Iron Maiden - Book of Souls

[Symphony]

Iron Maiden’s eagerly awaited new studio album, The Book Of Souls, will be released globally on September 4th through Parlophone Records (Sanctuary Copyrights/BMG in the US). It was recorded in Paris with their longstanding producer Kevin “Caveman” Shirley in late 2014, with the finishing touches added earlier this year. However, the band decided to delay its release so that vocalist Bruce Dickinson, who was recently given the all-clear from a tumour, would have time to recuperate sufficiently to join in the preparations for the album’s launch.

The stunning cover art was created by Mark Wilkinson who has worked with the band previously, and because this 11 track album has a total running time of 92 minutes, it is Iron Maiden’s first ever double studio album. There’s a broader split on the song-writing compared to previous Maiden records, with bassist and founder member Steve Harris contributing to seven of the tracks; six of them with Maiden’s guitarists and one sole composition. This is also the first time since 1984’s Powerslave that an Iron Maiden studio album also features two tracks written solely by Bruce Dickinson, one of which is the longest song Maiden has ever recorded! And also two Dickinson/Smith collaborations.
Steve comments: “We approached this album in a different way to how we’ve recorded previously. A lot of the songs were actually written while we were there in the studio and we rehearsed and recorded them straight away while they were still fresh, and I think that immediacy really shows in the songs, they have almost a live feel to them I think. I’m very proud of The Book Of Souls, we all are, and we can’t wait for our fans to hear it, and especially to take it out on the road next year!”
Bruce continues: “We’re really excited about The Book Of Souls and had a fantastic time creating it. We started working on the album in late summer 2014 and recorded it at Guillame Tell Studios in Paris, where we’d done the Brave New World album back in 2000 so the studio holds special memories for all of us. We were delighted to discover the same magical vibe is still alive and very much kicking there! So we immediately felt at home and the ideas just started flowing. By the time we’d finished we all agreed that each track was such an integral part of the whole body of work that if it needed to be a double album, then double its going to be!”

The Book Of Souls tracklisiting:
Disc 1
“If Eternity Should Fail“ (Dickinson) 8:28
“Speed Of Light“ (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:01
“The Great Unknown“ (Smith/ Harris) 6:37
“The Red And The Black“ (Harris) 13:33
“When The River Runs Deep“ (Smith/ Harris) 5:52
“The Book Of Souls“ (Gers/ Harris) 10:27

Disc 2
“Death Or Glory“ (Smith/ Dickinson) 5:13
“Shadows Of The Valley“ (Gers/ Harris) 7:32
“Tears Of A Clown“ (Smith/ Harris) 4:59
“The Man Of Sorrows“ (Murray/ Harris) 6:28
“Empire Of The Clouds“ (Dickinson) 18:01

Formats:
- 2CD deluxe hardbound book limited edition
- 2CD standard edition
- Triple heavyweight black vinyl
- High res audio (24-bit Mastered for ITunes and non-Mastered for iTunes)
- Standard res audio (16 bit/ 44.1 kHz)

 

[1928]

Extremely excited for this, only Stratovarius's album has me more thrilled at the moment (and that comes exactly a week after this). A double album, some epics, and a mammoth 18 minute Maiden tune to close the second disc? Tickled pink. Cannot wait to hear this!

 

[Power_Metal_Dom]

A double album, some epics, and a mammoth 18 minute Maiden tune to close the second disc?

YOU SAID IT MATE!

 

[Power_Metal_Dom]

Well it's out now!

Thoughts everyone?

 

[Dave_MTFC]

I'm really impressed with it. Listened to it a couple of times today. Made my mind up after the first listen though.

First track is a good track to open up with. I wasn't that keen on 'Speed Of Light' to start off with, but I do kind of like it, for me it is not the best track on the album. I would probably say the other 10 tracks are a lot better and stronger, but still I appreciated and enjoyed 'Speed Of Light' after listening to the whole of the album.

I love the track 'The Red And The Black' also really enjoyed 'The Book Of Souls' track, 'Shadows Of The Valley', 'The Man Of Sorrows' and 'Empire Of The Clouds'

I'm struggling to pick my favourite track here!

The riffs, solos and Bruce's voice are really good on this album. I would say this is the best Iron Maiden album since Brave New World. You can see that they have worked really hard on this album, a very good and solid album. Very consistent.

 

[Dave_MTFC]

What are your thoughts Dom?

