BRAVE NEW WORLD

honestly, i nearly didn't even listen to (let alone buy) Brave New World. i was so disappointed with The X Factor (terrible) and Virtual XI (even worse, if possible), that i wasnt really excited when the new Maiden album came out in 2000. i believed that i had lost one of my favourite bands to the new millenium.

but when a good friend, and fellow Maiden-fan told me that Air Raid Siren was back and so was Adrian Smith, i had to go find it and give Maiden another chance at expanding my CD collection...

and boy did i not regret it. in fact, i ended up regretting that i didn't get it earlier! here was a brave new Maiden. here was the classic Maiden - franctic, heavy, and in-your face with a nod to prog but sounding even more Maiden-esque than before. i dont believe i've heard 2 back-to- back albums sound as different as Virtual XI and Brave New World by any other band.

after a few hundred listens, here are my star picks:

"The Wicker Man" "Ghost of the Navigator" "Brave New World" "Blood Brothers" "The Mercenary" "The Fallen Angel" "The Nomad" "The Thin Line Between Love & Hate"

yes, thats the whole album in running order except Dream of Mirrors and Out of the Silent Planet! and they are all 5+ rating songs. only those 2 songs bring Brave New World back "down to 5 stars...