Dance Of Death

As along-time Iron Maiden fan, I simply had to get this album. Many people, fans or not, would automatically make the naïve assumption that a band who are known strictly as “an ‘80s band” would not be able to release anything good anymore, claiming that their time has “come and gone.” However, those people could not be more wrong, as this is nowhere even close to the case of the mighty Iron Maiden, who do what they do, not to make money, but because it is their LIFE. They make music to make music, because it is what they do best. Along with this album’s predecessor, “Brave New World,” this album is definitely a showcase of the band’s shift towards a more progressive metal sound in contrast to their traditional NWOBHM for which they became known in the ‘80s. I find it very clever to have two shorter songs at the beginning of the album, namely “Wildest Dreams” and “Rainmaker” which, as I interpret it, is a way of being able to set the mood of the listener to be able to digest the longer, more complex songs that follow. One cannot help but appreciate the way that some of the songs start out nice and easy, and then gradually pick up along the way. Such is especially the case with “No More Lies,” “Dance of Death,” and “Paschendale,” the three longest songs on the album. Other songs, such as “Montsegur” simply go straight into an upbeat intro right from the start. Equally impressive was how they included a more acoustic-oriented song, “Journeyman,” at the end. As I see it, a song like that is an ideal way to end an album. No matter which way you look at it, each and every song is worth every second of the listen, and none of them make the listener want to skip over to the next. I will definitely say that if you prefer simple verse-chorus structured songs, then this album is most likely not for you. Bruce Dickinson sounds as great on this album as he ever did on any ‘80s-era Iron Maiden album, distributing every corner of his vocal range across every song. He could be blasting the high notes one minute, and then soothing the listener into dreamland the next. The guitar work is highly complex as always, especially that which is pulled off by the legendary Adrian Smith, be it with super-fast, technical shredding, or steady, emotional flowing. Honestly, no song that does not have that top-notch guitar complexity, virtuosity and layering is worthy of being called a true Iron Maiden song, no questions asked. Altogether, the musicians clearly demonstrate how much of a team effort any true metal band, or any true band in general, truly is, and that cooperation, heart, and soul really do make all the difference when it comes to making true, honest ART. The fact that Iron Maiden has proven, and continue to prove, that they care so much about continuing to make music, just goes to show what true music is really all about. With this album, as well as with all their others, they make it clear that money and fame ARE NOT what matter, and that it is really the skill, talent, heart and soul that REALLY matter. True, they have garnered world-wide acclaim and commercial success, but they themselves always have and always will care first and foremost about the MUSIC, and not the money. They have touched the hearts of millions the world over, and no one can ever deny their importance as a band in the history of quality music. There is a reason that people still listen to and talk about them in reverential tones, even to this day. The same will never be able to be said about any of those awful nu-metal and metalcore bands, and certainly not any of those no-talent pop hacks, DJs, and rappers who continue to pollute the airwaves. I should not even have to say that, because that is just common sense. Anyways, if you call yourself a Maiden fan, or a fan of great, quality music in general, then you definitely need to get this album without delay. Maiden deserve all the love they can get. Just stop reading this review and buy the album already! You know you want to! UP THE IRONS!!! \M/\M/

very good

There's no need to introduce Iron Maiden. They are easily recognizable worldwide and their career has seen the release of (as of now) 15 studio albums. The unlucky thirteen is Dance of Death, but it's not as unlucky as the ominous number might lead us to believe. Dance of Death is a great mixture of the best selling points the Maiden guys have to offer. As most of their recent records, they have altered their sound to make chords more prominent, and thus the end result delivers a heavier tone than earlier albums, which tended to sound more brightly (think of "Phantom of the Opera" and "The Number of the Beast", songs that really a lot more on single string plucking than chords). If you're the Maiden fan that relies on the more immediately accessible and shorter singles and catchy songs, "Wildest Dreams" and "Rainmaker" will surely deliver what you're searching for. However, Maiden restructured their composing right after their reunion at the beginning of the millennium, delivering songs somewhat more complex, but still far, far away from progressive metal. Maiden's classic war themes made it into this record in the form of "Montsegur" and "Paschendale", both strong songs that correctly portray the thematic they try to represent. "Wildest Dreams", "Rainmaker", "No More Lies", "Gates of Tomorrow" and "Journeyman" all take personal perspectives, while "New Frontier", "Face in the Sand" and "The Age of Innocence" are songs with a political feeling portraying a band that no longer wants to write about fiction on most of their songs. As a mature band, their themes have grown up with them and they have managed to keep every song different and fresh, without any song recalling any other song in their repertoire. "Dance of Death" is this record's "Hallowed Be Thy Name" or "Fear of the Dark". A lengthy song, it uses the storytelling lyrics Maiden is so capable of producing. The song's solos are mind-blowing, and the bridge between the second and third solos is as classic as any other Maiden has composed. The story told is obviously fantastic, but Dickinson's delivery on the vocals enthralls you and conveys the dilemma with great success. By the end of the song you are capable of relating to the character's relief and his final decision. The only, and I mean only point I disliked about this album is that Janick keeps using the same solo pattern he introduced to the band back in 1990 with "No Prayer for the Dying" in one of the songs. It just bothers me enough to comment, it is way to recurrent and his solos should try to be more original. I have to say myself, the intro to "Rainmaker" is the catchiest riff Maiden has ever come up with. To close this opinion of mine, for it is nothing else, I would like to let you know that Maiden is definitely not the band you used to listen to during the 80's, but, again in my opinion, it is now much better. Chords and harmony now go hand in hand, the vocals are unbelievable for a man Dickinson's age, the album and songs sound fresh and never stale, everything you hear is new, but it is definitely Maiden. Up the Irons.

