A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

I have very split opinions about this album. I like it a lot, yet it does not, in my opinion have enough variation in it to rank it with maiden's classic period. However I do prefer it to a couple of their albums from the 80s.

The band now has possibly their strongest line up to date, consisting of the classic line up plus Jannick Gers, making for a very full sound. Early Maiden might have thought, why have one guitarist when you can have two, but now it's why two guitarists when you can have three.

As for the songs, the album opens with 'Different World'. This song has a brilliant riff, but it is very different sounding from the rest of the album. It is very catchy and it reminds me of the 'Somewhere in Time' era. 'These Colours Don't run' is an anti-war song and it introduces us to the darker sound we will experience on this album compared to previous releases. Good song. 'Brighter than a Thousand Suns' is a highlight and shows Maiden's adeptness for creating complex and changing compoitions. 'The Pilgrim' is more of a generic heavy metal song and doesn't do much for me. 'The Longest Day' is another very good anti-war song, but it is a bit repetitive. 'Out of the Shadows' is very good and has a feeling similar to folk music, and has very good lyrics. 'The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg' is another highlight and shows a great contrast between loudness and subtlety. 'For the Greater Good of God' and 'Lord of Light' and very memorable but are good to listen to nonetheless. 'The Legacy' is the other highlight of the album and easily the most progressive thing the Irons have written to date. Very powerful and moving.

With three great songs, four good songs and three alright songs this a relatively strong release. Certainly better than that study in monotony known as Killers. This is recomended for people who are familiar with most of Maiden's 80s stuff already and want to come to grips with their newer works. 3.75 stars