personality of this thing is a bit pensive and subdued, old school like the general blueprint and time-stamp. I hear Samson, Maiden, heavy modern Priest, Balls To Picasso and Skunkworks, lots of Accident Of Birth... a grab-bag of mature, tasteful metal styles. Heck, there's even a Tattooed-styled hard rocker in 'Devil On A Hog', which turns out to be one of the album's best tracks, given a warm hard rock chorus that offers a light foil to an album full of epic sentiments. Lacking is a sense of mission, or large force of personality - the album is too clean and efficient, Bruce's voice being its biggest raison d'etre, and pretty good reason to buy this indeed. Power metal guys are often compared to Dickinson, but he really is less approximated in tonal quality and inflection and choice than those other two tremors Halford and Tate. But sure, there's something modest and non-eventful about this album. Some fiery licks, above-par drumming, a voice with soul and history... the firepower is there, but it's all a little safe. Effortlessly coasting past every Maiden album since Powerslave (simultaneously blowing a kiss and flashing a hairy moon), just isn't enough given the majesty of Chemical Wedding, forever Dickinson' glorious burden.
8.0 Martin Popoff
Source: Bravewords
Ultimate Guitar gives the album 4.7
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/com...ouls/index.html
Cheers
Bruce Dickinson - ‘Tyranny Of Souls’ (Mayan/Sanctuary) - Released 23/05/05
by Michelle Evans
3.5 stars out of 5
Iron Maiden front man Bruce Dickinson returns with this, his sixth studio album. Although it's taken him seven years to follow up his last solo release, Bruce hasn’t been lazy - as well as returning to his rightful home fronting Maiden, Bruce is also a pilot, novelist, BBC DJ and Olympic standard fencer. It would appear the record buying public should be thankful he has found the time to fit this record in at all.
Renewing his partnership with guitarist/producer/writer Roy Z the album was recorded in a single room with just Pro-Tools, a microphone and a bed. Fortunately the bed was not there due to Bruce’s exhausting schedule but because of torn chest muscles he could only sing for 10 minutes before having to lie down. Bless him. Intro ‘Mars Within’ is eerie, atmospheric with Bruce’s fantastic vocals cutting through the darkness like a light sabre through a Sith Lord. ‘Abduction’ is your more typical metal fare, catchy, good guitars with a brilliantly flamboyant guitar solo from Roy Z. While ‘Soul Intruders’ has a fast, thrashy, mean opening. Bruce’s voice sounds great as it belts out the sing-a-long chorus and respect to the man as he manages to hold the final note for 15 seconds. Chirst, he must have needed a lie down after that.
Later tracks ‘Kill Devil Hill’, ‘Devil On A Hog’ and ‘Believil’ are all trademark Dickinson yet have a hint of a man going through the motions, lacking in essential metallic bite. ‘Navigate The Seas Of The Sun’ is a slow, pretty little track that just doesn’t work for me. Yes Bruce’s voice and lyrics sound great and the guitars hold their own but the full metal assault of songs like ‘Power Of The Sun’ with its sizzling solo and rousing chorus have infinitely more impact. Album closer ‘A Tyranny Of Souls’ has a dark, epic feel about it with yet more fantastic lead guitar licks and is a triumphant end the album.
With one of the most infamous voices in metal, Bruce Dickinson proves, once again, that he can cut it on his own just as well as with Maiden. Let’s just hope it won’t take seven years for Mr Dickinson to commit his seventh album to CD.
Source: Gigwise.com
Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny Of Souls (CD Review)
Bruce Dickinson, who may be more familiar as the frontman of Iron Maiden or as a radio Rock DJ, has created a solo album to follow on from 2002's 'The Chemical Wedding' (also re-released this week on Sanctuary). The sound will be familiar to all devotees of Iron Maiden as it is in the mould of their classic early work. The riffs are heavy and delivered at great speed while Bruce's tuneful screams deliver their tales of Satan, belief and science.
There are a couple of more 'acoustic' numbers like 'Navigate The Seas Of The Sun' that show Bruce's gentler sound. There is a curious electro-metal aside as the intro to 'Believil' has a new romantic air, but there is a return to true form as soon as the axes are brought back into play in full force. And it is in the all-out cock-rocking and unashamedly over the top metal tracks ('Power Of The Sun', 'Abduction', 'A Tyranny Of Souls', 'Soul Intruders') that this album stands head and shoulders above so much metal. This is an unmissable album for Bruce/Maiden fans and anyone who loves to ROCK!
