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The Book of Souls [Digipak]
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The Book of Souls
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Track Listings
1 | If Eternity Should Fail |
2 | Speed of Light |
3 | The Great Unknown |
4 | The Red and the Black |
5 | When the River Runs Deep |
6 | The Book of Souls |
7 | Death or Glory |
8 | Shadows of the Valley |
9 | Tears of a Clown |
10 | The Man of Sorrows |
11 | Empire of the Clouds |
Product details
- Language : English
- Product Dimensions : 4.88 x 5.75 x 0.63 inches; 4.44 ounces
- Manufacturer : BMG
- Original Release Date : 2019
- Date First Available : October 16, 2019
- Label : BMG
- ASIN : B07YTCWSM9
- Country of Origin : USA
- Number of discs : 1
- Best Sellers Rank: #109,021 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #3,119 in Hard Rock (CDs & Vinyl)
- #10,307 in Metal
- Customer Reviews:
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Maiden's Double Album is a Three Lead Guitar Jam Heavy Monster
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015Excerpts from my CD review blog, "Far Beyond Drivel" on WordPress:
Maiden is easily recognizable by this point, and while they’re not as simplistic and repetitive as, say, AC/DC, they certainly have their own sound, their own songwriting tropes, etc, that they generally stick to pretty well. You know what you’re getting with an Iron Maiden record, that’s for certain, and they rarely stray from the mark. I found Brave New World to be a rejuvenated and triumphant return to the glory of a band that could have been written off. I loved that album, and though I really can’t stand Gers’ lead playing, his songwriting chops in the context of Iron Maiden are undeniable. The Smith/Dickinson combo has, by now, become as synonymous with the “Iron Maiden sound” as Harris’ solo compositions.
Starting with a lead-in intended to be reminiscent of Ennio Morricone’s “Ecstasy of Gold,” as heard in the old Spaghetti Westerns (replete with rattlesnake sound effects), I’m already slightly disappointed, as the horns sound like a synth – are they cutting corners here? Surely Maiden can afford to bring in a horn player for a half a day’s work, right? As the song kicks in, though, it’s classic Maiden, with the sound you would expect from modern Maiden – the drums, guitars, bass, and vocals all sound how you expect them to, and that’s all fine and good. Dickinson, though I’ve no doubt can hit any note he damn well pleases, seems to be straining a little here and there, and I miss the occasional roughness he was putting in his voice in the “Fear” era material.
It’s been said they recorded this album mostly live, limiting overdubs, and that’s evident in some of the performances – there are definite mistakes a good ear can hear over the course of the record, and truthfully, I have to say I welcome it. A lot of modern metal has become too clean and quantized, with every slight imperfection overdubbed so the whole thing has a sheen of artificiality. This record has a solid, organic feeling to it that invites you to dig in and listen closer, making it a more intimate experience.
The first single, “Speed of Light,” at first I really didn’t care for. Cowbell? On a MAIDEN song that’s not a goofy B-side? Blasphemy! But on repeat spins, it certainly fits, and the song itself is catchy and good. It’s no “Wasted Years,” but it’s not bad. Murray is fluid as all get out all over the record, flipping his custom Strat up to the neck pickup and cutting loose an indistinguishable flurry of legato runs and trills; Smith crafts beautiful, technical, and melodic solos; and Gers just slops around, falling over his guitar and making noise (can you tell I really don’t like his lead playing, AT ALL??).
“The Great Unknown” is a standout track for me. Starting with a clean melody before getting all Maiden-y, this tune has some great textures and and solid vibe. Though Bruce is reaching high here, he doesn’t strain like on some other songs. I especially enjoy Nicko’s playing on this track. He’s got such command and adds so much flavor with how he varies his attack on the cymbals – not a lot of guys do that anymore, and again, it sounds organic and real, the way it should.
“The Red and the Black” starts with solo Steve Harris, playing what sounds like an 8 or 12 string bass. I’ve never heard Harris experiment like this before, and probably the only other time I’ve heard such things is from Monty Colvin on some Galactic Cowboys records. In all other aspects this otherwise decent song is ruined by a guitar constantly tracking to Dickinson’s vocal – it’s distracting, lazy, and unnecessary, and it’s a major misstep in what could have been a strong track.
