Iron Maiden's Dance Of Death
8/10
Well not much could be said about this album, Dance of Death is either loved or regarded as unispired and repetitive music. I am one of those who think the second way.
First the production is not St.Anger awful but prety bad considering they have made better in their 80's and the recording technology was not that great back then. The interaction between the overly used orchestral arrangements and three guitars is very bad, once the violins kick in the 3 guitarrs get pushed back and noone can tell them.
Bruce Dickinson's vocals are below average (not considering the 2 first Maiden albuns in the 90's), i think this is not a age issue because i've seen Maiden in 2003 and it was great, his voice seems uninspired, mostly grasping and thin and not using any special lines or vocal experties unlike his predecessor BNW which had great Bruce moments. In this album Bruce didn't beat the 3 guitars and orchestra and it's not the production fault.
Last of all this album is not classic normal Iron Maiden music. Same old intros and outros making Fear of the Dark the first in its Maiden genre. Sometimes is good(1 or 2 songs) but in 3/4 of the album gets old. Maybe there's somes a couple of songs that standout like Rainmaker and even Pashendale, of course if Journeyman was a original idea for all Maiden members it would be great, but it has been done in Bruce solo albuns with greater impact.
But its not all bad althogh it's not perfect it has some great chorus, riffs, harmonies and i like to hear Bruce yelling No more lies.
This Maiden fan is way too critical towards one of his favorite bands.
