Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life and Death - a review

Well since I’m about as a big a Maiden fan as I am a Rush fan I thought I’d try my hand at reviewing their latest studio release ‘A Matter Of Life and Death’. Ok it did come out about 18 months ago but so what!

It’s been three years since 2003's underrated ‘Dance of Death’ and many of us Maiden fans had grown anxious. Very anxious. As usual people were hoping for another ‘Number of the Beast’ or ‘Powerslave’. It is the 21^st century right? Both of those albums are over 20 years old. I love ‘em too but really now.




The teaser single ‘The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg’ came out about a month before the full length album. Clocking in at over 7 minutes the song has a great mid tempo riff, perhaps one of the heaviest they’ve ever written. There is some great energy here, just waiting to cut lose. The breakdown before the solo is brutal. Not immediately accessible for a single but still satisfying. It’s not ‘Run to The Hills’.

The other songs on this album vary from the epic ‘The Legacy’ to the second single and much more accessible ‘Different World’. ‘DW’ has a feel very similar to ‘Wildest Dreams’ off of ‘Dance of Death’. Not a coincidence that Adrian was involved in both songs. ‘DW’ opens it up with a catchy hook and upbeat tempo. Of the 10 songs, 6 of them clock in over 7 minutes and another song ‘These Colors Don’t Run’ is a mere 8 seconds shy of 7 minutes.

‘The Longest Day’, ‘These Colors Don’t Run’ are both odes to war, remembrances and warnings. ‘Day’ being the stronger of the two. Smith, Harris and Bruce contributed to both pieces but ‘Day’ has a great performance by Bruce. He still has it, never lost it this song more than proves it.

The performances by everyone show why Maiden is still at the top of their game. Kevin Shirley has done a great job taking Martin Birch’s almost unfillable shoes. Nicko’s drums sound great and all the instruments can breathe in the space given to them. They aren’t crushed or compressed in a wall of sound.

‘For the Greater Good Of God’ is as fine a Maiden epic there is, penned by Steve. Many different changes and tempos. Opening with some nice bass harmonics and melodies from Steve this song has one of the best chorus melodies. The title is repeated with a fantastic guitar harmony, pure Maiden. It takes a while for the chorus to get there but once it does, that melody sticks.

Another change here is the song ‘Out of the Darkness’. It’s almost bluesy in feel. Reminiscent of ‘Children of the Damned’ in structure, another powerful chorus. Another Smith/Dickinson production. Why wasn’t this released as a single? Powerful and moving, crank it up loud!

This is a fine Iron Maiden platter. It demands that you LISTEN to it. Not in the background either. They’ve really expanded their progressive side this time. It’s mature and deep. No ‘2 Minutes to Midnight’ or ‘Wasted Years’, but more ‘Seventh Son’ like. Some will like it and some won't. At least Maiden isn't trying to rehash the same ole crap.

Highlights ‘Different World’, ‘Out of The Shadows’, ‘For the Greater Good of God’, ‘The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg’ and ‘The Longest Day’.

My copy came with a bonus DVD, the making of 'A Matter Of Life and Death'. I don't know if they still do, but if you find it it's worth getting.
Enjoy!

Great review, dude.

It's definately a cool album. And you're right when you say you need to listen to it. It's like Metallica's And Justice For All in that there's too many little things going on that you need to focus on it and catch the magic.

I love the main riff in Brighter Than A Thousand Suns. That's metal right there.

Great review, I agree with almost everything except one thing and I believe I am in the minority with this. I really do not like Kevin Shirleys production. I think the guy has done wonders with Dream Theater but have not really liked any of the prodution jobs he's done with Maiden.

For one thing all the kevin Shirley produced albums seem quiet. Try listening to them with headphones on and I find I have to turn the volume up more than other other Maiden albums. I also find that The guitars sound just a little flat, particularly the part in these colours don't run when the main riff kicks in. When they played the song live the riff literally exploded and the song really took off but on record this doesn't have the same impact.

One of the things I have always loved about Maiden is the fact that they are one of the rare metal bands who really capture the live essence of the band on record but all the tours I have seen them on since Kevin Shirley came on board the songs have far more impact on stage than on record. I am so pleased the band seem to want to document every tour these days with a live album/dvd as I find with the newer stuff I seem to listen to rock in rio and death on the road far more than brave new world or dance of death, and this is sad as the albums have some cracking songs

I bought it when it came out. I was a little dissapointed but I gotta say it grew on me real fast. Love the album now though. Listen to it all the time. Great Review man!

I was disappointed also, but that's only because the only 2 maiden albums I own are this and their greatest hits.