The Undercover Review

It's Iron Maiden. Although this review needs say no more than its initial three words, I somehow can't foresee myself shutting up in a hurry, but I will mention it again, it's Iron Maiden.

For those of you who aren't fully initiated into the Iron Maiden fraternity of fans… or more importantly are yet to have the pleasure of seeing the crew live on stage, I can semi-understand your mocking thoughts floating around your head. I understand this phenomenon because I too once had not seen Iron Maiden and could not help cracking jokes that contained the words "maiden" and "elderly" in the same sentence.

In 2000 that had changed. My love of the band was only magnified after their performance earlier this year at Denmark's Roskilde Festival, but alas, when a group has so many great songs, you have to be weary of any "new stuff", even if you are a new fan.

I approached this album with caution and admittedly at first listen wasn't entirely grasped by the whole Iron Maiden in 2003 concept, but now, after it has played through several times, I find it difficult to let go of.

The album opens with 'Wildest Dreams', their new single (not that a single means much in an album band like Maiden) and the track they were showcasing in their shows all over Europe.

By the time the album gets to 'Montésgur' you've strapped on the air guitars and Bruce's better than ever vocal tells his story about the so-named French castle. The title track 'Dance of Death' is a prime example of their famed classical guitar introductions that moves into Maiden at their finest bringing with it a questionable string section.

As the album tears through blistering guitar riffs and magnificent song structures, not to mention the "throw your arms in the air and everybody sing along" feel of 'Paschendale's outro (before the softer part, technically not being an outro), the fearsome pounding drumbeat introducing 'Face In The Sand' or the acoustic (yes I said the a-word) guitars unexpectedly appearing in 'Journeyman' you shouldn't have any question left as to what kept Iron Maiden at the top for thirteen albums and twenty seven years.

As I read other reviews of this album I notice many journalists referring to the Maiden boys as "outdated", well no more than four months ago, with my own eyes I witnessed sixty thousand (yes, that's SIXTY thousand) people with their firsts in the air bellowing out every lyric of every song and praising them as though the metal gods themselves had graced the stage with their presence (come to think of it, they did). If this is outdated, then outdate me and all my musician and music-loving cohorts until the cows come home… and just to paraphrase myself… it's Iron Maiden!

By Tim Cashmere

Track Listing
Wildest Dreams
Rainmaker
No More Lies
Montségur
Dance of Death
Gates of Tomorrow
New Frontier
Paschendale
Face in the Sand
Age of Innocence
Journeyman

Label

EMI

Buy Iron Maiden's Dance of Death now from HMV.com.au