“The Book of Souls” sets itself up to be this record’s (and tour’s) “Powerslave.” No, this isn’t anything approaching a concept record, any more than Powerslave was, but the track evokes some vivid imagery the band use to fill out the cover, booklet and upcoming tour, which should prove to be quite interesting.
In some interviews, the band seem to be making a big deal about doing one song in “Dropped-D” tuning. This minor alternate tuning of the guitars and bass can make for some drastic differences, when used to full effect – it allows for power chords (the staple of rock and metal) to be played with one finger, making fast-change chorded riffs easier to do. In practice, it has little effect on the song it’s used on here, the opener “If Eternity Should Fail.” The song was penned by Dickinson and originally intended for a solo album (If you haven’t listened to any solo Bruce, check out “The Chemical Wedding” from the 90s – brilliant!). However, Maiden are stretching in some areas here. Smith briefly plays some slide guitar on his solo for “Death or Glory,” for instance, and then there’s the album-closing “Empire of the Clouds.”
The 18-minute “Empire” begins with a strong piano movement, a first for the band, played by Dickinson, who takes sole credit for writing the song. It tells the tale of the ill-fated R101 dirigible, an aircraft so large that, as Dickinson describes, “the Titanic fits inside.” Impressive indeed, as is the song itself. At 18 minutes, it could easily be an 8 or 9 minute song lazily stretched out for the hell of it, a criticism I levy against the classic “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.”
“Empire,” however, suffers not the same fate. It goes through several movements, all thematically related and yet very different (something Harris’ more epic tracks could certainly do better). Nicko has some outstanding drum ambiance through the quieter bits, and the whole song comes together fantastically before returning again to the opening piano movement for closure. If this song alone is the reason “The Book of Souls” is a two-album affair, then it is a good reason, indeed.
In closing, “The Book of Souls” has enough to please almost any Maiden fan, young or old. Like most double albums, some fat could have been trimmed to make for a truly brilliant work, but the excess is not necessarily filler and they’d still probably have too much solid material for one CD. It’s the strongest effort Maiden have made since the beginning of their 4th age, and among their better releases overall. This will stay in my rotation for a good bit. Enjoy!
- Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2015I have been listening non stop since unboxing the deluxe edition of the album. They are one of the few bands that make actually owning a physical copy of their music a worthwhile experience as you look at the packaging and the artwork. Now on to the music. Let me preface by saying that I am a huge Iron Maiden fan and own all of their releases. I got into them around 1996 and I'm a 33 year old male. There music was out of print for awhile and I made the mistake of purchasing the 1998 re-mastered editions which are a victim of the "loudness war" and are just a loud distorted mess with little dynamics in the music. Thanks to Ebay, I purchased their original CD recordings and everything was okay in the world.
The Book of Souls, in my opinion is the best release of the post reunion albums and I would rank it up there with anything they did in the 80's. The album essentially bridges the gap between their classic sound and the more modern progressive sound they have embraced since the seminal 2000 release Brave New World. The primary complaint others have argued over the past 15 years is that the length of the songs are way too long and they long for the days of the short metal tunes with melody on full display, which was their modus operandi early in their career. They have obviously progressed to a more complex form of songwriting mixing 70's progressive rock with their brand of metal. I for one like the combination and whether its prog, classical, baroque, celtic, renaissance influenced, it blends well with heavy metal and gives it an almost aura of sophistication and makes the music even more epic. Understandably, if the band impacted your youth and you were used to a certain sound, any deviation will throw you off and you long for the initial spark.
The Book of Souls begins with the Dickinson penned "If Eternity Should Fail" , which was a song that he worked on for a future solo album. It uses drop D tuning, which is not the norm for Maiden. The intro is an almost Egyptian old west type theme with an atmospheric Dickinson giving way to a traditional Maiden gallop with harmonizing guitars. Verses are strong and chorus is very catchy. The mid section instrumental of the song is euphoric with guitar and bass blending perfectly as Nicko introduces section with tribal type drumming. Probably the best opener to an album in a long time. "Speed of Light" was the single we all heard a few weeks ago. Straight forward rocker, not a bad song, but the material on the rest of the album eclipses this song just because the strength of the other songs. "The Great Unknown" is a catchy melodic intro and goes into full on Maiden. Emphasizing the move towards slow build up intros and then getting heavier. "The Red and The Black" was penned by Steve Harris and is his sole composition. It has a flamenco bass solo in the intro and Bruce sings along to the verse melodies. It has an almost "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" vibe at times and several instrumental sections in the song that will annoy those that long for a time when their songs were short and sweet. "When The River Runs Deep" is vintage Maiden and a very catchy song. I see it going well in a live setting. Title track "Book of Souls" is vintage Maiden as well as it showcases their penchant for writing medieval sounding riffs with a sinister undertone.The instrumental breakdown reminds me of the instrumental "Losfer Words" off of "Powerslave".
