Despite the obvious handicap of having a name which sounds like the start of a declaration by someone called Ron Maiden (boom boom!), the unique and unstoppable force which is Iron Maiden has spent the last 30 years first steadfastly moving to the very top of the metal pile and then fending off any and all attempts anyone made to shift them (give or take a few years with an ill-fated attempt to replace their iconic singer Brucey Dickinsony with the enthusiastic but very terrible Blaze Bayley). Somehow, the terms “legends”, “gods” or other such overused phrases just don’t seem to adequately describe their achievements anymore. Particularly when you appreciate that they have done this through good management, hard work, a refreshing lack of the usual rock star bullshit (fights, drugs, offstage attitude) and that rarest of all qualities, talent.
Despite a number of line-up changes during that time, with only the iconic Steve Harris having been an ever-present throughout their career, and a touring schedule that has been matched by almost no-one (though to be fair they do at least have their own plane – and pilot – to help them achieve this these days!), they have managed to release a very respectable 15 studio albums since their inception, including this latest offering. Perhaps even more unusual has been the overall consistency of these, though if ever a band was so utterly focussed and keyed into their sound it’s these lads. Despite their advancing ages – illustrated by Harris’s kids Lauren and George’s burgeoning careers with their own bands – and the fact that the list of their most classic albums probably won’t be added to, the day Maiden can’t produce the goods anymore is still a long way off.
As this, their latest ell pee ably demonstrates. Utilising their usual mix of thunderous drums and lightning riffage (see what I done there?), all is very much as you were in the Maiden camp. Brucey is on particularly fine form as he wraps his pipes around the likes of opener “Sattelite 15... The Final Frontier”, “The Man Who Would Be King” and the plaintive (by their standards) closer ”When The Wild Wind Blows”
Let’s face it, there isn’t usually a great deal of difference between one Maiden album and another, at least in terms of their post-‘80’s output; they have done their developing, hit their groove and now know exactly what is required to construct an album their fans will lap up in their droves. There’s no way any of their hardcore followers will find anything on “The Final Frontier” they will be less than delighted about. Those of you with a merely passing interest should at least note that Maiden have now clearly recovered from the Bayley years and are sounding as great as ever they did. But what I am really excited about now – as indeed should be all right-thinking metalheads – is the prospect of seeing them once again take on the world in a live setting. Should they choose to reclaim Wembley from the sports fuckers and the boyband shitheads, I’m so there it’s unbelieveable...
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