Matter of Life & Death (Snys)

Iron Maiden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 5, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000H7JD4A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (300 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,388 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #99 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > British Metal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

You've got to hand it to Iron Maiden. After two decades of recording and releasing albums, the British sextet still has its share of fresh ideas, something it proves once more on A Matter of Life and Death. The opening tracks "Different World" and "Brighter than a Thousand Suns" show, more clearly than ever, the group's progressive rock roots and its affinity for upsetting expectations about what a heavy record should sound like. But some of the material--"These Colours Don't Run" and the epics "Lord of Light," "The Legacy," and "The Longest Day"--also suggests that the band could stand to expand outside its comfort zone a little more often. By now we know what to expect even from the most unusual Maiden album and that familiarity ultimately sinks A Matter of Life and Death faster than any fad at the forefront of the heavy rock scene. At best the record shows the band is still vital, at worst it shows us that Steve Harris and company are coming up a little bit winded these days. --Jedd Beaudoin

Product Description

Limited Edition two LP vinyl pressing of this highly anticipated 2006 release by the finest British Metal band, bar none, Features 10 tracks including the first single 'The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg'. EMI. --This text refers to the Vinyl edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

94 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Rust On These Irons, September 5, 2006

By 

Sky (New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: A Matter Of Life And Death (Audio CD)

Iron Maiden still reign supreme as the absolute Kings of Metal and have since their first disk back in 1980. Now, countless releases later, A Matter of Life and Death shows that the "Colours" are not running in the slightest on the Iron Maiden Flag.

I remember back in 1999 hearing that Bruce and Adrian re-joined the band for Brave New World. That was indeed exciting news. After all, while they were out of the band they teamed up on two of Bruce's solo releases, and one of those releases, Accident of Birth, was as good as Maiden's Number of the Beast or Piece of Mind...I know...Blasphemous!

And what a disk Brave New World was! That too was as good as any of the best Maiden albums ever released. 6 years and another release (Dance of Death) later, the Irons are still way up.

A Matter of Life and Death is an Iron Maiden classic already. It's got the familiar sounds...you know...the ones we all have come to know and love over the past 26 years. The anthem choruses are there. The epic songs are there. The lead guitar duals are there.

The three-guitar onslaught is there. But that's a relatively new sound that's only been around since Brave New World. And that sound is working on all Iron cylinders on A Matter of Life and Death.

The first three tracks ring true to the sound established with Brave New World and Dance of Death. Track 3, Brighter Than a Thousand Suns, is an intricately woven together off time rocker that will be amazing to see pulled off live. Track 4 has that classic pre-Blaze years sound.

The disk gets better as you get deeper in. Tracks 8 and 10 are both 9+ minute epics, and perhaps the two best tracks on the album. All the tracks have their own sound. And not one of them should be "judged by its cover"; often times the way a track starts is not indicative of what you get two minutes into it. But that's well known signature style for Maiden.

Iron Maiden will not disappoint the die-hard fans with A Matter of Life and Death and they keep the sound refreshed enough to bring in new fans with every release. These guys are the epitome of Metal and the epitome of Metal done RIGHT.

Don't pass on this one, folks.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On par with "Brave New World", but not their 80's classic material, September 6, 2006

By 

R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Matter Of Life And Death (Audio CD)

THE BAND: Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Steve Harris (bass & keyboards), Adrian Smith (lead & rhythm guitars), Dave Murray (lead & rhythm guitars), Janick Gers (lead & rhythm guitars), Nicko McBrain (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (2006) 10 songs clocking in at just over 72 minutes. There are 2 versions of the release... 1. the standard disc, and 2. the "limited edition" release with a short DVD included (the DVD includes a 30 minute behind-the-scenes making of the album; "Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg" video; studio performance footage of "Different World"; and a Maiden photo gallery). Included with the disc is an 18-page booklet containing many band photos, song titles/credits, song lyrics, dates and tour stops on the '06 World Tour (most outside the U.S.), and thank you's. Steve Harris, as usual, had a hand in writing all tracks, and all band members (except McBrain) helped in co-writing duties on all songs. Recorded at Sarm West Studios, London. Cover art NOT by the long used Derek Riggs (but instead Tim Bradstreet & Grant Goleash). Label - Sanctuary.

