POWERSLAVE

When one talks to a Maiden fanboys, Powerhouse comes usually in their top three and if you talk to progmetalheads, it usually always ends up on their podium as well. So we are ready for yet another formulaic metal full-frontal attack. Actually what the artwork tells us is that their mascot Eddy (mentally interned on the last album) is either completely bonkers (imagining himself as a Pharaonic mummy) or the group's concept is now dry and therefore ready for new temporal adventures out of lack of new Invention avenues. Clearly for me, the second option is the one I chose: there is a strong taste of staleness installing itself in Maiden album with this album, but it did not come as a sudden event, it is a gradual and almost imperceptible downslide to repetititititive riff-erama's galore.

The usually short hits (but not so short this time) Two Minutes To Midnight and Aces High, the two mid-length so-called epics (Duellists and the title track), a few fillers (Losfer and Blade).. Everything points to yet another chapter of déjà-vu/entendu, if it was not for the closing monster track: the 13 min+ Ancient Mariner. Not that this track is breaking uncharted Nubian desert (which for an ancient mariner would be rather annoying ;-), but it does bring a little "je ne sais quoi" that does perk the ear of this old dog. Although of a relatively basic complexity, we have here a real piece of metallic gleam of hope, a bit of an epic; one of these tracks that obviously helped progmetal's development along with Queensryche or mid-period Metallica. And the start of many more migraines for those having metalhead brothers.

Definitely not enough to bring the album to an essential status, not even really saving the album from sinking slowly into oblivion (lost in a metallic ocean of now-average and rather boring riffs, overflowed a tidal wave of such albums), this last track is worth a notice, but little more. Do I read/sound over-articulate and non-sensical for such an album? Most likely a reaction to the album which is more than likely contagious in redundancy. Definitely a bit stale, but ultra fans will love, and I actually very happy for them. To each his own. Now about that Univers zero album..

Share this IRON MAIDEN review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Sean Trane
• Report this review (#93156)
• Buy IRON MAIDEN music online with PA partners
• Show all IRON MAIDEN MP3/Stream
• Go to IRON MAIDEN page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Powerslave page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for IRON MAIDEN related discussions