Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death

[Mirai]

Anyone else listening to this at the moment?

Impressions?

As far as I'm concerned, the tracks "These Colours Don't Run", "The Longest Day" and "For The Greater Good Of God" are all destined to be classics.

[HPK]

I don't mind this album. It's pretty good, but not Iron Maiden's best album in recent years (that goes to Brave New World, I believe). It has its good tracks and bad ones. You mentioned two of them I like (These Colors Don't Run and For the Greater Good of God), but I don't really think they're going to be "classics."
I guess one of my complaints towards the album is how it feels..."punkish." The album seems to be more of a criticism to war (in particular, how America is currently doing things) and that just doesn't really strike me as something Iron Maiden should do.

[Mirai]

Yeah, but Maiden has always been political.

"Holy Smoke" (1990) was a political song about TV evangelists.

"2 Minutes To Midnight" (1984) was partially about Nuclear War, and is a very anti-war song.

"Be Quick Or Be Dead" (1992) was a very political song.

There a many other politically charged Maiden songs, so them getting political on this album isn't really a change.

[Ihsiin]

The cover sucks.
I haven't heard the album yet.

[HPK]

Yeah, but Maiden has always been political.

"Holy Smoke" (1990) was a political song about TV evangelists.

"2 Minutes To Midnight" (1984) was partially about Nuclear War, and is a very anti-war song.

"Be Quick Or Be Dead" (1992) was a very political song.

There a many other politically charged Maiden songs, so them getting political on this album isn't really a change.

Oh, I know this. "The Thin Line Between Love and Hate" (2000) could also be considered one too (as well as I number of other tracks from the Brave New World album. However, it's not one of the reasons I listen to Maiden. I actually don't care for politics in music at all, but if there's going to be politically driven music on an album, I would prefer that the album not consist of just those songs.
I mostly listen to Maiden for their "power metal" stuff. A political Iron Maiden just doesn't seem right to me. But hey, I still love the band.

[disrupter006]

The cover sucks.
I haven't heard the album yet.

That cover gave me the initiative to buy it. The only other IM album I have is the dance of death and this one was a pleasant surprise because of how they brought the guitars more up front in their sound.