‘Book of Souls’ reflects band’s long career
September 18, 2015
Fans of Iron Maiden might wonder if their fire still burns as strongly in 2015 as it did in 1981. That’s up for debate. In the British metal legends’ latest effort, “Book of Souls,” Iron Maiden serves up their longest album to date, which is quite a feat for a band nearly four decades into their career. However, the second half of Maiden’s discography has been trademarked by longer, drawn out and more symphonic album structures.
The average post-2000 Maiden song clocks in at nearly seven minutes long, a length rivaled only by contemporaries Metallica. The most recent catalogue of Maiden’s career has been defined by long sagas and more mature, varied soundscapes, so a double album reaching 90 minutes long is not necessarily out of character. “Book of Souls” fits, almost to a fault, Iron Maiden’s formula: anthemic songs often spanning over 10 minutes in length, soaring, epic vocals from frontman Bruce Dickinson, a confusingly large number of Celtic-themed guitar interludes and a melodramatic bravado that has often served the band well.
However, one would be disappointed to find that Iron Maiden seldom breaks new ground on “Book of Souls.” This might be because Maiden has already broken all the ground that there is to find, yet the staleness of “Book of Souls” is alarmingly prominent. “Book of Souls” almost never delivers a bad song, but at the same time rarely delivers an exciting moment or fresh sound. For a die-hard Iron Maiden fan, this may not exactly be a bad thing. The album isn’t a painful experience, yet it does little to capture the attention of someone not already completely invested in it.
Despite the lack of surprises, Iron Maiden’s new album can still offer a pleasurable listening experience, particularly on the heart-pumping, 13-minute burner “The Red and the Black,” or “When the River Runs Deep,” where Maiden manage to strike the iron just right and keep their audience captivated for the entire run of the song. However, all too often on the album, Maiden is found recycling old formulae and song ideas; one needs to be willing to hear similar material for 90 minutes to fully enjoy “Book of Souls.”
After all, it seems like Maiden are growing a bit tired. Bruce’s soaring tenor is now weathered down to a simmering baritone and the guitars and drums are just a little slower than before. If you’re a metal fan of any kind, you almost owe Maiden the respect of giving “Book of Souls” a try, and you’ll probably find something you enjoy. However, for those who have a more eclectic taste, it might be a better idea to look back to Iron Maiden’s older albums and take this album as a marker of a later time in Iron Maiden’s catalogue.
Email Kieran Graulich at [email protected].
30 year fan Rob • Oct 22, 2015 at 9:03 pm
Unbelievable….., the best album since Brave New World (though some argue Book of Souls is the best ever) ….. Bruce performs top notch even with cancer….. New things that actually work like Bruce on piano….. And this reviewer can only bash the album ? Wow….. I grant u it did take me a couple listens to truly appreciate the album but once I got inside the album I realized that the album had gotten inside of me….. And to be a fan as long as I have and have been disappointed as I have with their last 3 albums I truly shocked that a review like this is seeing the light of day….. A strong damn album by any standard
Makeeval • Sep 20, 2015 at 1:07 pm
“However, one would be disappointed to find that Iron Maiden seldom breaks new ground on “Book of Souls.” This might be because Maiden has already broken all the ground that there is to find, yet the staleness of “Book of Souls” is alarmingly prominent. “Book of Souls” almost never delivers a bad song, but at the same time rarely delivers an exciting moment or fresh sound.”
Call me old fashioned but I really think that you should actually listen to an album all the way through before you write a review. Tell me that the tracks ‘Book of Souls’, ‘Death or Glory’ or ‘Empire of the Clouds’ don’t have exciting moments or, in the case of ‘Clouds’, a fresh sound and I’ll show you someone who can’t get excited without chemical stimulus.
“If you’re a metal fan of any kind, you almost owe Maiden the respect of giving “Book of Souls” a try, and you’ll probably find something you enjoy. However, for those who have a more eclectic taste, it might be a better idea to look back to Iron Maiden’s older albums and take this album as a marker of a later time in Iron Maiden’s catalogue.”
I don’t know why you used the word ‘eclectic’ there. Do you actually know what it means? You seem to have used ‘eclectic taste’ in contrast to some sort of ‘metal taste’ when obviously there isn’t a contrast. Music isn’t divided into ‘metal’ and ‘everything else’. Obviously, most metal fans don’t JUST listen to metal. Although they do listen to it more than you, as judging by this review you never have.
Maiden have managed to distill what makes them Maiden (guitar harmonies, galloping basslines, Bruce’s voice, narrative lyrics) and put those same component parts back together in ways that still seem fresh to listeners, as you said, almost 40 years after their debut. This isn’t a band releasing the same shit over and over again, they are literally at the peak of their powers. They sell out venues now that they never could’ve done in the eighties and its because they are finding new fans with every release.
Also, I’m curious about your opinion on Maiden’s older material. Seen as you mentioned so casually that readers should check out their old stuff I was wondering which albums should they check out? How many can you name without googling them?
Blocker • Sep 19, 2015 at 9:46 am
Could the Book Of Souls be Maiden’s greatest Album, I think so, Harris Dicko Nicko Smithy Murray Gers, I’ve been a fan from about 84 & this Double Epic is shit hot & I’m fookin liking it a lot, Viva La Eddie
Gooseman • Sep 18, 2015 at 3:07 pm
Has this reviewer actually listened to the album? The album doesn’t break new ground? So the fact that the greatest metal band of all time has released a song that is 18 minutes plus, and has the piano doesn’t constitute breaking new ground. The album is fresh and relevant, the vocals are strong considering what was about to happen.
This album is new ground and not something their peers could have achieved.