Disc two begins with "Death or Glory", a good tempo rocker with themes of war, I know, a rarity for a Maiden song. "Shadows of the Valley" begins with an intro eerily similar to "Wasted Years" and a lyric in the first verse has the words "Sea of Madness", so this might have been a deliberate attempt by the band. Good grooves with celtic influences as well. "Tears of a Clown" was inspired by the death of actor "Robin Williams" and its a pretty straight forward song. Mid tempo, nothing to heavy or crazy going on. Catchy verses/chorus and a great guitar solo is represented in the song. "Man of Sorrows" is a semi ballad with amazing hooks and a memorable vocal performance by Mr. Dickinson. The final song "Empire of the Clouds" clocks in at a little over 18 minutes and it was penned by Dickinson taking inspiration from the R101, a British airship that crashed in France in 1930 I believe. The song has many movements with Bruce on piano and some violin, cello, and horns for good measure. Its storytelling at its best beginning with the concept of the airship, the take off and the eventual tragedy that befell the passengers with the music setting the tone of the lyrical content. Again, for those that long for shorter songs, they will be going ape s*** at this point considering there are two other lengthy songs in the album.
In conclusion, this album is just spectacular from beginning to end with career best performances from each band member and Bruce sounding amazing considering the album was recorded while he apparently had a cancerous lump in his throat that was only checked out after completing the album. For those that constantly want to compare various periods of Maiden's career, I suggest you cease to attempt the fight of a useless war. They have moved on and have matured and in reality don't owe anything to anybody. Lets face it, they have always done what they wanted to do with little help from radio or the mainstream press. They have the audacity to make a double album when people have the attention span of a gnat and can't sit still for the absorption of an "album", which is a dirty word in 2015. The CD quality, as usual, is a much better sound than the compressed You Tube sounds. There you have it, throw back a few "Trooper" beers and dive into the world only the mighty Iron Maiden can create. Cheers, and UP THE IRONS!!!!! /m/
Top reviews from other countries
- Tina GReviewed in Canada on September 4, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Collection Addition
Purchased this as a gift for my son who collects vinyl. He was thrilled.
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WillramiresReviewed in Brazil on March 29, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bem Embalado. Acho que a Amazon Brasil refletiu e melhorou o envio dos discos.
O disco chegou em uma embalagem unica, mas que foi feita pela Amazon para proteger o disco nos quatros cantos. O disco fica acondicionado no centro do papelão. Chegou intacto. Sobre o disco, não tem nada que seja ruim da Dama de Ferro. Escutei os três discos e esta muito bem gravado, sem falhas. Obra prima da BMG.
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GabrieleReviewed in Italy on January 8, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars album spettacolare
Gabriele
Reviewed in Italy on January 8, 2025
Images in this review - KirtiReviewed in India on September 7, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Authentic
Great quality with the best of maiden...up the irons !!!
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WernerReviewed in Belgium on July 15, 2024
4.0 out of 5 stars Lange nummers
Driedubbelaar die vooral heel lange nummers bevat.
Iron Maiden zoals we ze allemaal kannen, rough and heavy, en zoals ik het graag heb :)
Ik heb enkele albums van hen, maar moet toegeven dat ik die allemaal had gekregen van een vriend.
Dit album is het eerste dat ik van hen ook daadwerkelijk heb gekocht, en heb er zeker geen spijt van !!!
Werner
Reviewed in Belgium on July 15, 2024
Iron Maiden zoals we ze allemaal kannen, rough and heavy, en zoals ik het graag heb :)
Ik heb enkele albums van hen, maar moet toegeven dat ik die allemaal had gekregen van een vriend.
Dit album is het eerste dat ik van hen ook daadwerkelijk heb gekocht, en heb er zeker geen spijt van !!!
Images in this review