Courtesy of Maniac 618 from the IM BB.
Sultoon won the fc competition and i went with him and others to the Iron Maiden press bus yesterday afternoon to hear the new maiden tracks from the actual album.
First off, i'd like to publically thank Laz & Sue for making it possible!
Right, down to my opinions on the new stuff.......
THE PRODUCTION IS GREAT (BETTER THAN BNW)!
These are the tracks we heard:
1.Wildest Dreams (Smith / Harris) 3:53
You may have heard this live if you were at donny, the spain gigs or by mp3. This track is great, the verse is very nice and the chorus is also superb. Adrian's solo is absolutely excellent!
The bit just after the solo is played different on the album compared to live. Live Adrian plays a continuous slow tune, but on the album version he plays a few notes, there is a gap wiith just backing and then he comes in again for a few more long notes (bruce also does some nice mini singing bits over this too). The song has a kind of 80's feel to it, possibly SIT era but without the synths.
2.Rainmaker (Murray / Harris / Dickinson) 3:48
THIS IN MY OPINION IS THE BEST OF THE 4 I HEARD!
It has to be the 2nd single after Wildest Dreams!!!!!!!
I can't really discribe this track, it isn't really comparable to any other maiden track, but it gave me the most 'amazing' feelings while i listened. Its great all the way through and is the least repetative of the 4 tracks. It felt longer than 3:48.
3.No More Lies (Harris) 7:21
For me this was my least favourite, but for only one reason, and depending on how you look at it, its not a bad reason at all. It sounds A LOT like the clansman in places (accoustic bass i think) for the intro and certain parts. Its the clansman part 2 in my opinion with better bits and just nice bits. Its not entirely similar, but at times i was thinking "this is the clansman".
It also has a rather repetative chorus. Bruce repeats the title "No More Lies" with a powerful tone many times. For me that is the worst part of the song, the rest of it has some GREAT little tunes going on here and there.
The solo are taken in turn (like on so many maiden songs) straight one after the other.
4.Montsegur (Gers / Harris / Dickinson) 5:50
This track had a heavy riff which very much resembles the Fallen Angel's. This too me was the most progressive / experimental track of the 4. The verse has a kind of weird french kind of sound to it and isn't something i've heard maiden do before (the chord choice is weird). The chorus to this one is quite nice, i can't really remember it well, but the lyrics include (obviously) Montsegur, also the word 'citadel' and 'gate' i think.
Gers is instantly recognisable as playing the solo on this one (can't remember whether others take part).
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As a conclusion i'd like to make these statements, based on what i've heard.....
1. THE PRODUCTION IS AMAZING!
2. EVERY SOLO IS AMAZING (AND THEY ALL HAVE GREAT EMOTIONAL / MOVING BITS IN THEM)
3. THE TRACKS HAVE THE 'MAIDEN SOUND' THEY ARE NOT FAKE (LIKE THE OVERLY DOWNTUNED CRAP OF METALLICA)
4. I WAS AND AM A VERY LUCKY BOY!
Add to this, he clarified that the production was better by way of a 'clearer' guitar sound (meaning perhaps a less 'muddled' mix ala BNW).
Sultoon won the fc competition and i went with him and others to the Iron Maiden press bus yesterday afternoon to hear the new maiden tracks from the actual album.
First off, i'd like to publically thank Laz & Sue for making it possible!
Right, down to my opinions on the new stuff.......
THE PRODUCTION IS GREAT (BETTER THAN BNW)!
These are the tracks we heard:
1.Wildest Dreams (Smith / Harris) 3:53
You may have heard this live if you were at donny, the spain gigs or by mp3. This track is great, the verse is very nice and the chorus is also superb. Adrian's solo is absolutely excellent!

2.Rainmaker (Murray / Harris / Dickinson) 3:48
THIS IN MY OPINION IS THE BEST OF THE 4 I HEARD!
It has to be the 2nd single after Wildest Dreams!!!!!!!

I can't really discribe this track, it isn't really comparable to any other maiden track, but it gave me the most 'amazing' feelings while i listened. Its great all the way through and is the least repetative of the 4 tracks. It felt longer than 3:48.
3.No More Lies (Harris) 7:21
For me this was my least favourite, but for only one reason, and depending on how you look at it, its not a bad reason at all. It sounds A LOT like the clansman in places (accoustic bass i think) for the intro and certain parts. Its the clansman part 2 in my opinion with better bits and just nice bits. Its not entirely similar, but at times i was thinking "this is the clansman".
It also has a rather repetative chorus. Bruce repeats the title "No More Lies" with a powerful tone many times. For me that is the worst part of the song, the rest of it has some GREAT little tunes going on here and there.
The solo are taken in turn (like on so many maiden songs) straight one after the other.
4.Montsegur (Gers / Harris / Dickinson) 5:50
This track had a heavy riff which very much resembles the Fallen Angel's. This too me was the most progressive / experimental track of the 4. The verse has a kind of weird french kind of sound to it and isn't something i've heard maiden do before (the chord choice is weird). The chorus to this one is quite nice, i can't really remember it well, but the lyrics include (obviously) Montsegur, also the word 'citadel' and 'gate' i think.

Gers is instantly recognisable as playing the solo on this one (can't remember whether others take part).
---------------------------------------------------
As a conclusion i'd like to make these statements, based on what i've heard.....
1. THE PRODUCTION IS AMAZING!
2. EVERY SOLO IS AMAZING (AND THEY ALL HAVE GREAT EMOTIONAL / MOVING BITS IN THEM)
3. THE TRACKS HAVE THE 'MAIDEN SOUND' THEY ARE NOT FAKE (LIKE THE OVERLY DOWNTUNED CRAP OF METALLICA)
4. I WAS AND AM A VERY LUCKY BOY!
Add to this, he clarified that the production was better by way of a 'clearer' guitar sound (meaning perhaps a less 'muddled' mix ala BNW).