Iron Maiden - The Book Of Souls

I have a feeling it will be available early. I got an email from my vendor already yesterday saying my copy is in the mail. I'm currently traveling and won't be back home until Friday, so it doesn't matter to me anyway. But it's nice to know it's waiting for me when I get back home.

Since I was placing a pre-order anyway, along with Maiden'd Book of Souls, I also pre-ordered Uncle Acid's Creeper, which is also due out this Friday.

This afternoon (Tuesday), I get an email that the Uncle Acid pre-order has shipped, but NOT the Maiden disc. I get my items shipped to work, so if the Maiden album doesn't arrive by Friday, I'll have to wait until Monday at the earliest to get it. Grrrr!

I got an email that my copy of the vinyl is being shipped already - really hoping for a Thursday delivery. I did also order the deluxe CD but haven't received the email from Amazon that it's on the way.

I will also take an open approach to it. Plus, I have all the other studio albums so I'd get it even if I knew it would be a disaster. I'll stop by Best Buy Friday to see if they have the deluxe edition.

Damn...seeing this pic and I want the vinyl!

And why is it that all 3 of those pics look better than the one they went with for the cover?

S.D. wrote:

Damn...seeing this pic and I want the vinyl!  

I'll post more pics of it when it arrives \m/

The art work looks great! Initially I thought it was a Voodoo guy on the cover...

what is exactly in the deluxe version, anyone know?

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

what is exactly in the deluxe version, anyone know?

Hardbound book.

yea of what tho? A story? or just lyrics for the songs?

No idea.

Almost looks like blank pages from that picture.

Mine shipped. Should be here tomorrow. It's fun to be excited about a release. I'm thinking it might be time to get a turntable. That vinyl looks so cool.

007 wrote:

Almost looks like blank pages from that picture.

Yea it actually is cause thats just a photoshopped version of how it will look I guess. Just would like to know what the content is. If its something worth getting or not. Stupid things like that bother me a little cause if I get the book then I have to make room for it with my boxsets and can't put it with the other Maiden albums then it will look like I don't have it lol. I almost didn't want the last album in that limited edition tin because theres no spine on the side saying who or what the album is haha.

There are 3 listening parties at local bars around here. I LOVE "Speed of Light", but I will reserve my purchase until I hear from you guys [the album is $15 - me at the bar? $100 easy....].

The album is released on september 4 right?

Obviously it will not be out here before next month.

Phoenix Reign Drummer wrote:

007 wrote:

Almost looks like blank pages from that picture.

Yea it actually is cause thats just a photoshopped version of how it will look I guess.

That's what I thought. The photo was just a mock-up of what it will look like, not the finished product. Maybe we'll get a book of doodles from Nicko.

As I'd hoped, the lil' indie record store I pass on my way home from work had their copies out early so I grabbed one tonight. Only got thru about half of disc 1 during the rest of my ride home, but so far, so good.

Gilbert wrote:

The album is released on september 4 right?

Obviously it will not be out here before next month.

Why? I thought Fridays were now the global release day?

Been listening to various leaks on YouTube--they're terrible quality and you have to speed them up--but I'm really, really impressed. The opener SMOKES.

I haven't purchased a CD in long-ass time but this may be an exception.

I got my double CD earlier today (The good thing about New Zealand, is that it's Friday night at the moment ).

Here's some thoughts I threw together on Amazon:

Iron Maiden have released their longest studio effort to date, ... in fact, it's so long that it's released as a 2 CD set! But don't let the length of this album put you off though, as this is an absolute masterpiece.
The first track, "If Eternity Should Fail" starts of a bit slow and spacey, but then after a few seconds, it suddenly roars into life, ... and you find yourself suddenly immersed into the Maiden sound of old. This track is a very catchy number, ..and you should find the tune will store itself in your memory bank, after a couple of good listens.
"Speed of Light", the second track, starts of with Bruce Dickinson's trademark wail of old. Bruce sounds like he's not aged a day since Piece of Mind. This track is a highly accessible number. Again, this is a very catchy number. At this point (my second listen through), I'm also getting blown away by the sheer quality of the production - it sounds so full, and is probably the best sounding of all their post-reunion albums.
The third track, "The Great Unknown" really showcases Bruce hitting the high notes. The guitar skills of all 3 guitarists are out of this world.
"Death or Glory" easily reminds me of something from Powerslave with Bruce displaying awesome pipes again, ... it's hard to believe he recently recovered from a major health scare. Nicko McBrain's drumming really comes to the fore on this one and "When the River Runs Deep". The latter track has solos that left my jaw on the floor! Steve Harris has really picked up the pace with his galloping chunky bass sound on these tracks - reminiscent of that NWOBHM sound of old.
The title track starts of with an acoustic guitar .. and once it gets going, it's top notch all round! Steve's hits it big time with his bass - check out his action 5 mins 50 seconds into this one. I could yabber on all day about this, but you really need to experience it for yourself. .

The 2nd disc ends with Maiden's longest track to date, the mammoth "Empire of The Clouds" which clocks in at over 18 minutes. It tells the true story of the final mission of the R101 British airship, which crashed in October 1930. Again, Bruce sounds like his younger days here. There's some piano playing on this track, but it really fits in quite well and adds atmosphere to the story telling. It takes you on a journey akin to "Rime of The Ancient Mariner".
For me, this is the most enjoyable Maiden album since the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (and I own their entire discography). The songs are more accessible and require less patience to warm to than much of the material on, say, Final Frontier. "Souls" reemphasizes a lot of the NWOBHM sounds of yore, ...and it sounds fresh, yet it still sounds exactly like Maiden. No Surprises there, ... and for me, that's a good thing.

If you lost interest in Maiden's recent efforts, this could be the release that reacquaints you with the band.

I should be picking up mine on the way home from work this afternoon. The Best Buy I pass does not have the deluxe version but I'm ok with that.

I'm listening to it on spotify right now and I'm loving it. The harmony riffs in "If Eternity Should Fail" are sweet.

I just started it on Spotify also and so far the first song is better than anything off the last two albums in my opinion.