As the follow-up to Brave New World, Dance of Death shows that Iron Maiden have chosen to stick with their roots. Bruce Dickenson uses his awesome vocal range to sing wonderful songs with three legendary guitarists, Nicko on drums, and Harris on the bass. I bought this album shortly after it was released because I was purchasing tickets to see them live in Los Angeles in support for this album in January. The opening song, Wildest Dreams, is a fun song, but hey, what can ever top intro tracks like Aces High, or The Wickerman??! Track 3, which is titled, No More Lies, is a great song, with awesome leads. Dance of Death, Age of Innocence, and Face in the Sand are all of equal calibur, and are good. For me, the highlight of this album are the tracks, Paschendale, and Maiden's first acoustic track, Journeyman. Paschendale has so much emotion with lyrics that describe the famous World War I battle. (This song ROCKED live!!) Journeyman was incredible as a live song, and everyone played with so much passion. This album is great, but it is not as good as some of the classics that were released in the 80s. The only song that I really do not like at all is track 4, which is Montsigur. The chorus bugs me, along with how repetitive it sounds. But, this is my only complaint with the album as a whole. I enjoyed this album so much more because most of Maiden's live set were songs from here. It was a beautiful experience, and one that I will never forget. The concert was a perfect 10 out of 10 performance. The only other concerts that I have seen that come close are Iced Earth, (Glorious Burden tour) Opeth, and Metallica.

Très bon album

Takes a few listens to truly appreciate this album...really grows on you. I loved Brave new world and had high expectations out of this as well....am not disappointed.

Dans la continuité de "brave New World" Également EXCEPTIONNEL !

Zunächst einmal, ich bin Iron Maiden Fan der jüngeren Generation. Die Zeiten um Powerslave, Piece of Mind usw. habe ich nicht aktiv miterlebt. Deswegen neige ich vielleicht dazu, auch die 2000er Werke der Band sehr zu mögen und sie fast mit den Meisterwerken auf eine Stufe zu stellen. Lange Zeit habe ich von Dance of Death die Finger gelassen. Habe sie erst vor kurzem bestellt. Vorher kannte ich nur den Track "Paschendale" von diesem Album. Das miese Coverartwork und die schlechten Kritiken haben mich immer von einem Kauf abgehalten. Dance of Death ist ein exzellentes Album. Es ist keine 2. Brave New World, sie ist weniger euphorisch. Aber härter, deutlicher und sie kommt ohne diese Euphorie auch mindestens genauso gut rüber. Den Sound empfinde ich als etwas aggressiver, die Songs sind nicht weniger ausdrucksstark als die von der Brave New World. Natürlich kann man Dance of Death nicht auf eine Stufe stellen mit den 80er Jahre-Werken der Band, das wäre auch vermessen. Aber die Umstände sind anders. Die Zeiten haben sich geändert und seitdem Bruce zurückgekehrt ist 2000, ist die Musik von Iron Maiden progressiver geworden, eben anders geworden. Die Geschichten, die Steve & Co. mit den Songs kreieren, sind genial. Der Titeltrack Dance of Death hat meiner Meinung nach eine der genialsten Melodien, die Maiden je geschrieben haben. Die Texte sind komplex, manchmal etwas abstrakt, regen aber immer zum Nachdenken an, haben etwas positives und mitreißendes. Mir gefällt Dance of Death sehr gut. Ich respektiere jede andere Meinung zu diesem Album. Und das Cover ist schon beinahe so schlecht, dass es fast schon wieder... aber egal.

Excelente disco de 2003, excelente reedicion!