Dance Of Death

Performer: Iron Maiden
Engineer: Drew Griffiths
Producer: Kevin Shirley; Steve Harris
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Iron Maiden: Bruce Dickinson (vocals); Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Jannick Gers (guitar); Steve Harris (bass); Nicko McBrain (drums). Recorded at Sarm Studios (West), London, England. Recording information: Sarm Studios, West London. Photographer: Simon Fowler. Thirteen proves to be quite the lucky number for Iron Maiden as DANCE OF DEATH, the 2003 studio offering by these metal legends, picks up where BRAVE NEW WORLD, its predecessor and first album reuniting Bruce Dickinson with the band, left off. In keeping with Maiden's penchant for looking to history and literature for inspiration, songs like the eight-minute plus "Paschendale," with its light use of strings and intriguing time changes, is based on a historic World War I battle. Likewise "Montsegur," a song soaked in soaring leads and a galloping rhythm follows a similar path as an ode to the Cathars, a French religious sect that established its own civilization in the Middle Ages. To be sure, there's more than enough Dark Age-inspired drama in the shape of the supernatural title cut and stampeding "New Frontier," but this U.K. sextet throws a true curve by way of "Journeyman," a closing cut shrouded in strings and acoustic guitar that's every bit as moving as anything else on DANCE OF DEATH.

Q (10/03, p.108) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...'Wildest Dreams' is a fiery opener and 'Paschendale' a mighty epic....There's still nobody who does blood and thunder quite like Iron Maiden.."

Iron Maiden were one of the leaders of the early-1980s New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement energized by the spirit of punk. Maiden built upon their initial cult success, eventually leading to global domination by the mid '80s. The band's singer for the first couple of albums was Paul Di'Anno, but the arrival of vocalist Bruce Dickinson marked the vintage Iron Maiden era. In the '90s, Dickinson was replaced briefly by Blaze Bayley before the classic lineup reunited at that decade's end. Besides the music, Maiden received extra publicity for their undead mascot, "Eddie," who graced numerous album covers, posters, and t-shirts.

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