NO PRAYER FOR THE DYING

...and still not that bad as a straight metal album, but clearly below Maiden standards. Many people thought that the big change in Maiden's style from the great and epic 7th Son Of A 7th Son to this ''back to the roots'' record was because of Adrian Smith's departure, and that his replacement (Janick Gers) was not at his level etc etc. However, when mr Gers joined the band No Prayer Fo The Dying was already written and he was not involved at all with any of the compositions here, in fact, Hooks In You was co-written by Smith just before leaving the band. The mystic is gone in this album, but it isn't a good revival of Maiden's early sound either, mmm...

Tailgunner opens the album nicely, nothing spectacular here but effective and with a decent chorus.

Holy Smoke is a clear display of Dickinson's new style, more dirty and less melodic, similar to that of his solo album Tattoed Millioonaire, not my cup of tea but the song is not bad and is somewhat fun to listen to.

The title track is by far the best of the album and maybe the only song here good enough to be in any classical Maiden record, even proggy at times :p

Public Enema Number One has some nice guitar lines, the afore-mentioned Dickinson style, a somewhat catchy chorus and that's it, a decent rocker and nothing more.

Fates Warning is one of the weakest moments of the album, if it would have been written by other metal act it would be a fine song, but not for Maiden, is another rocker but more boring and with less personality than the previous one.

The Assassin is not great but at least is more entertaining and the 2 way chorus is catchy, nice soloing near the end too, a fine song.

Run Silent Run Deep is a nice Harris-Dickinson composition, one of the best here, it has strenght and good guitar work (well, it's still Maiden isn't it?)

Hooks In You is another example of that dirty style mr Dickinson developed during these years, the chorus is more melodic but has a Motley Crue flavour, or maybe is just me......not terrible, but should have been included in Tatooed Millionaire and not in a Maiden album, I think that says it all.

Track 9 was originally written by Dickinson for his solo album, but was then included here by Harris's request. Ironically Bring You Daughter... became the first (and only) Maiden song to reach the nº1 position in the UK charts. It's a hard rock tune with a (very) catchy chorus that is repeated over and over again, very overrated imo.

Mother Russia is the closest approach to an epic to be found in this album, it has atmosphere and along with the title track is the proggiest number here, still I think is just ok, I don't know, it sounds a little forced to me.

2 stars in prog archives 2.5 stars in any metal site

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