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Iron Maiden - Dance of Death CD (album) cover

DANCE OF DEATH

Iron Maiden

 

Prog Related

3.61 | 436 ratings

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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Dance of Death is the fourteenth full-length studio album and the second by British heavy metal act Iron Maiden after lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith returned to the fold. Their previous album Brave New World (2000) saw Iron Maiden regaining some of the ground they had lost in the years with lead vocalist Blaze Bayley and the two below average releases The X-Factor (1995) and Virtual X (1998). Best examplified by the fact that when they played ( my country) Denmark on the Fear Of The Dark tour in 1992, which was the last tour with Bruce Dickinson before he left the group, they played to a sold out venue called Valby Hallen, Copenhagen where the capacity is 5000 people. On the tour for Virtual X in 1998 they played to a capacity crowd of 1500 people at a venue called Vega in Copenhagen. Now thatīs a significant decrease in popularity.

A re-vitalized band now with three guitarists conquered the world once again on the tour for Brave New World. It all seemed like a new beginning for the band.

Dance of Death follows down much the same path as itīs predecessor. A few fast heavy metal tracks and most of the rest are epic slow to mid-paced heavy metal songs. This is what we expect from Iron Maiden and Iīm sure no one would like it any different. So when the style is basically the same as always itīs of course the quality of the compositions, the production and the musicianship thatīs of interest.

The compositions are generally some of the better Iron Maiden have done since Seventh Son of A Seventh Son (1988) and thereīs actually a kind of retro-feel in some of the songs that I greatly enjoy. All songs are above average but a few stand out IMO. Montségur is simply one of the heaviest Iron Maiden songs I have ever heard. Just listen to the beginning of that song. Pure heavy metal joy. The title track is also worth a mention for the frantic and quite folky riff in the middle. I enjoy that very much. But Paschendale is without a doubt my favorite here. Itīs such a dark and epic song yet never losing itīs heavy edge.

The musicianship is outstanding as ever. Lots of great and melodic guitar soloes, the most heavy sounding rythm section in a while and Bruce Dickinson in fine form. What more can you ask for?

The production is excellent. Maybe the heaviest production ever on an Iron Maiden album. Itīs perfect in my world.

Dance of Death is a brilliant album by Iron Maiden and one all fans need in their collection. The epic atmosphere in some of the songs might attract a few progressive metal fans too but remember that Iron Maiden is first and foremost heavy metal. Up the Irons! And a fully deserved 4 star rating.

UMUR | 4/5 |

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