Brave New World

Iron Maiden

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 30, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 30, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004TH7Z
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (537 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #32,010 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Iron Maiden are nothing if not consistent. Since 1980's self-titled debut, they've been one of metal's preeminent torchbearers, spewing forth dramatic old-school, Euro-flavored arena-style metal, that to a non-fan might seem akin to Spinal Tap. The band's legion of followers, however, will rejoice at the 67 minutes of archetypal Maiden found on Brave New World. The album reunites their classic-period singer Bruce Dickinson with his longtime band following his self-imposed six-year absence. Also back on board is guitarist Adrian Smith, giving Maiden a scorching three-guitar lineup. Maiden's lyrical scope is as historic and elaborate as ever, their muscular musicality verging on the melodramatic. But that's what Maiden have always been about, and their sound is instantly recognizable on such meaty cuts as "The Mercenary," "The Fallen Angel," and "Ghost of the Navigator." Brave New World's signature time changes, guitar harmonies, and urgent vocals render moot any question as to whether it will spawn Maiden classics to rival the likes of "Run to the Hills" and "Number of the Beast." Bruce is back, and all's right on this Brave New World. --Katherine Turman

Product Description

Brave New World's signature time changes, guitar harmonies, and urgent vocals render moot any question as to whether it will spawn Maiden classics to rival the likes of "Run to the Hills" and "Number of the Beast." Bruce is back, and all's right on this Brave New World. EMI. 2004. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 135 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A milestone in the war against musical incompetence, June 19, 2000

By	"numskull" (Holyoke, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Sing this to the tune of the chorus in Ghost of the Navigator:

Take my heart and set it free, Cast Kid Rock into the sea. Manson is a skank, Korn should walk the plank, Let the sharks feast on Britney.

Keelhaul Limp Bizkit today, Flog 'N Sync without delay. The Spice Girls are wh0res, Chain them to the oars, And send the ship far, far away.

THE CASE FOR MUSICAL JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD: The general reaction to this album is overwhelmingly positive, with a decidedly small presence of people who think that a band is as good as dead after three albums and that the new stuff can never touch the old (any band that has been around for more than two years has idiot fans like that).

THE CASE AGAINST MUSICAL JUSTICE IN THIS WORLD: In the USA, this CD was released on the same day as Kid Rock's "History of Rock". Anyone care to guess which CD was bought by merchants and consumers in obscene quantities with its own in-store display while the other was nonchalantly crammed into the bin with all of the artist's previous releases?

I think the Case Against carries more weight than the Case For. Alas, the war against musical incompetence is being fought by far too few.

Brave New World is an incredibly solid release. Iron Maiden could probably have made a killing in sales to the sheeplike by adopting that astoundingly obnoxious rap-with-guitars sound that people can't seem to get enough of these days. Instead, they turned out ten true-to-form tracks reminiscent of the material on Somewhere In Time and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (all hail 9-minute songs). The Wicker Man is the hit single, The Nomad and Dream of Mirrors are the epics, and Ghost of the Navigator is the song that single-handedly renewed my will to live in a world upon which the musically inferior (in both skill and taste) are dominant. If Korn and their ilk ever form their own independent nation, raise a massive army of clueless MTV junkies, and conquer the Earth, I shall simply lock myself in a windowless underground room and play Ghost of the Navigator until I die of dehydration, rather than pulling a Cobain.

If you're already a Maiden fan, chances are you already own this CD. If you're not a Maiden fan, then chances are I'm not going to convert you. So instead, I merely say:

1. Up the Irons, and

2. Join the War Against Musical Incompetence (W.A.M.I.) if you don't want your children and your children's children to grow up listening to what somebody else wants them to listen to (as of yet there is no official War Against Somebody Else, but I'm working on it).

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 Stars - A Solid, Progressive Metal Album, May 30, 2000

By	Erik Rupp (Southern California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For most MAIDEN fans this album has been an eight-year wait. Vocalist Bruce Dickinson returns to the band, as does guitarist Adrian Smith, and both make their presences felt on BRAVE NEW WORLD. As much as most fans expected (or hoped) BNW to be a return to the POWERSLAVE and PIECE OF MIND style, it only gets part of the way there. BNW takes from the style of VIRTUAL XI (and, to a lesser degree, THE X FACTOR) just as much as POWERSLAVE and PIECE OF MIND, giving it a more progressive feel than early to mid 80's era MAIDEN had. Heavier than either of the last two studio albums, BRAVE NEW WORLD will satisfy most MAIDEN fans, but might leave those who did not like SEVENTH SON a little cold. The album gives occasional nods to late 90's style hard music, but make no mistake, this is an IRON MAIDEN album, and an uncompromising one at that. BNW is filled with A LOT of tempo changes, mood changes, dynamic changes, stylistic changes, etc, and features 4 songs over seven minutes in length (and three more over six minutes long). Some riffs are even reminiscent of their KILLERS era material. But is it good? Oh, HELL YEAH! ...(And it grows on you. A lot.)

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maiden in the 21st Century!, June 1, 2000

By	R. Gorham "RCG2" - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

THE BAND: Steve Harris (bass/keyboards), Bruce Dickinson (vocals), Dave Murray (guitar), Adrian Smith (guitar), Nicko McBrain (drums), Janick Gers (guitar).

THE DISC: (2000) 10 tracks clocking in at 67 minutes. The disc contains a 14-page booklet with band pictures, lyrics and thank you's. Recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios in Paris, France. Bassist Steve Harris once again is the creative force behind the album - co-producing and writing or co-writing each of the 10 songs. Each of the other band members (except McBrain) contribute in the writing of at least one song as well.

COMMENTS: Most of what Iron Maiden put out in the 1990's was horrid, so I came apon this album with hesitation. Exit Blaze Bailey, re-enter Bruce Dickinson. Seeing the original line-up from the 1980's back in tact (plus Gers), I decided to absolutely chance it... having only been kept alive on Dickinson's solo work throughout the 90's. "Brave New World" (BNW) is a pleasant surprise. Gone are the bass and guitar synth's that were present on "Somewhere In Time" and "7th Son"... BNW features voice, drums, driving guitars, and an occasional stroke on the keyboard. This is easily their best studio album in 12 years (7th Son...), maybe more. Bruce Dickinson is back and sounds great. Although I do miss his high piercing vocals (like on the classic "Where Eagles Dare")- and I really didn't hear it until the last song ("Thin Line Between Love & Hate"). I have a slight problem with the title of the last song - an Iron Maiden tune with the word "Love" in it? It just doesn't sound right. The band sounds very tight on "Brave New World". They have obviously taken their time to do things write on this album. Nicko sounds like he has a new drum kit. The snare drum sounds a bit higher pitched than normal. That's okay tho, it sounds good. Track 1 "The Wicker Man" is one of those classic "2 Minutes to Midnight" type songs, fast from the get-go. The title track has a nice slow intro and then the rest of the band kicks it up a notch. Track 4, "Blood Brothers" has a Jethro Tullesque feel to it (no problem). "The Mercenary" and "The Fallen Angel" are the hardest rocking tunes on the disc - and they kick some seious tail. "The Nomad" is a marathon of a song at just over 9 minutes. I like it's irregular guitar chords and story line. The album ends with "The Thin Line Between Love & Hate" - this song has it all... It's fast, it's slow, Bruce is all over the place (a good thing) and the song has a great melody. At the very end you'll hear one of the band say "I missed it". If any of them missed something, I don't know what it is. The song is a strong one - the whole album is STRONG. "Brave New World" gets my vote for best metal album of the year in 2000, and 'Comeback Artist' of the year as well. Up the Irons! Great disc.