The albums kicks of with Wildest Dreams (well actually it kicks of with Nicko counting in to Wildest Dreams, but I digress). It's a typical H tune; uplifting lyrics and a killer solo. Very nice way to open the album. Adrian's solo is awesome, and Bruce does a good job maintaining the high singing throughout, even if it's a tiny bit scratchy in places because of the 'live' recording.
Rainmaker is next, and again, it's a very typical song from the songwriter. Dave is famous for his short rockers, and Rinmaker is no suprise in this department. However, it it probbaly the best (maybe not as good as The Thin Line Between Love and Hate) song Dave has ever written; a great solo, and Bruce's lyrics are a fantastic metaphor's... very uplifting song. And actually, with the past two albums, Dave really has churned out some of his best ever work.
Next is the obligatory Harris solo song. No More Lies has a fiendishly repetitive chorus... but it works, because it's short and sharp. And the solo sectio is huge, and allows all three guitarist to show off their different abilities very nicely.
Next is a song that show's of one of Jan's most annoying abilities... his ability to copy other songs. This time it's parts of The Fallen Angel and Bruce's Born in '58. It really is a shame jan does this; I'd much rather the other member's discarded material was sincluded instead of Jan giving us another bunch of stolen and/or copied riffs. Even more of a shame that Jan does this, when he can also write some brillaint songs of his own. Ah well. Montesgur does have some nice lyrics, but I think it's another case of Steve writing quite appalling vocal melodies, because the songs just sounds silly. Bruce really is straining, and there was no need for such a goofy chorus to be repeated four times... each time.It's still an okay song, but nothing special. better than The Mercenary anyway (paart from H's solo).
Now we have the title track and... oh dear. Would I be too harsh in saying that this song is very, very, very stupid? I don't think so. In fact, I love it because it's so stupid and cheesey. The lyrics are awful, but do the job of portraying some cheeseball telling of how he escaped death. The solos are nice, and it is very fun indeed to sing. In fact, the only bad part is yet again bad vocal melodies towards the end, in the "when you're lying...". Otherwise, it's eight and a half minutes of fun.
Gates of Tomorrow now, and Jan is at it again. Here we have a total and shameless rip-off of Lord of the Flies. Never-the-less, it's a good song. I consider it filler, but it's still good. Great Bruce lyrics, and I will ignore Jan's song-stealing here because his solo is incredible.
And then... hello! This song has 'McBrain' listed as the main songwriter. Lovely... or not. See... well... musically, it's great. Nicko wrote the bassline and it's very nice and rocking, and Adrian the rest, and it's marvelous. His solo is outstanding. But.. see, now Nicko is one of those born again Christian types. I don't have a problem with these people (hell, I have a good friend who is one)... but in interviews since Nicko has 'discovered God' he's always managed to babble on about, well... God. And frankly, I could care less what Nicko's religious beliefs are. He's one of the best drummers around, perhaps the best if you consider he never uses double bass. But... what I really didn't need to hear - especially on an Iron Maiden record - is a song about Nicko's religious beliefs. The lyrics are... fucking atrocious. Fuck you, who says a clone wouldn't have a soul. Because he didn't come from someone's stomarch? I think not. Beast? Fuck you. A clone should have as many rights (or as little...) as we do. I'm sorry if this is offending anyone who agrees with Nicko here, but to be honest, these beliefs are offending me. Cloning isn't some deranged evil scheme... the only way that's this is funny was when Arnold Schwarzenegger was running around shouting one-liners and shooting people in The Sixth Day, without that, it just leaves me feeling rather sick that people can think this way. Anyway, enough, because...
Paschendale!!! Holy fucking shit this song is so good. Adrian is already the beddest dude, and then he goes and writes an epic. And what an epic. It's certainly my favourite 7+ minute song since Powerslave, and my favourite Maiden song since Wasted Years. Incredible lyrics, incredibe solos and this song also shows that you can still have that quiet build-up intro without plunking a smegging bass guitar. And I'm not going to ignore Steve's contribution to this masterpiece either; together H and Dteve have come up with a truly stunning piece of music.
And it doesn't end there either... because H is back and he's got Bruce with him for Face in the Sand, a song that very narrowly misses my top ten list. If ever a slow plunking bass build-up was used properly, it's here. Absolutely incredible, and by far Bruce's best lyrics on the album and some of his best ever. Plus, Nicko's uses a double bass pedal for the first and probably the only time, and it only serves to add to the immense atmosphere the song generates. And once again, I won't ignore Steve's contribution to this song.
Next we've the second type of classic Muray song; the slowly, wanky solo intro that moves into a faster rocker. Age of Innocence is yet another fantastic Dave song, and even if the lyrics are a little on the bad side, I can't really complain since Steve is getting old now and these thougts he portrays in the lyrics are fair, while I don't agree with them. Unlike New Frontier's lyrics however, they aren't shocking and don't practically ruin the song.
The albums closes with a Maiden song Bruce has been wanting to do since Somewhere In Time: an acoustic song. Journeyman is a beautiful song, again showing Bruce at his best with lyrics (full of metaphor's about life, death and the choices you make in between) and a very memorable chorus. It's the perfect way to close an album that, while having various faults, really is quite a fantastic piece of music. Sure, the production sucks, the cover's terrible, the wya of recording is not even funny and it's too loud.. but... at the end of the day... it's Maiden at their best. And it makes you think: if this is what these guys can do with this many faults? Just what the hell would the album have been like with none of them?! Hopefully, by the time Maiden's fourteenth studio album arrives, we'll have found out.