Iron Maiden
A Matter of Life and Death
Stars: 2.5/5
These days, Iron Maiden is one of those bands that practically everyone had heard of, either through their reputation as heavy metal stadium stalwarts or their name check in "Teenage Dirtbag." Most people have heard few, if any, of their songs, but since their emergence from the late-'70s British metal scene, they have enjoyed a fanatical cult following.
It's doubtful that the uninitiated will be running out to buy A Matter of Life and Death (Emi), the group's first studio offering since 2003, and their fourth album with the word "death" in the title. Longtime fans will be pleased that the classic lineup remains intact: guitarists Dave Murray and Adrian Smith, bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain and magic-lunged frontman Bruce Dickinson (no, not the cowbell guy).
The album was recorded live in the studio, and it will likely please hardcore followers. The hallmarks of classic Maiden are all here-multi-sectioned epics, harmonized guitar lines, underlying conceptual themes, vocal acrobatics and Harris's patented galloping bass lines.
Despite some interesting touches that distinguish certain tracks (take the Eastern guitar scales on "The Pilgrim," for example), few songs show crossover appeal for non-metalheads. First-time listeners would be better off rocking out to The Number of the Beast, their 1982 classic.
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