 

[Symphony]

I've listened to the first half so far.....and I must admit I'm somewhat underwhelmed sadly :-( Hopefully the second CD will change my opinions at least a little bit

Vocally I'm finding it a little on the weak side (seems like shouting on occasions when it should soar) and the mid paced nature makes some of these lengthy songs somewhat repetitive and dull. I've always said that just because the song is on the long side, that doesn't mean it's progressive ;-)

I guess as a bit of context......I've struggled with the post 1999 Maiden output generally. As one of my inspirations growing up I just loved everything from Number of the Beast to Fear of the Dark (was never the biggest Dianno fan) and still spin that stuff regularly to this day.

Now I'm all in favour of bands doing what they want and if anyone has earned the right to do that then it's Maiden for sure. I do find the 3 guitar thing a bit much as well.....it's almost like having to add bits so that everyone has their own part and consequently the mix suffers for me as a consequence.

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here but I can see this record going the way of Final Frontier et al and just becoming part of the collection as opposed to one I reach for time and time again.

 

[1928]

I kind of agree with you on the vocals, Steve. I know Bruce has always strained a bit during the songs but the older he gets the more annoying it can become. Speed of Light is an awesome song but I constantly flip-flop between hating and loving the chorus when he reaches for the 'shadows and the STARS' high part. Great Unknown has a lot of that, so does Empire of the Clouds. Empire in particular has some great singing in the verses that sounds fantastic so I wish they had used more of that side of Bruce on the rest of the songs. But that's one of my only complaints about the album.

I personally enjoy it way more than Final Frontier and it's quickly becoming one of my top albums of the year. I think some songs go on a bit too long (as Maiden has been wont to do for the last several albums), but overall I'm pleased. Curious to hear what you think after the second disc sinks in. I think most of my favorite tracks are on disc 1 but disc 2 is damn fine.

 

[Dave_MTFC]

I see what you mean Steve. That's what I like about opinions, it's what you think, there are no right or wrong answers. I'm always intrigued to see what other people think.

Ha ha, I understand what you are saying about the progressive side.

I wasn't a fan of Blaze Bayley, although I listen to those albums on the odd occasion. I love the albums too from Number of the Beast to Fear of the Dark. I don't mind the debut album or Killers, but if these songs are to be done live, I prefer Paul's voice instead, as it's more his style compared to Bruce, although Bruce does do a very good job. Just my opinion of course, not everyone will agree.

I must admit Steve, I loved Brave New World, and I rarely play that now, I can't remember the last time I played any Maiden albums from Brave New World, I play more of the albums from Number of the Beast to Fear of the Dark, so I maybe with you on this being added to the collection rather being played. I must admit though, I have listened to The Book of Souls about 5 times now. So who knows... ha ha. Like I said above, I think this is their best album since Brave New World.

I know what you mean Dom about Empire of Clouds, and definitely agree with you that I enjoy it more than Final Frontier. Not sure what my top album of the year is though.

 

[Power_Metal_Dom]

Context - Life long Maiden fan. Got me into metal. Seen them countless times, etc etc. AMoLaD took a LONG time to appreciate. Final Frontier was a step back from the prog and seemed more playful and melodic while still being full of thought.

Book of Souls - I like it. I've seen complaints about songs feeling longer than they need to be with lengthy sections repeated for the sake of it. I don't mind the length they've gone for - I'm a prog fan - but I get why people think they're needlessly long. I like the variety of the album. I LOVE the big long epic (Empire of the Clouds) at the end and the concept they've gone for. Red and the Black is a highlight. They've got a good balance of energetic galloping Maiden and slow mournful songs too. All the guitarists are on-point.

Best album they've done since DoD? I think so. Brucie's voice has naturally not maintained his air-raid siren days but that's not surprising and he still sounds damn good to me.

 

[Symphony]

I was just chatting to our old chum Bass Monkey....aka Paul Finnie and he was saying how much he is enjoying the new Maiden opus. Looks like I'm on me own for now ;-)

 

[Symphony]

http://www.goldminemag.com/article/iron-maiden-continue-naturally-expand-sound

 

[Symphony]

http://bravewords.com/features/iron...ds-about-the-book-of-souls-we-had-so-much-fun

 

[Power_Metal_Dom]

We had so much fun. I mean so much fun. I didn’t want to stop. I was like, ‘can we just carry on and do another one? Let’s just put another record in the can.

Fine with us Brucie!

 

[Symphony]

Been giving this some more listening time in the past week and it's grown on me to a certain degree.

I still think some of the fat could have been trimmed from a number of the songs as they do tend to meander at times and I'm still not so keen on some of the choruses....Death or Glory being a prime example. The chorus is the weak point of the song for me.