Brave New World

by Iron Maiden

Overview

The return of Iron Maiden's "classic" Dickinson/Harris/Murray/Smith/McBrain lineup (plus third guitarist Janick Gers) in 1999 led to an incredibly successful world tour that saw the New Wave of British Heavy Metal legends commanding stages with the same unmitigated power and authority as they had during their mid-'80s heyday. But the question remained as to whether the reconstituted group would be able to carry this momentum into a studio setting and recapture the songwriting chops of its glory years. This question made Brave New World one of the most highly anticipated metal releases of 2000, and thankfully, the eventual answer to that question was a resounding "YES!" In fact, the album pretty much picked up right where the "classic" lineup had left off on 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son: with a faithful rediscovery of Iron Maiden's best-loved sonic aesthetic and compositional quirks, updated only insofar as was necessary to measure up to new-millennium recording standards. In every other respect (and much like Seventh Son of a Seventh Son), Brave New World's meticulously orchestrated three-guitar attack still allowed for a greater sense of space than early Maiden albums (as well as the use of subtle keyboard textures in a supporting role), while boasting a beefier, in-your-face mix a la Piece of Mind or Powerslave. The remarkable pipes of singer Bruce Dickinson actually seemed to have benefited from a less grueling touring schedule over the previous decade, and his renewed songwriting partnership with bassist Steve Harris (and other assorted bandmembers) yielded several new Maiden live standards such as punchy first single, "The Wicker Man," and the positively anthemic title track. Also worthy of special mention were Harris' emotional solo copyright, "Blood Brothers," Adrian Smith's distinctive solo licks throughout "The Fallen Angel," and six-string stalwart Dave Murray's Arabian-flavored contributions to "The Nomad." These highlights notwithstanding, a more lucid appraisal revealed that Brave New World was no Number of the Beast, once the initial euphoria died down. But as comeback albums go, its excellence was undeniable, and announced not only Iron Maiden's triumphant return, but an important turning point in heavy metal's long, arduous climb back to respectability after years of critical abuse. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia

Product Details

Release Date:	06/30/2017
Label:	Parlophone
UPC:	0190295851989

Tracks

1. The Wicker Man
2. Ghost of the Navigator
3. Brave New World
4. Blood Brothers
5. The Mercenary
6. Dream of Mirrors
7. The Fallen Angel
8. The Nomad
9. Out of the Silent Planet
10. The Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Iron Maiden   Primary Artist
Bruce Dickinson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Steve Harris   Bass,Keyboards
Nicko McBrain   Drums
Janick Gers   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Adrian Smith   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Dave Murray   Guitar,Guitar (Rhythm)
Jeff Bova   Orchestra

Technical Credits

Steve Harris   Composer,Producer
Iron Maiden   Composer
Irwin Levine   Composer
Janick Gers   Composer
James Diener   A&R
Rory Romano   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Reginald Connelly   Composer
Adrian Smith   Composer
Bruce Dickinson   Composer
George Marino   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Dave Murray   Composer
Kevin Shirley   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Jeff Bova   Orchestration
James Campbell   Composer
Denis Caribaux   Engineer
Paul Dando   Assistant
Nicholas Meyer   Assistant
John Kalodner   A&R
Blaze Bayley   Composer
Tony Newton   Remastering Engineer
Nicolas Meyer   Assistant Engineer
David Murray   Composer
Ade Emsley   Remastering Engineer