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Music review: Iron Maiden – ‘The Book of Souls’

2 min read
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With recent new releases by Motörhead and Iron Maiden to enjoy, I’ve been recalling my college days filled with regular viewings of MTVĢƵ “Headbangers Ball” every Saturday night when the music channel played nonstop videos instead of the mindless drivel it now programs.

Back in 1986, Iron MaidenĢƵ “Wasted Years” was always a personal favorite.

For the 16th studio album by the heavy metal masters, Iron Maiden gets epic once again with a new collection of ambitious tracks.

I honestly thought that 2010ĢƵ “The Final Frontier” was the last musical gasp for the band nearing a 30-year career that had produced an abundance of classic metal staples.

With the release of “The Book of Souls,” the heavy metal icons prove that a swan song is premature and there still is plenty of life left by delivering a double album of 11 tracks that are reminiscent of earlier albums such as 1983ĢƵ “Piece of Mind” and 1984ĢƵ “Powerslave.”

From the haunting opening of “If Eternity Should Fail” to the majestic ending of the 18-minute closer “Empire of the Clouds,” Iron Maiden leaves little doubt about the bandĢƵ commitment to delivering a blistering audio assault.

Since recovering from treatment for a cancerous tumor on the back of his tongue, Bruce Dickinson delivers another impressive vocal performance as he matches the intensity offered up by the triple-guitar attack provided by Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers.

New songs like “Speed of Light,” “The Red and the Black” and “Death or Glory” embrace a progressive sense of style and structure formulated on the bandĢƵ last few efforts.

Fortunately, Dickinson received a clean bill of health in May and the band is scheduled to tour in support of the new material.

For a band that has sold over 85 million albums, “The Book of Souls” is a convincing 92-minute testament that Iron Maiden hasn’t lost a step or the desire to rock until you drop.

Clint Rhodes is the ĢƵ music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.

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