Bruce is on tour with Iron Maiden at the moment, if you are lucky enough to have tickets to Reading or Leeds then you can catch them headlining.
Label : Mayan/Sanctuary
Release Date : 23 May 2005
Website : www.screamforme.com
Website : www.brucedickinson.net
Tracklisting
Mars Within
Abduction
Soul Intruders
Kill Devil Hill
Navigate The Seas Of The Sun
River Of No Return
Power Of The Sun
Devil On A Hog
Believil
A Tyranny Of Souls
Source: Betweenplanets.co.uk
by Greg Prato
Bruce Dickinson has been one of (if not the) leading voice of heavy metal — possessing one of the genre's most instantly recognizable singing styles (there's a reason why they used to call him 'the Air Raid Siren'). Reuniting with Iron Maiden in the late '90s, Dickinson's solo career took a back seat as a result of non-stop recording and gigging. But with Maiden taking a break after their tour in support of Dance of Death wrapped up, Dickinson was finally left with enough time to work on his first solo recording in seven years. Hooking up once more with co-collaborator, guitarist, and producer Roy Z, Tyranny of Souls signals Dickinson's solo return. Expectedly, Dickinson's Maiden roots run deep, and quite a few songs resemble the style of his full-time band — especially "Mars Within" and "Power of the Sun." But there are other times where Dickinson injects styles that wouldn't fit on a Maiden record — a piano breakdown in "Kill Devil Hill" and the acoustic guitar- and voice-driven ditty, "Navigate the Seas of the Sun." Also, it must be said that Dickinson's voice is as strong as ever — years of road and studio work have not diminished his skills in the slightest. Tyranny of Souls will satisfy the appetites of most Maiden fans until their next album appears.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Source: AllMusic.com
Cheers
In Spanish for those able to read 
Calificación: 8.8/10
Recién salido del horno (si es que hoy día puede así decirse) tenemos este Tyranny Of Souls, la nueva apuesta de Bruce Dickinson y Roy Z en el mundo del metal. Tras siete años de silencio vocal en solitario, y todavía con aquel seductor a la par que enigmático The Chemical Wedding en la memoria, los fans de la carrera en solitario de Dickinson aceptamos de muy buen grado y con los brazos bien abiertos este nuevo disco que el vocalista de Iron Maiden nos ofrece. Ya lejos quedaron aquellas locuras llamadas Tattooed Millionaire, Balls To Picasso y Skunkworks, y el revoltoso inglés con dotes de piloto decidió que el camino a seguir no era precisamente el experimental sino más bien el del puro y duro heavy metal, siempre aportando matices nuevos tanto a su voz como a sus composiciones. Si bien Dickinson ha encontrado el filón de oro que desde 1997 hace sus apuestas más digeribles y mucho más homogéneas que las de sus tres primeros trabajos, cabe decir que ha de mantener los ojos abiertos para no caer en la repetición, en la vía fácil de conseguir llegar al público. Bien sabido es que la carrera en solitario de Bruce Dickinson no gozó de gran aceptación desde buen comienzo, pero sí es cierto que poco a poco este señor está llevando a su terreno sus mejores ideas, no sin dejar de aportar su granito de oro a Iron Maiden. Tal vez sea él quién, al mismo tiempo, esté salvándose a sí mismo (con permiso de Roy Z) y a la doncella.
En fin, lo que encontramos al pulsar play para escuchar este Tyranny Of Souls no es precisamente un sonido desconocido para aquellos que hayan oído más de dos veces alguno de los dos últimos trabajos de Bruce. Efectivamente, se trata de una acertada mezcla entre sus más clamorosas victorias, Accident Of Birth (1997) y The Chemical Wedding (1998). A través de 10 temas, desfilan por nuestros oídos riffs endiablados, baquetazos sin piedad y sobre todo, y como no podía ser menos, uno de los mejores trabajos vocales de la única Bestia de las cuerdas vocales que existe. Y a esto da forma un nuevo grupo de músicos congregados para la ocasión y dirigidos bajo la batuta del productor en auge Roy Z.
Abramos el libreto (los pocos que lo tengan) y deleitemos nuestra vista con una serie de ilustraciones en forma de grabados antiguos en las que demonios, criaturas del Averno y gente martirizada nos lleva hasta la boca del mismísimo Leviatán. Vamos pues a dejarnos abducir por este Tyrannt Of Souls comenzando por el principio. Pese a que la cubierta del cd augura presagios fácilmente imaginables, no deja de ser la más bella que se haya escogido, con muy buen gusto, por cierto, para un álbum de Dickinson.
“Mars within” hace las funciones de introducción a las mil maravillas; unas palabras cantadas en el tono más apocalíptico que le conocemos a Bruce abren paso a la descarga del potente riff que abre la rápida “Abdution”, que podríamos decir establece el nexo entre el trabajo compositivo que viene haciendo Dickinson en Iron Maiden y en solitario. Este tema se mueve entre parámetros que marcan el estilo de la conocida “Wildest dreams” de la doncella y “Accident of birth” y “Road to hell” del propio vocalista. Ojo al guiño de ojo a sus colegas de Maiden en un par de los muchos riffs que aquí tenemos. Cierto es que abrir el álbum con este corte no es descubrir nada nuevo, pero sí resulta un buen puente para unir lo que fueron los temas el siglo XX y lo que posiblemente continúe siendo la carrera en solitario de Bruce en el siglo XXI.
“Soul intruders” llega en tercer lugar de manera tan atronadora que puede resultar hasta cansina, por lo que más vale prevenirse y ponerse en guardia ante lo que alberga este tema: una interpretación dramática que alcanza los habituales tonos altos a los que este señor nos tiene acostumbrados, un estribillo de lo más melódico y unas guitarras que aullan junto a una base rítmica poderosa. La parte de solos es bien propia de Judas Priest con toques entre power y hardrock. La verdad es que este corte se trata de una amalgama de sonidos y estilos bastante curiosa.
Tremendo inicio apocalíptico para la épica “Kill devil hill”, uno de los temas más dickinsonianos del álbum, a la que le une un lazo directamente con “Face in the sand” del Dance Of Death de Iron Maiden. Este sujeto sabe perfectamente el tipo de composición que quiere exportar a su público, y si no se la aceptan en su banda compartida, bien sabe que en los discos que edite por cuenta propia será bien recibida. A pesar de que la vena homérica de Dickinson no me apasiona demasiado, he de reconocer que este “Kill devil hill” me ha seducido desde el primer momento, por su transcurso entrecortado, en forma de marcha, por la combinación de dureza y relax con altos y bajos, y con esas distorsiones y piano sumergidos en el más profundo de los mares. Tal vez sea uno de los mares del sol que Bruce nos invita a recorrer en “Navigate the seas of the sun”. Abriendo con guitarra acústica sobre una base de marcha se inicia una melodía más propia de Simon & Garfunkel que de la composición de un metalero. Es este uno de los cortes más bellos que Dickinson haya compuesto junto a Roy Z. Si bien no alcanza la magia de aquel “Tears of the dragon” que tanto admiramos sus fans, este “Navigate the seas of the sun” no queda muy lejos de hacernos rallar el nirvana. Me entusiasma que este hombre sigue cautivando con su voz del modo en que lo hace, sacando a la luz la vena teatral, para que seamos conscientes de lo bien que se le da interpretar. Puede parecer que este tema rompa con el ritmo que venían imponiendo los primeros cortes, pero a mi juicio se acertó insertándola tras la ya más pausada “Kill devil hill”.
Y si alguien echaba en falta los riffs desgarrados y la contundencia de los bombos, ha de tomar ajo y agua porque seguidamente llega “River of no return”, otro corte de inicio melancólico e introspectivo con una intro de catálogo hardrockero añejo. Brutal. Ojo a los solos de guitarra que se marca este joven Roy Z, tan al estilo Judas Priest que es evidente que este hombre aprende rápido de todo aquel con el que trabaja. Pura simbiosis. Ahora que Adrian Smith ha vuelto a encontrar trabajo, el campo queda libre para los guitarristas que tienen tantas ideas nuevas que aportar. A este paso ya saben lo que le espera a Bruce Dickinson, tras haber tenido en sus filas a Gers y a Smith, me temo que Murray pronto verá llegar su turno. Y tonto será si no lo aprovecha. Aunque aprenderse un nuevo riff a estas alturas...
