A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

As Maiden's modern 2000 and on Dickinson/Smith reunion era material goes, I'd say A Matter of Life and Death deserves its place soundly in the middle - better than The Final Frontier and Dance of Death, but not as solid and consistent as Brave New World. At their prospective ages, the boys are capable of creating tapestries of incredible music... and some fairly average stuff as well. Nevertheless, I find myself coming back to A Matter of Life and Death even after having it in the playlist for over a month now. There's a dark consistency to this album that holds my listening attention. It's no wonder that drummer Nicko McBrain considers this album the band's best material.

A quick rundown of most of the songs:

"Different World" is a weak opener - predictable hard rocker. "These Colours Don't Run" features awesome catchy choruses and galloping harmonized guitar work and the usual Maiden themes - soldiers fighting wars in faraway lands, etc. Very anthem - up the irons!"The Pilgrim" is awesome and trim. The epics, "Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg," "Brighter than a Thousand Suns," "For the Greater Good of God," are incredible songs but meander and lose focus in certain suites of each respective song. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining about the lengthy proggy epics; rather I just think they could have been a little more focused.

And the best comes to those who wait... "The Legacy" may just be one of the best Iron Maiden songs ever produced (and most progressive) and proves the band's collective musicianship and ability to write damn good material that reignites my long-haired teenage angst-fueled obsession with their proggish metal story-telling awesomeness.