Iron Maiden Reunion Era Song Battle - Round 4

Down to the final four!

Out of the Silent Planet - vs - Ghost of the Navigator
Brave New World - vs - Dance of Death

Ghost of the Navigator
Dance of Death

Out of the Silent Planet - vs - Ghost of the Navigator
Brave New World - vs - Dance of Death

Ghost
Dance

Ghost of the Navigator
Dance of Death

thejokeriv wrote:

Ghost
Dance

Ghost Dance!!!! hahaha

I think I know my favourites, but since there are only four songs left, I figured I'll just replay them all once again with a critical ear.

Out of the Silent Planet - vs - Ghost of the Navigator

I know Silent Planet so well this was a pretty futile thing to try and find anything new in it, but I played the single version (since I recently dug up all my Maiden singles), and it is appealing in a different way in its shortened form. I can't say I prefer it to the album version though. Song itself is very good, and I love the verses. The gallop that gets repeated in every chorus ruins the appeal of the single, but it's just a very catchy, melodic song with a nice buildup. Doesn't blow my mind though.

I played the Rock in Rio version of Ghost of the Navigator, and while the recording is not perfect, it shows the power of this song. Rock fans clapping really can't keep a beat, and I've witnessed it numerous times live myself. It's almost funny how people always awkwardly clap faster than they're supposed to. There's also feedback running through Bruce's microphone, but at least that makes it sound very raw and live. No question it's the better song though, and I actually really like Silent Planet, too. So that should already give you a clue about how I will vote in the final.

Brave New World - vs - Dance of Death

I've got the Rock in Rio live disc in the player, so I'll play this live version of Brave New World. And conveniently it's the track following "the Navigator", just like on the studio album. Galloping chorus works well live. This makes me think it's strange they didn't play Silent Planet, since I bet that would have gone over well, too. Those two songs are pretty similar in formula.

Dance of Death is a new attempt at the Number of the Beast, both lyrically and in atmosphere. A mini epic about a nightmare with ghosts and death and hell. Musically it's a little less edgy and snarly than the Beast, but more experimental. Though they've done better before and after this. It's almost pedestrian compared to all those tracks on A Matter of Life and Death, for instance. I still can't believe you guys voted all those amazing tracks out!


Anyway in the end, the decision here is not hard. Out of the four remaining songs, Brave New World is my least favourite track. So obviously Dance of Death wins this matchup handily, and it seems like other voters agree.

Ghost
Brave

Ghost of the Navigator
Dance of Death (But just by a hair over BNW)

Results:

Ghost of the Navigator over Out of the Silent Planet (7-0)
Dance of Death over Brave New World (6-1)