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[Metallus Maximus]

Metallus Maximus � Metallus Maximus Forums � Metal On Metal (Moderator: Hellboy)
The Final Frontier

[Hellboy]

I had a bad feeling when they unveiled the cover artwork, but then I really liked the El Dorado single, and thought if this is one of the weakest tracks of the album, we might be in for a real treat. Unfortunately, aside from the Alchemist, it's one of the strongest songs of the album. I just feel like the album is dragging way too much, and what the hell was the band thinking when they recorded that boring intro???   I have to admit to feel underwhelmed about the whole sci-fi concept that seems somehow so dated and deja vu...

I need a few more spins to form an opinion, but I can't see too much staying power with TFF, probably even less than AMOLAD and DOD.

I guess I'm getting old... 

[Klschmann]

My notes on the new Maiden-

I'm not sure why they put all the short songs together and all the long songs together.  It would flow A LOT better if they mixed them up.

This album sounds like SHIT.  I thought AMOLAD was good and clear if a little bit demo like.  This sounds like Bruce's vocals over drums and a mud of guitars.  There's no bite at all.  Biggest disappointment about the new stuff to me.  I know Steve is half deaf, but Kevin Shirley must also be half deaf if he can't hear how this album is crying out for a little high end.   I know the band love working with him, but I'd love to have them try anyone else the next time.  His time has come ( )

Love-
Mother of Mercy (could have been a highlight on AMOLAD)
Coming Home (cool ballad, sounds like a Bruce solo song)
The Alchemist (most old school song on here, great melodies)
Isle of Avalon (melodies all over the place, midsection sounds like Rush)
Starblind (best song on here by far, could have been on SIT or SSOASS, Top 5 reunion era song).
The Talisman (awesome except for the useless intro which sounds just like The Legacy)

Like-
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier (the intro is pretty cool, actually, it's far cooler than the real song that follows which is a bit nondescript even if I can relate to the lyrics)
El Dorado (almost feels classic at this time, much better in the context of the album though)
When the Wild Wind Blows (cool melody, but no riffs, not sure it deserves to close out the album)

Blah-
The Man Who Would Be King (just too weird)

They really threw out A LOT of overused Maidenisms on here.  Repetitive choruses are gone except for the title track.  No bookended songs with the same exact intro and outro.  Some of this stuff sounds A LOT like Rush.  Namely the breakdown in Isle of Avalon.  Consequently, it's not terribly heavy either.  Not that Maiden ever was, but it's pretty surprising how tame this is.

I'm also surprised at how few guitar harmonies are on here.  There aren't a whole lot.  I really wanted a few of those.

Adrian Smith is the MAN on this album.  His sound is absolutely all over the place.  Folks may hate on Gers, but his two songs are great.  Murray is pretty invisible this time, and his contribution is just a bit too weird in the context of the Maiden sound.

Bruce sounds OK.  I really wish he kept it a bit more mid range though.  Coming Home is the vocal highlight, even though he hits notes in The Talisman he hasn't hit in 25 years (Saaaaaaaaaaaaail on!)

All in all, it's better than Dance of Death and Brave New World, not sure if it's better than A Matter of Life and Death though.  It's defintely a step forward into somewhat uncharted melodic territory for the band.  I'm not going to necessarily argue with those calling it boring, again, I think the pacing is to blame for that.  But more of the same it's not, and I like it more and more with every listen, which bodes well for the future.

If you want to download the highlights for a sampler check out Starblind, Isle of Avalon and The Alchemist.

 

[Venom]

To me the Talisman is the best song on this otherwise boring album....

[Protag]

I had a bad feeling when they unveiled the cover artwork, but then I really liked the El Dorado single, and thought if this is one of the weakest tracks of the album, we might be in for a real treat. Unfortunately, aside from the Alchemist, it's one of the strongest songs of the album. I just feel like the album is dragging way too much, and what the hell was the band thinking when they recorded that boring intro???   I have to admit to feel underwhelmed about the whole sci-fi concept that seems somehow so dated and deja vu...

I need a few more spins to form an opinion, but I can't see too much staying power with TFF, probably even less than AMOLAD and DOD.

I guess I'm getting old... 

Maybe by some miracle your ears are working better! 

Klsch if you ever burn this for me arrange the songs in the order you think would make the album flow better. Oh & if you could burn Grand Magus' Iron Will at the same time that would be awesome! 

[Klschmann]

To me the Talisman is the best song on this otherwise boring album....

It's a good one for sure.

I like this a lot more than Brave New World though, which has aged absolutely horribly.

[Release]

Why is Satellite 15 combined with the title track?  It's pretty cool, but, man, an almost 5 minute "intro" kills the anticipation. 

[Klschmann]

Why is Satellite 15 combined with the title track?  It's pretty cool, but, man, an almost 5 minute "intro" kills the anticipation. 

Agreed, should have really been two separate songs.  There's nothing bridging them together aside from the lyrics.  The intro is so odd and futuristic and it leads into the plainest song on here, kinda weird.

[Protag]

  Even Venom gets a reply but not me! 

[Firefarter]

I'm not sure why they put all the short songs together and all the long songs together.  It would flow A LOT better if they mixed them up.

Maiden doesnt like mixing things up,just look at their tours.

[zekeyou]

Klschmann-- I agree re: Coming Home-- as I was giving it its 5th spin today, I thought, man, not only is this the best song on the album but lyrically and musically this totally sounds like it could be solo Bruce.

Another nod for The Talisman here as well.

Overall I'm underwhelmed but with a band like Maiden I can live with that.

[Hellboy]

Maybe by some miracle your ears are working better! 

Don't get me wrong, I love Maiden, but when they try to be a prog band, it doesn't work all that well for them.

I couldn't help but shake my head at Dom Lawson's review, giving The Final Frontier a 9.5 out of 10. Where does that place true classics like  Number Of The Beast, Piece Of Mind and Powerslave? Hell, looking back, I think Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son is a much stronger release than TFF, (or even AMOLAD, DOD and BNW for that matter.)

Kisch, you're right, there's a lot of inspiration taken from RUSH. I just think it's a bit late in Maiden's career to try to pull a 2112 

[Klschmann]

Yeah, a 9.5 is ridiculously high.  At the moment I'd give this a 7.5 with a .5 fanboy quotient rolled in there.

Compared to the last 3-

BNW- 6
DOD- 7
AMOLAD-9

[zekeyou]

Why is Satellite 15 combined with the title track?  It's pretty cool, but, man, an almost 5 minute "intro" kills the anticipation. 

Seriously.

I got it yesterday, and listened to that first song on the way downtown.

While I was sitting in the pizza joint, "Stone Cold" came on the radio and I remember thinking, "That songs destroys the new Maiden opener".

Wow.

[Hellboy]

Yeah, a 9.5 is ridiculously high.  At the moment I'd give this a 7.5 with a .5 fanboy quotient rolled in there.

Compared to the last 3-

BNW- 6
DOD- 7
AMOLAD-9

Overall since the reunion, I still prefer Brave New World 

[Klschmann]

Overall since the reunion, I still prefer Brave New World  

Yeah, that seems to be the overwhelming consensus.  I always liked what it represented (Bruce and Adrian back) far more than what it was (V XI leftovers and chorus repetition to the point of absurdity).