Continuing my way through the Maiden studio albums. After six years and two albums of the Blaze Bayley era, Bruce Dickinson and Adrian Smith return for a reunion not many saw coming at the time with them even keeping Adrian’s replacement Janick Gers to form a three guitar attack and make the new Iron Maiden a six piece. After a short reunion tour supporting the Ed Hunter video game that included a 2 disc best of cd set, the band went into the studio to record what would become “Brave New World” which was not only telling about the band reuniting but also about a new era of the world in the post 20th century. The big question at the time was what would this sound like and who would produce it. Would it be like the pre Life After Death era or would be more melodic like the later 80s or will it incorporate the more progressive style of the Blaze era. There was speculation that Bruce’s guitarist and producer Roy Z would produce the album but they chose to go with Kevin Shirley who had a great resume up to that point as an engineer and wanted to record the band live. The first single was “The Wicker Man” which is a heck of way to open an album. Very upbeat and fast paced but with big melodic sing a long choruses. Co-written by Adrian Smith the melodic style just hits hard to open the album. The first time I remember hearing this was seeing the premiere of the video on VH1’s The Rock Show and I thought it was awesome. “Ghost of the Navigator” starts slow and around 40 second mark it starts building and getting heavier. While still very melodic there just always been something about this song that combines the melodic and progressive that Maiden does so well. This is my favorite on the album and has that Rime of the Ancient Mariner vibe lyrically. The title track “Brave New World” follows and is based on a book of the same name and again starts softly and builds up to the chorus. Melodies for days and has that big chorus and it’s a great track. “Blood Brothers” is just epic. Most likely about the loss of Steve Harris father who had passed a few years prior but the lyrics could be for anyone that’s lost someone close to them. The Rock in Rio version is even more epic. “The Mercenary” is more upbeat again and is closer to that old school Maiden vibe and less progressive style. Really good song and chorus. “Dream of Mirrors” another epic progressive Maiden modern day classic. At 9 minutes is very long doesn’t really feel that long. Love the lyrics and always thought this could have been a cool video. Fast paced and to the point “The Fallen Angel” is classic Maiden all the way with a catchy chorus and great solos and at less than 5 minutes one of the shorter songs on the album. The eastern tinged “The Nomad” is epic at 9 minutes and great musically but the only song on the album that I feel overstays its welcome. Great vocal by Bruce but it seems to go on a little too long but there’s some great solos. This was supposedly one of four tracks that was a leftover from the Blaze era. “Out of the Silent Planet” was the second single and video and is another shorter track at six minutes or so and is a really good song that just has great drumming from Nicko and I love the build through the verses to the chorus and Bruce’s vocals. The album closes with the awesome “The Thin Line Between Love & Hate” and is another epic track and great vocal by Bruce. My favorite of the post reunion albums and favorite since Seventh Son and for me an almost perfect album. Although there are several longer songs I felt almost every note and vocal hits the mark and the production and mix is great. It’s also cool to see how everyone was part of the writing team minus Nicko, with Adrian co-writing two songs, Janick four songs, Dave three songs, Bruce four songs, and Steve all ten songs. Very much a band effort.
Iron Maiden – Brave New World (2000)
