BRAVE NEW WORLD

Brave New World is a truly great comeback album from the Irons and seriously kicks some ass. After Somewhere in Time this is probably my second favourite Maiden album. With Bruce and Adrian back on board not much can go wrong, and it doesn't.

'The Wicker Man' starts of the album in the band's usual way. Hard rockin' with some heavy riffs and a catchy chorus. Simple and brilliant. 'Ghost of the Navigator' is a very moody track with some great lyrics and an awesome solo. 'Brave New World' is one Maiden track where there are definite prog influences and this is an album highlight... but 'Blood Brothers' is THE album highlight... and a career highlight to be honest. It's songs like this why Iron Maiden are included on this sight. Atmospheric synths and that epic chorus... I just love it. 'The Mercenary' is another more traditional track for the band and rocks hard. 'Dream of Mirrors' is a great epic with not one, but TWO catchy choruses, which unfortunately get a bit repetitive by the end. 'The Fallen Angel' is pretty good, but I know better songs of the same name (see my review for King Crimson's Red). 'The Nomad' has a great middle eastern feel which it pulls off without becoming a clone of Led Zepplin's Kashmir, and this makes for a great track full of mysterious lyrics. 'Out of the Silent Planet' doesn't seem to be appreciated on this site but I love it. 'The Thin Line Between Love and Hate' brings the album to a close with another proggish track. The vocals are brilliant on this one and on seperate occassions both my parents have mistaken Mr. Dickinson for none other than Sting!

This is certainly one of Maiden's best albumad is better than some of their 80s stuff. Definitely a recomended purchase and well worthy of four stars. or even 4.5.