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Iron Maiden - Fear Of The Dark CD (album) cover

FEAR OF THE DARK

Iron Maiden

 

Prog Related

3.02 | 517 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
3 stars WELL, I'M JUST A MODERN GUY...

The last Dickinson album (first period) as lead vocalist is not the best Maiden one.

Some pure heavy metal formatted song ("Be Quick Or Be Dead", ) heavier ones ("From Here To Eternity") and even some good ones.

At times, some better shaped songs like in the good old days will make their appearance. "Afraid To Shoot Strangers" is one of these, for sure. Wild beat, superb guitar. Almost seven minutes of happiness. But such song is scarce on this album. A highlight.

I prefer to listen to a band that is faithful to its roots (Maiden could have turned AOR maybe.) than to one which is changing its style like a hundred ones maybe; The Oriental mood of a song like "Fear Is the Key" seriously reminds me "Purple" (Mark II B) and at the end of the day, it is not as bad as that.

A funny fact that arose my attention already in their previous album, is the use of titles.

"The Assassin", "Hooks In You" featured on "No Prayer For The Dying" while "Childhood's End" is another one from this album. Superb guitar, powerful and catchy guitar and a great beat. One of the best song here and a highlight as far as I am concerned.

Needless to say from whom these titles are coming from.

It is difficult to write that this album is really bad. So far, Maiden has always taken care that their work could be considered at worse as average. IMHHO, it will still be the case with this album. Not a lot of grandiose numbers of course, but this work needs to be regarded for what it is : one out of many albums of a leading heavy-metal band in the music history. Full stop.

Loads of "progressive" metal bands are just a pale copy of this excellent band. Even if not great, this album could still show the way to go to most of the so called "great" prog-metal offerings.

The very first seconds of "Chains Of Misery" automatically reminds me of "The Passenger" from Iggy Pop of course. Unfortunately, the fantastic beat of the original won't last for long but I can't say that it is a complete waste. Just average. What I know for sure is that I'll just play this incredible song ("The Passenger" of course) just after this album.

If ever you would like to listen to one of the most metallic, most heavy metal Maiden offering : do grab this one. If ever you would like to listen to five seconds of prog music : don't grab this one (nor any Maiden ones actually). A song as "The Apparition" doesn't belong to this site of course. AT ALL.

"Judas Be Me Guide" is another great and energetic song. Just to confirm that the band has not forgotten to write catchy metal anthems.

This album will still peak at the first spot of the UK charts.Not in mine. As ANY Maiden album, there is no prog to be expected. But I had nothing to do with their inclusion on PA. Very little reviews with comments for this album. But this is a global tendency unfortunately : after the first and famous albums of a band, reviewing of later work really seems of no importance.

It is the reason why I tend to review as many albums as I can form a band. To analyse their evolution and to be able to depict some ups and downs in their career. This means of course that it is not always a great experience. Still, this album is OK.

Three stars. Just listen to the excellent title and closing track to be convinced.

I'm rushing now to "The Passenger" from the album "Lust for Life".

"OF COURSE, I'VE HAD IT IN THE EAR BEFORE".

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 |

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