Iron Maiden – ‘The Book Of Souls’ [Review]
Some bands have done it all. Not Iron Maiden. These guys have done everything at least three times, forging a multiple-decade career while running rampant around the world, influencing bands as diverse as Metallica and Dream Theater, and precisely honing one of the most instantly identifiable sounds in metal.
If you’ve ever heard an Iron Maiden song before, you’ll know what to expect here: galloping rhythms, duelling guitars, frenzied solos, siege-engine energy, and Bruce Dickinson’s legendary vocals soaring over it all. Maiden’s style has always been their calling card, and their albums are like theme parks, inspired by mythological lore and notable moments from history. The Book Of Souls takes in everything from Mayan mysticism (this double-album’s title track) to triplanes (Death Or Glory) and ill-fated airships (Empire Of The Clouds, Maiden’s longest song ever at 18 minutes and one additional second), providing plenty of substance beneath all the flash, flair, and flamboyance.
Although the story behind this album’s release (Bruce Dickinson’s victory over tongue cancer) could overshadow this album’s epicness in some circles, when you consider both contextual elements at once you’re likely to be instantly overwhelmed by how damn badass Iron Maiden are. A world with Iron Maiden in it is a world that still contains a source of hope, inspiration, guts and grit which stands proud amongst the innumerable negative influences out there. At 92 minutes in length, The Book Of Souls is best digested in small chunks – but you can bet that a good few million tough-minded maniacs will already be on their tenth non-stop run through by the time you read this.
Fair play to them.
TMMP RATING: 90% (Essential Listening!)
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