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Iron Maiden - Senjutsu Well...that was f*cking epic. I've been very critical of recent Iron Maiden albums for basically being a shadow of their former selves with songs too long for their own good. In fact two or three songs aside last album The Book of Souls is totally forgetful. However Senjutsu is something else indeed. Every song is memorable from the brooding opening title track to closer Hell on Earth. It's like everything has finally come together perfectly. Stratego barrels along like it's come straight off Piece of Mind whilst first single The Writing on the Wall with it's southern rock guitar is like nothing else on the album. Lost in a Lost World has, to partially quote Adrian Thrills from the Daily Mail, a Tubular Bells style middle section which builds beautifully and Days of Future Past - the shortest song on the album at just over four minutes - should be a killer live. The final cut on disc one The Time Machine blends prog beautifully with classic Maiden guitar harmonies. Disc two starts with Darkest Hour with it's atmospheric sea shore opening and closing passages. Death of the Celts apes The Clansman from the Blaze Bailey fronted Virtual XI which is in truth no bad thing but it's the stunning Celtic tinged guitar duels in the midst of this track which prove the outstanding minutes on this album. It's frankly superb and had the hairs on my arms tingling with delight. Meanwhile The Parchment, the second of three songs running over ten minutes each which close the album drips with middle eastern guitar textures. Closer Hell on Earth is a classy affair to end with although i'd have preferred it to end on an angry Bruce crying "Lost in Anger, life in danger" rather than the inevitable acoustic outro. The band are on sparkling form. Bruce Dickinson sounds better than anything i've heard since he returned to the band in 1999, whilst guitarists Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Jannick Gers are simply outstanding, their riffs and harmonies a total delight. Bassist Steve Harris, for a change his instrument is quite low in the mix brings keyboards to the album which give the songs an often more epic nature whilst drummer Nicko McBrain is an absolute powerhouse. I must mention producer Kevin Shirley as well. Senjutsu sounds phenomenal. I've thought his producing quite flat in the past but this is excellent, sounding warm, epic and above all heavy. Rik said he thought it Maiden's best album since 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. After one listen through i might be inclined to agree with him. Listened to in full on cd with Maiden audio headphones. |
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