“Power of the sun”, pieza rapidísima que hará las delicias de los fans de “Road to hell”, e incluso atraerá a más de un fan de la doncella por su similitud con temas del estilo “Wildest Dreams”o “The wickerman”. Aquí llega la caña que esperaban los amantes del vocalista que más se mueve en el mundo. Y como replicante hiperactivo que soy tal como Dickinson, diré que yo también adoro estos temas en que el irritable cantante puede espolincarse a gusto por cualquier lugar del escenario. En directo debe resultar brutal. Y casi sin darnos cuenta han pasado por nuestros oídos siete temas que nos dejan en “Devil on a hog”, roquera a más no poder, con un puente que hubiera sido firmado por Steven Tyler y Joe Perry y un estribillo doblado por el propio Dickinson, jodidamente bonjoviano y pegajoso como él sólo, perfecto para ser radiado y coreado hasta la saciedad. Los solos de guitarra, como siempre tan sublimes como siempre consigue hacerlos parecer Roy Z. Tal vez al principio este “Devil on a hog” pueda resultar un tanto cansino, y realmente creo que serán pocos los oídos que resistirán futuras escuchas, pese a ser un tema de agradable y facilona escucha.
No me cansaré jamás de decirlo: ¡Bendita voz tiene este sujeto! Es de los pocos intérpretes que ha conseguido emocionarme con los matices de su voz, con el cariz de sus interpretaciones y con su puesta en escena hasta hacerme llorar, así que no me avergüenza declarar esto: Bruce Dickinson me pone... especialmente sensible.
Y para acabar, entramos de lleno en el homenaje a The Chemical Wedding y a tantos y tantos temas oscuros del mundo del metal. Como no podía ser de otro modo, en los dos últimos temas tenemos tal concentración de detalles que elevan a ambos por encima del resto, haciendo alcanzar al final del álbum un clímax que ya de entrada se consigue en The Chemical Wedding. Es quizás esta la primera y más fuerte razón por la que para quien escribe, este Tyranny Of Souls no supera a su predecesor. Con sus primeras notas, ocultas, acompañadas de una sugerente voz, ambiciosa, sobrehumana, nos adentramos en “Believil” hasta llegar a su parte instrumental y coral, que resulta muy al estilo de los grupos góticos de moda como Within Temptation. Tal vez haber girado con esta banda holandesa haya inspirado a Dickinson para algunas de estas partes. Quién sabe.
Y punto y final para este disco con el corte que le da título. “Tyranny of souls” comienza siendo una canción oscura, en la que se recogen los secretos desperdigados en forma de detalle que se van descubriendo a lo largo del disco. No se trata de un tema largo, como tal vez podía esperarse, sino que en menos de seis minutos se concentra aquí el mensaje que Bruce Dickinson quiere hacerle llegar al mundo. Abran pues bien sus oídos porque aquí tenemos la mejor voz que le haya escuchado a este dios quien les narra. ¡Ni en los años dorados de Iron Maiden jamás canto así! Aquí, tal como muestra en la contraportada del libreto, Dickinson se reserva su mejor carta, su mejor jugada. La de full.
No contará ya con la banda que le acompañó en los dos grandes discos de finales de los noventa y en su escueto cd en directo Scream For Me Brazil, pero este Tyranny Of Souls suena realmente divino. Y tal vez no venda muchos discos, tal vez no sean del agrado de demasiada gente, pero es innegable que desde el lavado de cara que acontece desde Accident Of Birth, Bruce Dickinson en solitario está que se sale. Y puede dar gracias a Roy Z.
Source: El Octavo Dia.com
Cheers
What's new to listen to
Bruce Dickinson
"Tyranny of Souls"
Sanctuary
*** out of five
I'm not sure why Bruce Dickinson solo records need to exist.
They don't sound that much different from his work fronting Iron Maiden, and only his first solo disc "Tattooed Millionaire" moved away from the ranks of power metal.