COMMENTS: "A Matter Of Life And Death" (AMOLAD) starts off in the same fashion as their previous two releases - giving you a short 4 minute burst of in-yer-face metal (i.e. - "The Wicker Man" and "Wildest Dreams" from "Brave New World" and "Dance Of Death"). Track 1 - "Different World" (the 1st hit slated for release) gives you exactly the same feel... but doesn't leave you as exhausted as "The Wicker Man" did at the time. For me, it took 5 or 6 spins to really enjoy this disc. On first listen, the only thought that crossed my mind was... it's not as good as "Brave New World", but it's head and shoulders above "Dance Of Death". Songs/Melodies were better, and sound production was crisper. Most of the song lyrics lean toward war and religion. Most of Dickinson's vocals are trademark Maiden, but at times, I feel he's trying to fit too much in a particular verse. I have not been a fan of Janick Gers for some time (and do they really need 3 guitarists?), however I feel his song writing on this album shines... 2 great songs in "The Pilgrim" and the closer "The Legacy". Several of the songs have that "Somewhere In Time" (1986) progressive feel to them - with Harris' keyboards in the background ("These Colours Don't Run" in particular). Spin after spin, this album gets better the deeper you get into it. The last 4 tracks are the best (all 7 to 9 minutes in length)... the slow and heavy rocker "The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg" (with a mid section reminiscent of "Rime Of The Ancient Mariner"), "For The Greater Good Of God" (a Steve Harris penned song featuring some great bass guitar and questioning what is important in life), "Lord Of Light" (a great melody - outstanding guitar solos and I dig McBrain's drumming on this one), and "The Legacy" (a great 3 minute acoustic intro followed by a slow and heavy band entrance... simply a classic 9 minute Maiden epic journey). I rank "AMOLAD" in front "Dance Of Death" or anything else they released with replacement singer Bailey in the 90's. However, as good as this album may be, it's still not on par with any of their classic early 80's metal masterpieces (i.e. - "Number Of The Beast", "Piece Of Mind", "Powerslave"). The DVD is worthy as well for long time fans - showing some of what they went through in the studio - the good and the bad... great to see the band members making the music (and clowning around at the end doing an improvised unplugged version of ZZ Top's "Tush"). Also noted in the DVD is Dickinson and Harris agreeing to disagree - Harris thinks the melody is the key to a song, while Dickinson thinks the lyrics are most important. This album is absolutely essential to your Iron Maiden collection. Look for the limited edition with the bonus disc (4+ stars).

34 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IRON MAIDEN : "A Matter Of Life And Death", September 9, 2006

By 

Masked Jackal (Ft. Lauderdale, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Matter Of Life And Death (Audio CD)

Wow. What can I say, Maiden have certainly come out of their shell with this release. I always knew Maiden were capable of bigger / better / and stronger things than "Brave New World" / "Dance Of Death", and here on "A Matter Of Life And Death" they certainly have moved forward in my opinion.....

This is without question, the best Maiden release in a very long time. Maiden fans new and old should love this!!!...

I wont go into a detailed description of each song, just let me say that "A Matter Of Life And Death" is chock full of some of the best riffs / solos I've heard Maiden come up with since their glory days. No joke, this is probably the most melodic effort they've conjoured up since the late 80's in my opinion....

You can really tell the guys wanted to kick everything up a notch on this release, and I don't think there is one song that I haven't enjoyed. It's been a long time since I've said that about a Maiden album too. None of these songs are too long, they're all perfectly balanced, and combine to make one of the finest Maiden offerings ever, that's right, EVER....

The DVD is also a very cool little bonus. It's shows them in the studio joking around during the making of "A Matter Of Life And Death", and talking about various other things {instruments / recording} which is quite cool. There's a video version for "The Reincarnation Of Benjamin Breeg" {one of the coolest Maiden songs I've ever heard}, and another for "Different World". I enjoyed this very much, Maiden is so awesome.....