Iron Maiden's "Dance of Death"

This album seems to get slagged by many many people as one of Iron Maiden's worst albums. I never could figure out why.

I guess I'm in the vast minority of people who love it! In fact, it's my favorite Iron Maiden album and has been for 4 years now (ever since first hearing it).

What are your thoughts on this album? Do I stand alone in thinking it's great?

I love it as well. Wildest Dreams and Paschendale are 2 of my favorite Maiden songs.

The cover stinks but its just a cover. The album kills. I love the last three IM albums as much as the early stuff if not more than the early stuff.

i agree too the cover is pretty lame. I do like the music though. I think most people, and i am one of them, think bruce has lot some vocal range but the music on the whole is good but i dont think there outside of paschendale there are too many maiden classics on this album. It is a good album to listen to from start to finish....

Alex

I also think the cover is pretty bad, but Dance of Death is one of my favorites. Love the album.

I think it's great! The last three are among their best ever and the best for me since Powerslave (I don't want to keep killed here but SIT and 7th are my least favorite).

I have no problem w/the cover or the content, don't think it's their best though. Their worst? Anything w/out Bruce, including the first two nwobhm drivel!

Not their best, but thankfully far from their worst. It's one of those discs that I played like hell for the first month or so that I had it, but since then I only dust it off once in awhile.

candlemass wrote:

I have no problem w/the cover or the content, don't think it's their best though.

this is pretty much my feelings on it as well.

candlemass wrote:

Their worst? Anything w/out Bruce, including the first two nwobhm drivel!

oh man... the first two albums are absolutely awesome. however i agree that the Blaze stuff falls into the "worst" category of Maiden's discography.

I really think the true Maiden discography should start with Number. The first 2 albums just sound like the best general NWOBH that was out at the time, and nothing else. I haven't listened to either for years.

Not the 1st album I reach for when I want to listen to some Maiden, but hardly one of their worst either.

As for their first 2, well, they are just classics. I'm a fan of the Bruce years moreso than Paul, but those 2 albums helped define a whole style, movement, look, sound, everything.

Well, it's great to see that I'm not alone in loving this album!

Thanks guys! A lot of my local friends seem to feel this is one of Iron Maiden's worst albums.

I was at a concert the other night and got into a conversation with several guys. With the exception of just one guy, everyone else was just slagging this album as if it was nu metal or something. Whatever.

About the cover, it's not their finest moment, but I thought it was kinda cool. Something different never hurt. Plus it has a bit of a 'dark' feel that I like, even though it's CGI.

Musically speaking, this album has some of my favorites songs:

Journeyman
Wildest Dreams
Rainmaker
No More Lies
Montsegur (sp?)
Dance of Death

Those are my faves.

As far as favorite Iron Maiden albums goes, here's my rankings:

1. Dance of Death
2. No Prayer for the Dying (another very underrated work)
3. Powerslave
4. Somewhere In Time
5. The Number of the Beast
6. Seventh Son of a Seventh Son
7. A Matter of Life or Death
8. Iron Maiden
9. Brave New World
10. Killers

I agree....I think Killersis just a knotch below the Triumvirate of NOTB/POM/Powerslave. Di'Anno brings a different vibe to those early ones and Killershas some special, defining moments.

"Killers" is good. I prefer their "S/T" over it though.

What do you think of the "S/T" Scott?

scottmitchell74 wrote:

I agree....I think Killersis just a knotch below the Triumvirate of NOTB/POM/Powerslave. Di'Anno brings a different vibe to those early ones and Killershas some special, defining moments.

Look at you with the $5 fancy word!! For some of us more ignorant keyboard-pounding mouth breathers...

The term triumvirate (a law)(from Latin, "of three men") is commonly used to describe a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals. The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case. The term can also be used to describe a state with three different military leaders who all claim to be the sole leader of the state.

LOL, that's my goofiness oozing out at times.....

Blackieboy.....I think S/T is OK, it has a couple of good moments especially in light of when it came out, but it's the least favorite of the first 5. But, that's like saying Dutch Apple Pie is my 5th favorite pie!

blackieboy wrote:

"Killers" is good. I prefer their "S/T" over it though.

What do you think of the "S/T" Scott?

I think he likes the Di'Anno years a bit more, but I'm not sure.

Dance of Death is probably my favourite Maiden album. It got me in to the band and it's just generally up my street.

candlemass wrote:

Their worst? Anything w/out Bruce, including the first two nwobhm drivel!

blasphemer! go sit in the corner

i like dance of death. not their best, not their worst

Why is everyone coming down so hard on the first two discs? Remember Dickinson took over Di'Anno's spot not the other way around. Plus Dickinson's first band Samson was also very NWOBHM.

I like this album, but I am so sick of the way they have changed. Every single song on Dance of Death except 1 starts off slow and acoustic. Really angers me! They aren't that damn old that they have to constantly play slower than snails! I've been losing interest in their later stuff and my respect for them is dwindling.

GREAT Album - the Death On The Road DVD is good too

As for one of Maiden's worst, maybe just worst Album cover!

I`m with you blackieboy, love that album!!
actually I played it a couple of days ago, thinking wow this is one of the greatest Maiden albums! Underrated.

Olafsto wrote:

I`m with you blackieboy, love that album!!
actually I played it a couple of days ago, thinking wow this is one of the greatest Maiden albums! Underrated.

I play this one all the time. Probably moreso than any other IM disc. As for the starting off 'slow' and 'acoustic' or whatever. I love that about this disc.

I think it's the most melodic IM album, and I guess that's why I love it.

It isn't their best, but it is a good album

blackieboy wrote:

This album seems to get slagged by many many people as one of Iron Maiden's worst albums. I never could figure out why.

I guess I'm in the vast minority of people who love it! In fact, it's my favorite Iron Maiden album and has been for 4 years now (ever since first hearing it).

What are your thoughts on this album? Do I stand alone in thinking it's great?

I dont think its bad the only formula missing is that the album sounds bit mellow for Iron Maiden like Bruce Dickinson doesnt use his loud high pitched voice much on the album but despite that its very melodic and still a great Iron Maiden album and definitely shits on Fear Of The Dark which in my opinion is Maiden's worst album along with No Prayer for the Dying but also they have done very well by remaining true to themselves not converting to any trend like MetallicA and Def Leppard did in the 90's and now. But its not as good as their stuff b4 NPFTD and Brave New World. The album cover art is completely CRAP and the worst cover art theyve done they should bring back Derek Riggs