There is no sweeter time in life than when a gem of an album falls into your lap at a most unexpected time. Whenever you first hear this album, consider it to be one of those times.
This is the pinnacle of Bruce Dickinson's career, one that he may never be able to equal. This is one of the finest moments in the history of heavy metal, an album of such brilliance in song writing, vocals, and musicianship that it should be studied at school and university.
The song list is superb. King In Crimson. Chemical Wedding. The Tower. Killing Floor. Book Of Thel. Gates Of Urizen. Jerusalem. Trumpets Of Jericho. Machine Men. The Alchemist. There is not one weak song in amongst them.
Roy Z has now been Bruce's long term collaborator and their partnership has been one of the revelations of metal history. Along with his former Maiden partner Adrian Smith, whose contribution has also been significant, Eddie Casillas and David Ingraham, this band produced the album of their lives. One can only wonder how Roy Z stayed for so long in the wilderness, because his work with Bruce, then Rob Halford, has been brilliant.
Memories : Back in Kiama for a couple of days (I was living in Sydney at the time), I was in the car with Holzy when he put on a disc and told me to try guess who it was. The guitars that erupted from his car stereo were loud and heavy. I had absolutely no idea who it could be, until the vocals started. Then I shouted in surprise, “Is this Bruce's album?!?!” I just couldn't believe it. Just a tad different from Tattooed Millionaire...
Rating : One of the Top 20 of all time. 5/5.
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