I've been listening to early Maiden again lately...

[dreamwatch]

... and it's brought it home to me what a rancid pile of rotting flesh oozing puss and maggots they are now. Maiden, please, I beseech you - do the right thing and retire gracefully. Ta.

 

[Goreripper]

Actually I really don't mind their recent material, but it's nothing compared to the classic period. I do think however that they should stop making records unless they can come up with something that is truly, truly special. Maybe get a large bunch of veteran Maiden fans in a studio, play them some new tunes and let them decide whether to record them or just put the guitars up over the mantlepices and count money into their old age.

 

[Mark]

Good idea Gorey. It pains me that I don't like their new stuff (DoD especially - I actually like half of BNW). They're tired, I think, and IMO it's sad that many fans accept it all as 'great cos it's Maiiiiden!!!'. I think that's doing a disservice to the band, as it makes them think they're actually releasing stuff that's still relevant

They still kick arse live, though, except for the panto moments (and Janick).

 

[Spiff]

It all started going downhill when Adrian left. Nothing that happened between then and Brave New World would have happened on his watch, I'mtellingyouthatrightnow.

 

[Spiff]

Then again, if Janick wasn't in the band then we wouldn't have nearly as many of the decent songs we actually have on the albums he's appeared on. As a player he's almost as good as Mark, but as a writer he's really very good. But then one would think that Adrian would have written plenty of decent songs.

 

[Mark]

But as a writer, he's a very good recycler. His writing isn't a patch on Adrian's, and I think Jan's cut-the-corners style has had a bad impact on how the band operates.

 

[dreamwatch]

*nods in agreement with everyone and pines for the days when 'Iron Maiden' was a mark of quality on a CD*

 

[Spiff]

No, Steve is the recycler. He hasn't written an original riff since Caught Somewhere in Time.

 

[Mark]

No, that would be since SSOASS NPFTD started the rot, and it went downhill from there, with a short spike with BNW.

 

[Icarus]

Dod is cool BNW is the one that sucks!

 

[spawn]

I prefer Iron Maiden ripoff bands to the real thing these days

 

[Mark]

Iccy, what IS it that makes people like DoD? Honestly?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I really like DoD and BNW, and not just 'coz they are Maiden', I genuinely think they are decent albums. They don't have that 'classic' feel about them that the 80s material does, but that is understandable, they aren't as groundbreaking, and frankly not much trad metal ever will be. I don't understand how anyone who likes other Maiden could call those albums shit, as they feature quality song writing from the same songwriters, but each to their own.

I have been listening to alot of Brucey solo stuff lately. Damn he is awesome. His new album is now my second most anticipated release behind new Priest. And I just realised typing that, that Roy Z has a hand in both of them lol.

Oh, and I think Janick is a great songwriter. Be Quick Or Be Dead, Wasting Love, Lord Of The Flies, Man On The Edge, The Edge Of Darkness, 2am, most of the rest of The X Factor which is a great album, Como Estais Amigos (some hate it, I love it), Ghost Of The Navigator, Dream Of Mirrors, Out Of The Silent Planet, Dance Of Death (again, some hate it, I love it), Gates Of Tomorrow, and some great stuff on Bruce's Tattooed Millionaire. He is a solid player, and I think he is entertaining on the live material (admittedly a little over the top on occasion). Jan rocks.

 

[Spiff]

I don't like Janick on the live material, especially the old stuff. He shows no respect for the solos and stuff.

 

[Mark]

My argument is the new albums SHOULD be groundbreaking. Why continue to release albums if you're not going to try and push yourself?

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I don't really see how Maiden could do anything groundbreaking anymore, after what they have already done. Varying in style too much would piss off more fans than they do by remaining tired and true.

 

[spawn]

Tired and true, an appropriate mistake Blitz

 

[Blitzkrieg]

It wasn't a mistake, it is how Mark feels.

 

[spawn]

Oh

 

[Goreripper]

Maiden hasn't really been groundbreaking since the early 80s. After the first few albums they had established their formula and haven't really changed it since. The closest they've come to experimenting was when they stripped back their sound for "No Prayer" and went 'proggy' on "X Factor". If they had been interested in experimenting with their sound, they would have used the songs Bruce wanted to put on "SSOAS" or some of Adrian's poppier stuff, but Harris refused.