WHAT ARE NEW IRON MAIDEN’S AWESOMEST JAMZ, HOTTEST LIXX?
Everybody knows that post-2K Iron Maiden records are freaking long. More of a good thing is, um, good, as on Brave New World and this year’s The Final Frontier. Elsewhere, a 10-song/72-minute set feels absolutely leaden under the weight of so-so songs and forced instrumentalism (Dance of Death, A Matter of Life and Death). It’s similar to good party etiquette: Feel free to overstay your welcome with entertaining guitar suites and sophisticated hooks; if you’re merely chanting the title of egghead paperbacks ’til 4 AM, your hosts will begin to shoot telltale glances at the front door. Nothing personal. Take your Chex mix and scram.
Not the case with The Final Frontier, an instant classic especially remarkable for coming so late in Maiden’s career. Its length and consistency (and awesomeness) are conducive to deep thought, too. Just yesterday I was pondering songs like “The Alchemist” and “The Man Who Would Be King,” Maiden’s best rocker since “The Mercenary” and most riveting epic since “The Nomad,” respectively. That got me really thinking: What are the awesomest new-era Maiden jamz leading up to 2010? Cuz, looking back, there were hints hidden in those meh-to-amazing records that Frontier would be a monster! So let’s rank new Maiden’s biggest pre-Frontier songs! It’ll be fun and educational! I’ll go first:
“New Frontier” from Dance of Death:
“The Nomad” from Brave New World:
“Gates of Tomorrow” from Dance of Death:
“Out of the Silent Planet” from Brave New World:
“Different World” from A Matter of Life and Death:
-ADF
Iron Maiden’s fifteenth album, The Final Frontier, is out now, but you have it already, duhhh.