Maybe it's because Maiden bassist Steve Harris writes a large portion of the band's material and Dickinson feels he needs to get these songs out of his system. As a result, much of "Tyranny of Souls" sounds like Iron Maiden B material.
Of course, Maiden B material is better than a lot of what other bands offer, so "Tyranny" isn't a throwaway. "Abduction" is fairly intense, as are "Soul Intruders" and the title track.
Maiden fans likely will buy this, listen a few times and get ready for the next Maiden disc (next year, by the way).
Recommended If You Like: Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden, Iron Maiden
(Brian Krasman)
Source: Daily News ZWire.com
Cheers
Bruce Dickinson
TYRANNY OF SOULS
SANCTUARY | EMI
You'd think one of the advantages of having Bruce Dickinson back in Iron Maiden would be not having to hear any more of his solo albums. After all, if his own stuff was so great, he probably wouldn't be back in Maiden in the first place. Sadly, Bruce doesn't see it that way. So we have his eighth disc Tyranny of Souls, on which the human air-raid siren opens wide and yowls about time and space and angels and demons and the like while guitarist Roy Z unspools 40 minutes of sub-Maidenish riffage. Run to the hills, indeed.
From the Winnipeg Sun...
http://www.ironmaiden.org/showthread.php?t=51552
Cheers
[right][snapback]102387[/snapback][/right]
![cussing[1].gif](style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cussing[1].gif)
Muay?!
I agree with Blade, its a good album.
[right][snapback]107310[/snapback][/right]
It's an excellent album.
![guns[1].gif](style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/guns[1].gif)
It has 4 great songs on it and? Nothing more!
I just bought the album and i was blown away. The thing that amazed me right from the start was the guitar riffs and the all around heavy sound. Bruce did a great job. That heavy sound mixed with Bruce's incredible vocals was awesome! He's done great stuff with Maiden but to hear a different approach from him amazed me. Props to bruce for a job well done 
Bruce Dickinson
"Tyranny Of Souls" (Sanctuary)
On "Tyranny of Souls," Bruce Dickinson's sixth solo album, the Iron Maiden vocalist blends the familiar harmonic twin-guitar riff attack of his full-time band with a darker, more nu-metal thrash style courtesy of guitarist/producer Roy Z.
The album opens with the Spinal Tap-like "Mars Within" that would sound exactly the same with David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tuffnel trading riffs as the bass player struggles to break out of a plastic cocoon. But things get serious on "Abduction," a rip-roaring rocker that would be at home on any Iron Maiden album, alongside "Power Of The Sun."
Much of this album deals with a trip through hell, and while it's been done many times before, most recently on Alice Cooper's "Dragon Town," Dickinson draws on classic metal elements to get the mood just right. Dickinson adds his own touches throughout, including his trademark soaring multi-octave vocals, and an exquisite sense of when to be restrained and when to go all-out. This should whet fans' appetites for Maiden's appearance on this year's Ozzfest summer tour.
-- Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
Source: My Webpage
Cheers
Longer one:
Dickinson's 'Tyranny' hard as iron
Rock
"Tyranny Of Souls," Bruce Dickinson -- On "Tyranny of Souls," Bruce Dickinson's sixth solo album, the Iron Maiden vocalist blends the familiar harmonic twin-guitar riff attack of his full-time band with a darker, more nu-metal thrash style courtesy of guitarist/producer Roy Z.
The album opens with a very Spinal Tap-like "Mars Within" that would sound exactly the same with David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tuffnel trading riffs as the bass player struggles to break out of a plastic cocoon. But things get serious on "Abduction," a rip-roaring rocker that would be at home on any Iron Maiden album, alongside "Power Of The Sun."
Much of this album deals with a trip through hell, and while it's been done many times before, most recently on Alice Cooper's "Dragon Town," Dickinson draws on classic metal elements to get the mood just right.
The opening chords and lyrics to the title track are more than a little evocative of "Black Sabbath," and "Devil On A Hog" is built around a very Iommi-ish guitar riff. But Dickinson adds his own unique touches throughout, including his trademark soaring multi-octave vocals, and an exquisite sense of when to be restrained and when to go all-out. This should whet fans' appetites for Maiden's appearance on this year's Ozzfest summer tour.
-- Wayne Parry, AP