PIECE OF MIND

My first introduction to Iron Maiden only happened in year 2000 when I was listening to M97 - The Classic Rock FM radio station in Jakarta, Indonesia, while I was driving. I immediately called the station and got the song title and artist: It was "Flight of Icarus" from Iron Maiden "Piece of Mind". What an excellent song! To me, music is emotion and "Flight of Icarus" was successful in creating that emotion to me regardless the sub-genre of the music - and I didn't care, really. So I purchased the CD and I played track 3 repetitively - probably 6 to 8 spins only for track 3. Why do I like the track? It's really great music combining excellent guitar riffs, dynamic bass lines and great double guitar work. The vocal part is really clean and powerful. And of course. the chorus line is so memorable ."Fly on your way, like an eagle. Fly as high as the sun, on your way, like an eagle. Fly and touch the sun.". Wow! What a great music segment this one is!

It was quite a big shock to me that this band is finally featured here at this site. I actually consider the band as a hard rock / metal band as most of its structure are straight hard rock music. But it's okay .. again .. music is emotion, my friend! Why debating "prog or non prog?" Just enjoy the music full stop. And this "Piece of Mind" is definitely a hard rock music with good rhythm section and powerful vocal line. As I knew the band quite late - about 20 years after its inception (of course I heard the name but I never heard the music as I don't like its cover - so boring to me). I'm not the right person to talk about who's who Iron Maiden is but for sure I like this album.

Having listened to track 3, finally I made an attempt to listen to other tracks and I was quite surprised that there are good tracks as well. The opening track "Where Eagles Dare" (6:11) resembles good composition with double guitar work in which each guitar player contributes different kind of style. It reminds me to Wishbone Ash as well. I start to enjoy this album as this opening track is a good one to enjoy. "Revelations" (6:48) continues similar style as opening track with double guitar fills at opening part. The music moves with nice guitar riffs combined with nice chorus line where guitar fills are really good.

"Die With Your Boots On" (5:29) is another good composition with soft guitar riffs. "The Trooper" (4:11) is the band's classic where it was also used as Metal program music for the M97 FM Station. This song has a powerful and memorable riffs and excellent music flows using guitar that serves dual roles. "Still Life" (4:53) is probably a track with some prog touch - at least at its structure which contains "curved" segments. "To Tame a Land" (7:27) is to me like an epic with long form music and varied styles. The composition is good and it has a balanced combination of hard and soft parts - all are delivered with powerful vocal and nice double guitar work. This is not to miss for any of you who love rock music. Keep on rockin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW