The sixteenth Iron Maiden studio album and fifth release of the reunion era of the band. This time around the band release a double album with several shorter songs mixed with a few much longer tracks including one that’s eighteen minutes long. The album cover really leaps out with Eddie looking like something out of a history book of a Mayan Civilization which’s begs the question is this a concept album or just more of a theme. This album while quite long seemed to resonate with fans at the time and topped the charts in many countries across the globe and had the bands highest billboard placement up to that point in the US at #4. The tour did very well and they played up to six songs from the album.
“If Eternity Should Fail” opens with about 90 seconds of a slower dramatic opening that sets the scene before kicking in and clocking in at over eight minutes it seems long for an album opener but it’s a good one. It always felt like a Bruce solo tracks and come to find out it was written by Bruce for a solo album. Lyrically it could be about a strong believer in a religion reaching the end of life and the questions that are asked in that moment. Also seems to be talking about the future of machines whining out a civilization and maybe AI before it was a thing.
“Speed of Light” was the very catchy, short, and fun first single and has the Smith/Dickinson writing team all over it. A nice 70s hard rock sound with maybe a little cowbell from Nicko drives this one along nicely and it has a good chorus. The theme seems to be about traveling through space and/or exploration in general.
“The Great Unknown” is a solid hard rock song and at six minutes is shorter for this album. The lyrics could be about the change in the world and seem to reference the Bible and religion somewhat but also possibly some political references.
“The Red and the Black” is epic and long at thirteen minutes but is a great track. I do think it could have been edited to around ten minutes and had more impact but damn that melody and the solos are great. About the duality of life looking at both sides of every topic.
“When the River Runs Deep” is a good uptempo song with a solid chorus. At just under six minutes it gets right to the point and doesn’t stick around too long. Good solo too. Discussing the meaning of life and how our time on earth is short.
“The Book of Souls” starts off with a slow eerie acoustic intro and kicks in around the thirty second mark and doesn’t let up. Heavy and almost doomy with a creepy keyboard riff supporting the guitars. It gets heavier and faster later on around the solos. Lyrically following the theme of Mayan culture which ties in with several other songs and the album cover. At ten minutes it could have been edited a little but it still works for me as it is.
“Death or Glory” is uptempo and lyrically similar Tailgunner and Aces High with the tale of fighter planes but this time based in the First World War. Solid song and shorter at five minutes and has a good fast driving vibe.
“Shadows of the Valley” is uptempo and at seven or so minutes isn’t too long. Kind of an underrated song on this album and doesn’t get talked about as much as it should. Lyrically about sins and the afterlife and how we pay for what we’ve done at the end.
“Tears of a Clown” inspired by actor/comedian Robin Williams. Not a ballad but it’s a little slower and very sad lyrically considering the topic.
“Man of Sorrows” is slower and melodic and borrowing a title from Bruce’s solo works from the Accident of Birth release. Very good song.
“Empire of the Clouds” is eighteen minutes long and is led by piano played by Bruce and Bruce’s voice telling the tale of a horrific accident of the British R101 Airships crash on its maiden voyage out of country. I often wonder if it should have been left off the album and put on a maxi single or an EP. It’s a great and sad story and well played and sang but it’s just too long. Maybe if it was a edited to ten to twelve minutes max it would be better but there’s a lot of light and shade and drama throughout mimicking the crash so shortening it probably would have sacrificed some of that. As much as I can criticize the length of the song I have to give credit to Bruce for writing it and his performance is excellent.
Overall a really good album for me and one I played a lot at that time and I still enjoy it and every song but as previously mentioned a few songs could have been shorter but the other eight tracks are all in that five to seven or eight minutes timeframe and work fairly well.
Iron Maiden – The Book of Souls (2015)
